REAPPEARANCE OP DEILEPHILA GALII. 293 



crowned my efforts ; and in half an hour's time I was the happy 

 possessor of three real living larvae of D. galii nearly full fed. 

 The search also revealed at least half a dozen other mashed-up 

 remains in various stages of growth. The three which I found 

 alive were not far apart from one another, but all in different 

 places. It was the first time my eyes had beheld their full 

 glory, and splendid creatures they are indeed. Two of these 

 larvae, after wandering round the breeding-cage in the same 

 uneasy manner as stellatarum before mentioned, have at length 

 buried ; the third, I am happy to say, is now a successfully pre- 

 served specimen for the cabinet. It seemed a shame to kill it ; 

 but I think the action is justified by the result, for I never had a 

 smooth caterpillar which retained its shape and colour better 

 when blown. I have since been able to complete my search of 

 the bedstraw growing along the coast-line as far as the ladies' 

 golf-course at Hall Eoad, some two miles north of Waterloo, but 

 can find no more traces of galii, though stellatarum has been 

 there sparingly. Had I not been bound by parochial ties I should 

 doubtless have made a still more thorough search for this 

 interesting species ; but the amount of time I have already 

 spent on these sandy wastes has been smiting my conscience 

 somewhat. However, one doesn't like to be beaten by a cater- 

 pillar ; and, let these writing-desk entomologists say what they 

 will, galii does not visit us every year. 



I should like to say much more as to my own views about this re- 

 appearance, about migration, spasmodic habits, and the rest ; for 

 though so much has been written on the subject in connection with 

 Z). galii {vide letters by Messrs. Briggs, Corbett, Sharp, Tugwell, 

 and Tutt in the 'Young Naturalist' for 1889 and 1890), yet how 

 little can really be said to be known. So many theories are held, 

 some of them more ingenious than practicable ; but at present 

 we must all confess that it is a subject over which there are 

 infinite possibilities, and one which calls forth a corresponding 

 amount of interest. It is on this account, and because I believe 

 that others will be as interested as myself, that I have presumed 

 to trespass on so much of the valuable space of this journal. If 

 I have unnecessarily gone into details at too great length, I 

 apologise for it ; but to me this is where the interest lies. 



I am awaiting the next few monthly issues with keen 

 expectation to see what others have experienced this year with 

 D. galii. 



26, Hamilton Square, Birkenhead : Sept. 22nd, 1897. 



ENTOM. — NOV. 1897. 3 B 



