274 THE entomologist's record. 



IgClENTIFIC NOTES. 



Wing Structure. — Upon reading Dr. Buckell's request in the July 

 number of your instructive journal, it occurred to me that I might be 

 somewhat fortunately situated for making an attempt at verifying 

 Kirby and Spence's statement. First, because I was in possession of 

 several cocoons of large Bombycid moths, some of which might contain 

 pupae which would be good subjects for investigation ; and secondly, 

 although not a microscopist myself, we have a microscooical section in 

 connection with our Society, and I was sure of obtaining the able and 

 willing services of some of the members of it. So I examined my 

 cocoons. There was one, and one only, of the lot, that was of any 

 value for the purpose — a small Callosaniia promeihea^ which seemed to 

 have fully matured before it died. 



I mentioned the subject to one of the younger members of the 

 section, and read to him Dr. Buckell's request. He responded with 

 "let us try." 



I may state here that the investigation extended over several weeks : 

 that I took notes of the observations, compared and corrected them, 

 and, when there was conflict or uncertainty, made further observations to 

 make sure. When the outer covering of the pupa was removed, the 

 vvinglet was seen to be well coloured and scaled ; when removed, it 

 measured just over three-eighths of an inch from joint to apex, and one 

 fourth of an inch across the widest part, which possibly might have ex- 

 panded to one and a half or two inches. The first view of it under the 

 glass suggested compression, — lateral and longitudinal ; the minute 

 scales were so crowded on one another that they almost stood erect. 

 When the scales were removed, the transverse corrugations were 

 disclosed, crossing the winglet at various angles, but to call them fold- 

 ings seems to convey a wrong impression, drawings or gatherings would 

 be more correct ; they had an exact resemblance to some gatherings 

 in ladies' dressmaking. Longitudinally, the foldings were unmistakable ; 

 but with nothing like the regularity of a fan, as stated by Kirby and 

 Spence ; they were of quite unequal length and depth, some were but 

 slight depressions, others too deep to get the scales removed from them. 

 None of them extended from the base to the outer angle of wing \ one 

 would commence near the base, run deep and terminate in a loop, 

 another would begin about the middle of that one, run beyond it and 

 out, others formed plaits on the outer angle. These foldings would 

 account for the broken lines of the transverse corrugations. The 

 front edge of the winglet had a singularly knotted appearance, whicli 

 I could make nothing of at that time. 



The next effort was to lay bare the nervures. To this end, I soaked 

 the winglet in water ; it came out an elastic gelatinous mass. The 

 effort to separate the upper and under membranes was unsuccessful ; on 

 examining the under side, it was seen that the membrane had parted 

 over some of the heavy nervures at the base of the wing, disclosing 

 their structure completely. The end next the joint of one then turned 

 upward, and I could see into the hollow tube as far as the bend 

 would allow, the walls appearing to be very thin. Inside they were 

 smooth with a waxy look. A general survey of the exterior reminded 



