THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 25 



be mimics of some disliked or dangerous insect. The chry- 

 salis of" Aporia Crataegi is very conspicuous and not very 

 variable, but I have been much struck by its strong resem- 

 blance to the caterpillar of the currant-bush moth (Abraxas 

 grossulariata), as both are speckled with black on a whitish 

 ground, and the moth caterpillar is extremely abundant in 

 the same localities, and is probably disliked by birds. The 

 pupa of the moth is very remarkably coloured with yellow 

 bands on black, giving it a waspy appearance, and I recollect 

 being afraid when a child to touch it, thinking it would sting. 

 I feel convinced that by the proper use of gilded surfaces the 

 gilded chrysalides of Vanessa, and perhaps of other genera, 

 would be obtained, and I hope to be able to try the experi- 

 ment next season ; also to obtain colours with coloured glass, 

 as it is probable that the strongest effects would be obtained 

 by that means. There can be no doubt that disguise will be 

 found to be carried to as great a length in chrysalides of but- 

 terflies as in any other class or stage of insect life, as their 

 evading observation, and consequent security during a con- 

 siderable portion of their lives, must depend solely upon this 

 power which they unconsciously possess." 



Mr. A. G. Butler stated that he had obtained a red or rosy 

 chrysalis of Pieris Rapge, which had undergone its trans- 

 formation in a piece of scarlet cloth ; and pupae upon glass 

 were generally of a pale slate-colour. 



Mr. J. Jenner Weir said that, whatever might be the ex- 

 planation, he could speak to the fact that metallic chrysalides 

 were for some reason or other obnoxious to birds and free 

 from their attacks. 



Mr. Bond combated Mr. Wood's theory ; he had had 

 thousands of pupae of Papilio Machaon, and had often had 

 the brown variety of pupa on a green ground-colour, whilst 

 in some seasons he obtained no brown specimens at all : as 

 regards Pieris Rapae, he had noticed that the pupae of the 

 second brood were generally rather paler than the first brood; 

 but in the same greenhouse, the doors and wood-work of 

 which were painted white, he had found chrysalides of all 

 the exhibited colours, many of them quite as dark as those 

 shown by Mr. Wood on black surfaces ; on the same wall, 

 built of particularly red bricks, he had found all the colours 

 except the red ; on the same twig of the common garden 



