242 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



subject has been dispelled. This morning came into being the 

 first Urania Sloanus that has been reared from the larva. It 

 assumed the pupa form on the 7th instant, having been fed on 

 the leaves of what we know as the wild walnut." My corre- 

 spondent, with excusable pride and enthusiasm, enters into 

 many minute details of the appearance of his new-born treasure, 

 and of his manipulation of it. These, though interesting, I will 

 not repeat ; but rather quote some further observations made on 

 the larvaB in a state of freedom. 



" On the 12th [of July, 1880] my son and I rode down to 

 Bogue Bay, near Ocho Eios. It is a pretty little bay, wooded to 

 the water's edge ; the trees, in many instances hanging over the 

 beach. From some branches we saw several of these black and 

 white caterpillars, letting themselves down by a single silken 

 thread, until they touched the salt water. There they would 

 remain a few seconds, enjoying their sea-bath, and then they 

 would haul themselves up again to the leaf they had selected as 

 their temporary home. If touched, they would let out the thread 

 with great rapidity. 



" On closer inspection we observed some trees, — known by 

 the fishermen around as the wild walnut, — with large almond- 

 shaped leaves, covered with these caterpillars, of different sizes, 

 all feeding greedily. Many of the trees had been denuded to the 

 very leaf-stalks, and then forsaken by the larvte for fresh food. 



" It was curious and interesting to notice how these hairy 

 caterpillars abounded. Some were crawling on the sand ; some 

 floating in the sea, at the mercy of the tiny wavelets that broke 

 upon the shore. All, however, seemed quite happy, and at home, 

 whether on land or sea. These fortunate creatures appeared to 

 us to have no enemies. A fisherman close by told me that what 

 we saw was nothing to the number he had seen two days pre- 

 viously. The trees, he said, were black with them ; and he added 

 that, every year, about the same time in July, these caterpillars 

 are found wherever the wild walnut grows. I may add that, four 

 days later, — on the 16th, — we revisited the spot, but not a trace 

 of larvae or pupge was to be found ! " 



My correspondent kindly sent to me the empty puparium 

 within its loose cocoon, affixed to the surface of a broad, ovate, 

 leathery leaf, and several larvae of different sizes, preserved in 

 alcohol. He also inclosed a perfect leaf, of what he calls the 



