SCIENTIFIC NOTES. 53 



says : — " The eggs are globular, small, and bluish black, and are laid 

 by the $ over fern brakes towards the end of June " {I.e., vol. ii., p. 52). 

 Mr. Hellins, in reference to huinuli, quotes Dr. Chapman {E.M.M., 

 vol. xxiii., p. 164), as to the females "dropping their eggs loosely, and, 

 if captured, continue to do so into the hand or into the box " {Larvcc, 

 etc., vol. ii., p. 131). I have confirmed all these observations, and also 

 that the same habit obtains with lupulinus and sylvimts. In connection 

 with this habit, it should be noticed that the eggs are very small for 

 the size of the insects, and when extended they are perfectly free from 

 any adhesive substance. They consequently soon find their way down 

 to the bottom of the herbage, and when the young larva emerges, it 

 makes its way under the surface as quickly as possible. Though a 

 female, captured whilst ovipositing, will continue to drop her eggs, she 

 flutters her wings all the time as if still in flight, and it v/ould almost 

 appear that she could not deposit them when at rest. The eggs of all 

 the species are white or nearly so, when first extruded ; but in a very 

 few hours they turn deep bluish-black. Mr. Hellins thinks it curious 

 that the eggs of huinuli should turn black, as the young larva is white. 

 If there was anything in this remark, it would apply with equal force to 

 all the species ; but the fact is, that the change of colours is of the shell 

 only, and has no connection at all with the larva within, for unimpreg- 

 nated eggs change in exactly the same way. Mr. Buckler established 

 the fact that hectus and velleda take two years to mature. In a letter to 

 me, dated June 23rd, 1868, he says: — "I quite despair of rearing any 

 Hepialus from the egg, because some of them, if not all, are two 

 seasons in the larval condition, as I have proved with two species, 

 but what these two are is just what I should hke to know ; — I believe 

 hectus and velleda, — but, until I can produce the moths am not in a 

 position to give their history." A week later, June 30th, 1868, he 

 wrote : — " I am very much obliged to you for the eggs of hectus, but 

 since I penned you my letter I have bred the moth from the larva I had 

 figured, and I will here say that I never had any species so troublesome 

 to manage, or such a trial of my patience. They were in perpetual 

 motion, to coerce them was impossible, for they jumped and ran 

 backward as rapidly as forward." He ^urther says : — "The other species, 

 which I hope may prove to be velleda, certainly without the slightest 

 doubt, do take two seasons to come to maturity, as full-fed larvae can 

 be found, and others not more than a quarter, some one-third grown 

 at the same time, and long before the earliest moth of the species 

 could be out, and the little ones grow very slowly all through the 

 summer and autumn of their second season. I have their history 

 complete enough if I could only breed the moth ; but this season I 

 have only one to depend on, and I fear the time is almost past for 

 its emerging." The moth, however, was bred, and the history 

 completed. The Rev. John Hellins, referring to huinuli, which he 

 reared from eggs, sent him by Mr. Porritt and myself, says they 

 began to haich on 24th July, were noticed on August 19th, September 

 13th, and October 26th, and "from the rate of growth observed at 

 these dates, I am inclined to think that one year would suffice for the 

 whole life of these species, the larval stage lasting from August till the 

 next May; but, of course, I cannot speak positively" {Larvce, vol. ii., 

 p. 131). I had considerable personal experience with larvce oi huinuli 



