152 [December, 



be severed. The rectum of the nascent chrysalis* draws this in or 

 lets it go by peristaltic action of the sphincter muscles, the whole 

 ligament being drawn out as soon as the hooks of the cremaster reach 

 the silk." 



A muscular tube capable oi pei'istaJtic action may be regarded as 

 a succession of sphincter rings piled one on another to form a cylinder ; 

 and the peristaltic action of this tube is nothing else than the con- 

 traction of these sphincter rings in orderly succession, one after the 

 other. The contraction of the first ring closes the tube at that point, 

 and the successive contraction of the adjacent rings drives along by a 

 vis a tergo the fluid or semi-fluid contents of the tube. But it is 

 self-evident that no such effect could be produced on a solid body 

 (ligament) passing completely through the first contracting ring ; and 

 this is the condition of things in question. It remains for Prof. Eiley 

 to demonstrate and explain by what new structures and mechanism 

 the puj^a is drawn up again by means of the " rectal ligament." And 

 1 think the same difilculty stands in the way when the rectal ligament 

 is regarded not as a suspensor^;er se, but as an adjuvant to the true 

 suspensory ligament. 



Milford, Letterkenny, Ireland : 

 Octoler, 1879. 



NOTES ON UNKNOWN OE, LITTLE-ENOWN LAEY^ OP 

 MICE 0-LJEPID OPTERA. 



BY E. L. EAGONOT. 



Several entomologists of great merit are doing all they can to 

 elucidate the life-histories of the British Lcpidojjfera, and they have 

 already done much in that way, still there are a great many species of 

 which the larvre seem to laugh at our endeavours to discover them, or 

 to learn their precise habits. 



In order to provoke the publication of the life-history of our pets, 

 I purpose to contribute to this magazine notes on the British species 

 oi Micro- Lepidopteraoi which the larvge are quite unknown, and bringing 

 together all we know of the habits of these, concerning which some- 

 thing has been recorded ; for it frequently happens that a clue, however 

 small, leads to the discovery of what we are eager to learn. 



I hope that, by drawing the attention of British lepidopterists to 

 this subject,: we may learn the first stages of numbers of Micro- 

 Lepidoptera, for I feel assured that many entomologists refrain from 



* Although, as stated above, it is almost obsolete ! Or, is there a special -pu-pal rectum for 

 this purpose, loft behind at the exclusion of the imago ? And can it be found in the empty 

 puparium ?— J. A. O. 



