THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 159 



the soda, and was discharged into the solution, which it visibly coloured, 

 and he saw no reason why, if a sufficient number of individuals were 

 experimented upon, the colour should not be collected and utilised. 

 Colias Edusa and Hyah\ Da/mis Chrysippus and Vanessa urtiar, were 

 deprived of their natural colours in the same manner. Mr. Butler had 

 experimented upon G. rJuwini (dyed blue), C. Edusa and Hyah\ Papilio 

 Demoleus, Lyccena Corydon, Danais Chrysippus, Argynnis Adippe and 

 Ag/aia, Vanessa urticce, Epinephele J^anira, A re/ id caja and villica. The 

 most successful results were obtained with Danais Chrysippus, deprived of 

 its natural colours and dyed blue, which colour onlv entered certain scales, 

 whereas magenta, being a faster dye, entered all : and V. urtixc, dyed 

 blue in one case, and magenta in another ; the latter resembled a typical 

 South-African Juuonia, the former a melanitic variety of the same species. 

 The peculiarity in these specimens consisted in certain parts of the wings 

 not taking the dye, leading to the conclusion that the scales are more 

 perfectly closed in these parts. 



Mr. Meldola (who was present as a visitor) remarked that he had also 

 made experiments with alkalies ; the yellow of G.rhamni being removed 

 by soda, and precipitated by the addition of an acid. He possessed an 

 example of Vanessa To altered to deep mahogany-colour by exposure to 

 the fumes of ammonia. 



Mr. Bicknell exhibited a number of examples of Gonopteryx rhamni, 

 upon which he had experimented with cyanide of potassium, as suggested 

 at the last meeting. The yellow was changed to orange-red in the parts 

 exposed to the cyanide. 



Mr. F. Smith stated that he had seen a number of wasps that had been 

 killed by cyanide of potassium, and which, in consequence, were changed 

 to vermilion. 



The hope was expressed that these interesting experiments would not 

 be taken advantage of by unscrupulous persons, in consequence of the 

 prevailing disposition to pay high prices for varieties of common Lepidop- 

 tera. — The Zoologist. 



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