iig [October, 



Hydrocampa stagnalis bred. — In July, 1876, 1 bred one moth of this species 

 from a laiTa on Sparganium simplex. Following up this clue I was able to obtain a 

 number of young larv8e in September, which were kept through the mild winter in 

 a glass tauk out of doors, supplied with earth and roots of the Sparganium. From 

 them I have bred 15 moths, the first appearing in the evening of July 23rd, the last 

 on the 15th of this month (August). Eggs have been freely laid by these bred 

 moths on the growing plants, and the young larva; are now feeding again. It has 

 been a pleasure to me to furnish Mr. Buckler with larvae for figuring, and he has 

 since found the larva in his own neighbourhood. Fully expecting he will make 

 known the result of his observations on the economy of this wonderful larva, I will 

 not attempt any further account of it. — Id. 



The Hissing Larva. — Langia zeuzeroides. — On the 9th July, 1867, two large 

 (Sp/iiJia; caterpillars, four and a quarter inches in length, green, with maroon-coloured 

 backs, dropped down from the apricot tree in front of my house at Simla. I placed 

 them in a box with a few apricot leaves, they did not feed ; when touched, or dis- 

 turbed in any way, they gave a strong and sharp hiss ; they did not attempt to bury 

 themselves, but after three or four days began to change colour, became lethargic, 

 and when touched gave a squeak, which daily became more feeble, and ceased on 

 the 20th, when they had shrunk to half their lengtli, and had nearly formed into 

 pupse ; in another ten days they were dead. Some time prior to this, I had obtained, 

 at Koteghur, in the valley of the Sutledge (56 miles N.E. of Simla), a large pupa 

 which was new to me, but which I now recognised as being identical with this of the 

 hissing larva. The Sphinx from the Koteghur pupa I gave to Dr. T. C. Jerdon, 

 the naturalist, which he assured me was a new species (he took it to England), and 

 quite unknown to entomologists. (This specimen is now in Major A. Lang's 

 collection). 



1868. — I was not in the Hills this year, but asked my friend, Captain A. M. 

 Lang, R. E., to try and obtain a hissing caterpillar at Mussourie, he obtained one 

 only, and reports as above. It died when but half formed into the pupa state ; it 

 did not bury. 



1869. — About the middle of July, I obtained a " Misser " at Simla from the 

 same tree as I got those in 1867, he would not feed, but in four or five days formed 

 into a chrysalis, loilhout hurying in the earth, only scraping a hollow the size of a 

 saucer. I took this pupa down to Umballa, in October, and on the 7th of December, 

 a female Sphinx issued therefrom, it uttered a faint stridulous cry, like tliat of 

 Acherontia Atropos, and Satanas, but not so loud. (The larvse of Acherontia are 

 mute). Expanse, 64 inches. 



1870. — Late in June, I obtained four hissing larvae, and found that even when 

 full-grown, their backs were of a light colour, a pale green, and only turned of a 

 dark maroon colour some twenty -four or thirty hoiu-s before they were ready to turn 

 into chrysalides ; a Sphinx from one of these pupse I gave Captain Lang. I have 

 now two in my own collection, both females. 



1876. — Last year I procured but one hissing caterpillar, it formed into a 

 chrysalis, but died. 



I have dui'ing this month (July) obtained seven larvte from the apricot tree in 

 front of the house, two were quite green when taken, yet would not feed, it was 



