Rau — Copulation, Oviposition in Samia Cecropia Linn. 319 



(c) Age of the female at mating and eggs retained. 



In the notes of 1909 I found the appearance of such a 

 relation. If the female mated early in life, oviposition 

 was almost complete; if late, many eggs were retained. 

 This inference was drawn from 7 instances. 



In this year's work 51 insects were observed. Here 

 I found absolutely no relation between the age of the 

 female at mating and the number of ova retained at 

 death. Among those which mated at an old age, some 

 retained many eggs, while in others, oviposition was per- 

 fect. Likewise among those which mated early in life 

 all degrees of completeness of oviposition were observed. 



Issued August 9, 1911. 



