156 MR. STAINTON ON ORGYIA. 
remains, from his observations, that the thin white cocoon which 
has been taken for an expansion of the mantle is simply a pellicle 
of mucus, secreted during hibernation or rest. 
The terminal processes represented in Mr. Berkeley’s drawing as 
embracing the sides of the shell appear to be a different structure 
from this cocoon-pellicle. De Férussac, however, describes the 
mantle as being divided into several lobes ; and it is to be hoped 
that some light may be thrown on this structure by further obser- 
vations. Originally a native of the Canary Islands, Testacella has 
become freely acclimatized in Europe through being imported with 
plants ; it is mostly found in the neighbourhood of maritime cities, 
and generally in the vicinity of the hothouse or conservatory. 
On the Abnormal Habits of some Females of the Genus Orgyza.— 
By H. T. Sraryron, Esq., F.L.S. 
[Read May 1, 1862. ] 
THE genus Orgyia is a well-known genus of Moths, of the family 
Inparide, in the group of the Bombycina. 
The males have well-developed wings, and, though of rather a 
slighter habit, are not particularly different from the males of the 
neighbouring genera; but the females at once attract attention 
by the rudimentary condition of their wings and by the large size 
of their bodies. 
One of the best-known of the genus is Orgyia antigua, which is 
excessively plentiful in the streets of London, the male being seen 
flying freely about on bright days in July and August. The female 
may often be noticed sitting on the outside of the cocoon in which 
it has passed its pupa-state of existence. After copulation, the 
female deposits her eggs on the surface of the cocoon. 
The Rev. Lansdown Guilding has stated, in the 15th volume of 
the Transactions of this Society (p. 372), that the female of Orgyia 
antiqua, “ copula juncta, enjoys with its partner the pleasures of the 
open fields ;’’ but I am certainly not aware that such an observation 
has been confirmed, and, looking to the disproportion of the size 
of the sexes and the utter incapacity of the female to assist in flight, 
it would appear physically impossible. Indeed, I believe that the 
female rests on the cocoon whilst receiving the advances of the 
male, that she then deposits her eggs on the outside of the cocoon ; 
and not till her mission is completed does she drop off the cocoon, 
in a dying state, a shrivelled, empty egg-bag. 
