MR. STAINTON ON ORGYIA. 163 
remarks, and though I have allowed so long a period to elapse, 
yet I believe I ought not to keep back my observations on the, at 
any rate, quite analogous mode of copulation of Orgyia dubia, 
since possibly nothing thereon may yet have been published by 
German entomologists. 
“ T have never had an opportunity of observing O. Hrice, and can 
consequently say nothing respecting that species; but it would 
seem to me that the same thing takes place with O.Hrice as with 
O. dubia, which is common here. 
“T forbear from giving a complete biology of this Moth, as super- 
fluous, and I only remark that, as in all the Orgyie, the female 
[larvee] are distinguished from the males by their greater size. 
Usually I do not take the trouble, when rearing them, to separate 
the male larve ; and hence I have to be particularly attentive at the 
time of their exclusion, in order to secure them uninjured. The 
female larva forms a cocoon very roomy for its size, in which the 
female perfect insect bursts open the thin pupa-skin, without, 
however, being in a condition to remove it from the head. I cer- 
tainly know of no more helpless creature: the head and antennz 
are so small and inconspicuous that they can only be perceived 
with difficulty ; the legs are so feeble and so very short (much 
shorter than those of the larva) that the insect cannot use them 
at all. In fact, we have here little else than an abdomen full of 
eggs, which the creature can scarcely move: any violent agitation 
is not to be thought of. The female never leaves its cocoon, and 
closes, in its habitation (which will soon become its coffin, unless 
some amorous male takes pity on it), in lonely and joyless state, 
its short life, yet not without at least depositing some of its 
numerous white eggs. These soon shrivel, since they are un- 
fertilized. 
“ The lively male, on the other hand, displays, soon after its exclu- 
sion, a quite peculiar activity in order to accomplish its life’s 
mission. Often before half an hour has elapsed after its exclusion 
and complete development, it begins to seek eagerly for a consort. 
It soon scents out the thoroughly closed habitation of a female, 
settles on it, and seeks for the most convenient place for pene- 
trating into the maiden’s apartment. It soon discovers the right 
place at the most accessible end of the pupa, at the place where 
usually the moths make their escape. With indefatigable per- 
severance and haste it now bores with head and legs, afterwards 
helping itself with its wings into the cocoon, which generally 
happens after half-an-hour’s hard work: copulation then takes 
