Rau — Copulation, Oviposition in Samia Cecropia Linn. 317 



females the conditions were quite the same. The inter- 

 esting fact is that the number of days spent in oviposit- 

 ing by the long lived and also by the short lived insects 

 is in no way correlated with the length of life. 



6. AGE OF THE INSECTS WHEN FIRST EGGS WERE DEPOSITED. 



Long lived insects. 



Short lived insects. 



Hence we see that the age of the female at first oviposi- 

 tion varied from 2 to 13 days, regardless of whether or 

 not fertilization had occurred. 



Notes were made on 79 insects, 40 of which partially 

 oviposited before mating. In the unmated, long-lived 

 individuals, the age at first oviposition varied from 3 to 

 13 days, while in the short-lived group it varied from 

 2 to 8 days. We see some unmated insects beginning 

 to oviposit very early in life, and others of the long- 



