254 THE entomologist's record. 



Lymantriids, Noctuids, Notodontids,and Papilionids, i.e., to the upright- 

 egged superfamihes of the lepidoptera. Although there are many 

 observations on these peculiar structures, the differences in detail in 

 the various superfamihes have not yet been at all satisfactorily worked 

 out. That they are remnants of offensive or defensive structures 

 appears certain. — Ed.] 



Lepidopterological Notes in 1908. 



By CECIL FLOERSHEIM, B.A., F.E.S. 



Spring lepidoptera at Nervi. — At Nervi, a few miles east of 

 Genoa, I noticed the following species of Khopalocera during four days 

 spent there in the May of the present year. Iplddides podalirius on 

 the wing and ovipositing May 22nd. Papilio machaon larva on fennel, 

 second nastar, May 20th. Pyrauieh atalanta imagines abundant and 

 in perfect condition. May 20th and 23rd. Pieris brassicae, full-grown 

 larva, May 24th. 



Larval habit of Nemeobius lucina. — The larva of Neineobins 

 lucina, anyhow in its later stages, seems to feed entirely by night, and 

 hides amongst the withered leaves of primrose, with which its colour 

 harmonizes exactly by day. 



Pupation-position of Gonepteryx rhamni. — The few pupa? of 

 Guneptfnjx r/iamni, which I succeeded in finding on B/iai)>nus frani/nla 

 this year, were all attached to the mid- rib of the undersides of a leaf, 

 with their heads pointing towards the stem. 



Butterfly attacked by bird, — In June of the present year I 

 was carrying a sj)ecimen of Eiiphoeades troilus ^ to my butterfly-house, 

 when it escaped and settled on some espalier pears close by. As I was 

 hurrying to capture it, a hen blackbird, Avho had a nest near at hand, 

 swooped down upon it and carried it off', still fluttering, to her young 

 with a cluck of triumph. I thought this might be of interest, in view 

 of the rare occasion upon which birds are seen to attack butterflies 

 in this country. 



Pairin<t habit of Dryas paphia. — Dnjas paphia pairs after a short 

 courtship on the wnng, the female then settling on some bush and 

 fanning her expanded wings in the sunshine, copulation taking place 

 in aitti without further flight. Other males often attempt to pair with 

 the already mated female whilst in copidd, upon which the couple 

 already paired fly off', with the male dependent, as I have observed 

 in Epinepliele janira and other Sat i/rinae . The female often keeps her 

 wings expanded to the sunshine whilst in copula, but I have not observed 

 the male doing so. Pairing generally happens between half-past eight 

 and half -past eleven on fine mornings, separation taking place daring 

 the afternoon. From the number of butterflies I observed in copula 

 in my house, many of which were worn ones, I should say that the 

 female oi Dnjas paphia probably pairs more ihan once; I will try to 

 ascertain this for certain next year. 



Oviposition of Dryas paphia. — Dri/as papltia begins to lay its 

 eggs from about a fortnight to three weeks after emergence. I watched 

 the females this year depositing their ova on or about the following : 

 crevices in the trunk of a willow tree, wintered flower- heads of spur- 

 valerian, upper- and undersurface of leaves of Aristolochia siplw, leno 

 of sides of butterfly-house, faded flowers of pansy, and even on pansies 

 and violets, the foodplants themselves. Several times the female I was 



