NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS. 227 



of Cooley) 1, 2 or 3, 2, 2, 2 ; first two rows of dorsal glands not wholly 

 absent, but represented by one to three glands, third and fourth rows 

 with posterior groups numbering about five. After boiling in liquor 

 potassiB the insect exhibits a very fine blue pigment ; median lobes 

 remain yellow after boiling ; genital and anal orifices opposite ; outer 

 edge of median lobes with three large crenulatious ; second lobe repre- 

 sented by two small rounded lobules, third by a rather large low 

 lobule, or practically wanting ; antenn;^ represented by a strong bristle 

 on a small tubercle. Embryos in female very large, 231 i^ long ; eyes 

 blue. Eggs about 300 /x. 



Hah. On small branches of a plant not identified, Durban, 

 Natal (Fuller, No. 17). 



Lophococcus, n. g. 



A genus of Monophlebine Coccidse, allied to Monophlebus, 

 which becomes fixed in the adult female state, with a strongly 

 chitinous skin, and has a large erect spine in the middle of the 

 back, this spine originating as an elevated fold of the skin. No 

 ovisac. Type, L. ))urabilis. 



(To be continued.) 



NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS. 



On Rearing Acherontia atropos. — ^The uncertainty of the emerg- 

 ing of the perfect insect from the pupa of A. atropos is well known, 

 and various methods of treatment are from time to time advocated as 

 likely to produce a satisfactory result. This uncertainty exists no 

 doubt in a state of nature, as well as when the insect is bred in 

 confinement, and what it is that causes or regulates it is, so far as I 

 know, unknown. The following data may be perhaps of interest : — 

 Early in August last (1900) I had three full-grown caterpillars brought 

 to me from different localities in this district ; all three were supplied 

 with earth, and "went down" almost immediately. About the end 

 of September I carefully raised the pupte to the surface of the earth, 

 where they remained uncovered. One very soon showed its failure 

 by becoming mouldy, and another came out a cripple some time in 

 October; the third remained until the 11th of this month (July, 1901), 

 when it emerged in perfect condition, a very fine and large specimen, 

 measuring just under five inches in the expanse of the wings. There 

 was not at any time any application of moisture to the pupje, nor 

 special exposure to any higher temperature than that of the room, 

 heated with an ordinary fireplace. I attribute the "failure" of one 

 of the above pupge to an evident injury received by the caterpillar 

 before it was brought to me; the "cripple" was probably owing to 

 there not being in the cage anything for the freshly emerged moth to 

 climb upon (a necessity, I fancy, for the perfect expansion of the 

 wings) ; this was provided for in respect to the third and successful 

 emergence. — (Rev.) 0. Pickard-Cambridge ; Bloxworth Rectory, 

 July 16th, 1901. 



