326 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



that all the October moths are barren females, or only that 

 all the females appearing at that time of the year are barren? 

 If the former, is not this the only species of Lepidoptera in 

 which the female makes her appearance first ? " It is upon 

 the latter of these two questions that I desire to make an 

 observation or two, The subject as to the prior appearance 

 among the Lepidoptera of the male or female is an itilerest- 

 ing one. I allude, of course, to insects when in captivity. 

 Mr. Andrews seems to think that the fact of the female first 

 emerging is something unheard of In supposing this he 

 makes a great mistake. It is by no means an uncommon 

 occurrence ; on the contrary, so far as my experience goes, 

 it is the rule rather than the exception. I have often re- 

 gretted that in former years, when I had great numbers of 

 pupse, I did not pay more attention to this question. I have 

 nevertheless a clear recollection of the fact being as I have 

 stated. Having had some correspondence on this subject 

 with my friend Mr. Birchall, who seemed to think it quite a 

 matter of course that the male should make his appearance 

 first, I took down, at the commencement of this year, the re- 

 spective times of the api)earance of the males and females of 

 a few species which I liad in pupa. The result, as far as it 

 goes, is interesting, 1 should observe that the pupa3 were 

 kept in a N^arm room at Torquay, which accounts for the un- 

 usually early appearance of some of them. 



February 25. Smerinthus Tiliae. Female. 



March 1. „ „ „ 



35 -l^' J» JJ JJ 



„ „ Larentia multistrigaria. Three males, six females. 



„ 19. Endromis versicolor. Two males. 



„ 22. „ „ Two females. 



„ 26, Cidaria suffumata. One female. 



„ „ Eupithecia centaureala. One female. 



„ 29. Cidaria suffumata. Male and female. 



April 5. Closlera anachoreta. One female. 



„ „ Eupithecia expallidata. „ „ 



„ 6. C. anachoreta. „ „ 



„ 7. Cidaria silaceata. One male. 



„ „ Eupithecia vulgata. One female. 

 8. C. anachoreta. One male. 



