24 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



to a very subdued light in a dark corner, and the de- 

 tached ones so strongly suffused with black were taken 

 from a tarred fence. One of the chrysalides of Pieris Bras- 

 sicse on a white surface, now exhibited, is almost an albino. 

 I also exhibit green, reddish and dusky chrysalides on sur- 

 faces of similar tints. Specimens kept in the dark would be 

 interesting; I have one of P. Brassicse which was placed. on 

 whitish wadding in a box from which light was excluded, 

 and it is of a light colour, although possessing all the specific 

 markings, but from this solitary example no conclusion can 

 be drawn. Mr. A. G. Butler has informed me that he also 

 has made some experiments with chrysalides of Pieris Rapae, 

 and has procured a reddish tinge by means of a red surface, 

 besides other colours. The gilded chrysalides deserve men- 

 tion here ; those of Vanessa Urticaj I have hardly ever found 

 except when concealed by nettle-leaves ; those on fences, 

 walls, tree-trunks, &c., being of similar colours to those ob- 

 jects, and mottled more or less. The fine chrysalis of Vanessa 

 Polychloros, when amongst foliage, is coloured like a withered 

 elm-leaf; I have not unfrequently found it of a light reddish 

 brown, with a cluster of metallic silver (not golden) spots on 

 the back at the juncture of the thorax with the abdomen: 

 this colouring also gives place to mottled grayish when the 

 individual is on a wall or other object. The metallic appear- 

 ance is probably of service in giving the insects an uneatable 

 look, and is not necessarily connected with the possession of 

 Ichneumon in their interiors, as one or two of my entomolo- 

 gical friends think, for I have had very fine butterflies out of 

 very metallic chrysalides ; indeed I consider this to be the 

 normal colouring, it being the most beautiful by far. I would 

 venture to suggest another reason why the gilding, when 

 amongst leaves, is of service in the way alluded to : it is this 

 — that the Vanessa chrysalis is quite loosely attached, hang- 

 ing only by the tail, so that, even if it could assume the 

 green colour by which it is surrounded, it would be rather 

 dangerous to it than otherwise, for it would then appear to 

 birds very much like a green caterpillar swinging in the air, 

 but as it is it looks more like a piece of gold or brass than 

 anything else, and birds probably do not think of touching it. 

 There are doubtless many instances of the absence of vari- 

 ability in chrysalides, but I think they will all be found to 



