NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS. 43 



surface around which the cocoou is constructed. Upon examining a 

 cocoon, a piece will be found to have been removed for the escape of 

 the moth ; this piece is not broken out, but is cut or pierced out, the 

 fragment usually falling back into its place when the moth emerges. 

 I have not observed the insect removing this roundish piece, but as I 

 cannot detect any special instrument in the moth, there can be only 

 one explanation as to the manner in which it is cut out, i. e. that it is 

 done by the chrysalis, for the remarkable spike with which it is 

 provided can be for no other purpose than for piercing the cocoon ; 

 this instrument is really double, though it looks like one piece. It is 

 certainly extraordinary how the chrysalis, which is shorter than the 

 cocoon, can expand sufficiently to be enabled to bring this spike to 

 work upon the upper end of the cocoon. All the " Zeuzeridte " 

 pupffi are provided with stout but blunt "beaks," each species different, 

 with which they break or push out, whole, the strong and thick wad 

 which encloses them in their bores ; they then work halfway out of 

 their bores before they split open their shells, and the moths crawl 

 out; but this sharp-spiked pupa is altogether strange in my expe- 

 riences. I regard it as extremely probable that many other of our 

 Bombycidffi, which construct hard cocoons, are provided in the pupal 

 state with special cutting or breaking instruments. Several of the 

 " Xyloryctidfe " (Tineidae) are provided with extraordinary head-pieces 

 to enable them to get through the thick " felt "-like constructions 

 with which they securely fasten themselves in their chambers. This 

 by the way, Eeverting to our Notodonta, it may be noticed that the 

 larva is a queer-looking creature, with its flat and widened out tail- 

 segments ; this ta,il is turned over the larva's back when it rests; it 

 is veined, and so formed as to present a striking resemblance to a 

 young leaf of the tree [Tertninalia, sp. ?)upon which it feeds. The full- 

 grown larva is dull green, head nearly black ; very small caterpillars 

 are coffee-brown ; they all have the raised, flattened-out "tail," which, 

 however, is lowered during progression. — F. P. Dodd ; Warburton 

 Street, Townsville, Queensland. 



Note on a Habit of Cyaniris (Lyc^ena) argiolus. — (J. artjiolus was 

 very comm.ou in this neighbourhood last year, and I noticed a curious 

 habit of the imago wliich I have not observed in other butterflies. 

 The insect, while sitting on a leaf or flower, will move the lower 

 wings — not spreading them out as in flight, but vertically up and 

 down, like a lever works. I believe I have seen both male and female 

 moving the lower wings in this manner. — Alfred Sigh ; 65, Barrow- 

 gate Koad, Chiswick, Jan. 6th, 1902. 



AcHERONTiA ATROPos IN WESTMORELAND. — This specics lias been again 

 present in our district during the year 1901, upwards of a dozen larvae 

 and pupfe having been found in difi'erent parts, and four of these have 

 fallen to my lot. No. 1 pupated Aug. 20tli ; emerged Oct. 6th. 

 No. 2 pupated Sept. 21st ; emerged Nov. 19th. No. 3 pupated Sept. 

 21st; not yet emerged. No. 4 (pupa) put to force Nov. 23rd; 

 emerged Jan. 10th, 1902. The first three were received as unearthed 

 larvae, and turned almost immediately. Ten days after pupation they 

 were laid on dry soil, and put to force in an absolutely dry atmosphere 

 of seventy to eighty degrees, not allowed even atmospheric moisture. 



