NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS. 169 



whom I have made enquiries, that the larva does not feed on the horns 

 of living animals ; had this been the case, it would not have escaped 

 the observation of some of our ' mighty African hunters.' Thus Dr. 

 Fitzgibbon's statement stands alone ; the question must, however, 

 remain sub jadice." 



Erana graminosa. — This beautiful native green Noctuid exhibits a 

 range of variation equalled only by a few other endemic species of 

 moths. The specimen figured by Hudson, in his ' Manual of New 

 Zealand Entomology,' is not quite typical of the species, as it occurs 

 at Oamaru in the North Otago district. I collected a fine series there 

 twelve years ago ; and sent a good group of them to the Colonial 

 Museum at Wellington shortly afterwards. Amongst them were at 

 least a dozen specimens exhibiting distinctive phases of variation or 

 varieties equally well defined as the forms of Hydrcecia nictitans 

 figured by Mr. J. W. Tutt (Entom. xxi. 289). If a dozen distinctive 

 forms were selected, and we were to begin with the darkest and end 

 with the palest, Mr. Hudson's figure would range about fourth in the 

 series. Eecently I have seen a good series collected in the native 

 vegetation at Wakauni, six miles seawards of Ashburton. Although 

 not quite so variable as the Oamaru forms, there is considerable varia- 

 tion amongst them. The various shades of green exhibited by each 

 variety are more distinct in some localities than in others. — 

 W. W. Smith. 



" Snowstorms in June." — Under this heading a writer in the 

 ' Standard ' (June 2nd), referring to the severe weather in North 

 Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, says: — "The unseasonable weather 

 is proving disastrous to insect life, and scores of dead and stupified 

 butterflies are lying about the garden." Can any reader of the 

 ' Entomologist ' corroborate this ? 



" Insect Grafting. — A discovery which may lead to important 

 results has been made by Mr. Henry E. Crampton, Instructor in 

 Biology in Columbia University. Mr. Crampton has been studying 

 the work of a German scientist named Born, and has made a practical 

 test of some of his theories, with extraordinary results. He has expe- 

 rimented on the embryo of the butterfly at the period of its existence 

 when it lies inactive in its cocoon, after its life as a caterpillar. Every- 

 one has seen the grub spinning its delicate nest on a leaf or twig, and 

 entering it, as into a grave, remaining there eating nothing and appa- 

 rently dead for a few weeks ; and then emerging from it a beautiful 

 creature with wings. Mr. Crampton collected a number of these 

 cocoons, and operated on their insensible occupants. He found that 

 he could cut the comatose creatures in half and join the half of one to 

 the half of another without affecting the life of either. The chrysalids 

 so joined accomplished the usual period of their retirement and emerged 

 from it as two butterflies, with wonderful combinations of colours and 

 organisms, apparently none the worse for the operation which had been 

 performed. Prof. Smith, of the New Jerdey Experiment Station, who 

 has made the facts of Mr. Crampton's work known, believes that the 

 discovery will constitute an era in biological science. The principle has 

 an endless variety in possible forms of application, and may eventually 

 reach to higher orders of life. The possibility of continuing two natures 



