22 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



The great, I might almost say the only, object of the female 

 is to procreate the species, and, as is quite correct, she 

 requires to be sought^ as can be abundantly proved. The 

 female moth is of a coy and retiring nature, and, unfor- 

 tunately for us collectors, too often shuns publicity. We 

 cannot therefore, I think, fairly argue anything from their 

 non-appearance. This leads me to the instance proposed by 

 Mr. Andrews himself, Endromis versicolor. " Can any of 

 your readers inform me whether the females of E. versicolor 

 appear first in captivity, as my experience certainly tells me 

 that, at liberty, the male of that species appears first." With 

 regard to this question, I have not had sufficient experience 

 in breeding that species to answer it satisfactorily. In the 

 list given by me (Entom. ii. 825) I mention this insect. 

 I had only four pupse. From these emerged two males and 

 two females ; the former on March 19lh ; the latter, March 

 22nd. So far therefore as this isolated instance is of value, 

 the male would emerge first in captivity. But will Mr. A. 

 oblige me by stating how he proves that, at liberty, the male 

 appears first ? Is it because he sees it first .'' I am sorry to 

 say I have never had the pleasure of seeing the " glory " on 

 the wing, but I have read the accounts of many who have. 

 Their testimony is to this effect, — that they have not unfre- 

 quently seen the males in numbers flying wildly and rapidly, 

 hither and thither, in search of the females. I do not recol- 

 lect a single instance in which it was said that they saw the 

 female flying. From this non-appearance of the female on 

 the wing, surely we cannot infer, much less ought we to 

 assert, that it is not in existence. Take the analogous case 

 of Lasiocampa Rubi. Doubtless Mr. A. has frequently seen 

 the male of this species careering over the fields in the hot 

 sunshine for two or three weeks together. I think I may 

 venture to assert that during that period he has never seen a 

 female, I mean of course flying. Does he therefore con- 

 clude that during that time there have been no females ? 

 Why, if this argument were pressed, we should have no 

 females at all ! One more question. Will Mr. A. tell me 

 hotv^ in a stale of nature, I am to decide which appears first? 

 Until it be shown how this can be done satisfactorily, I must 

 venture to think that the results (for or against my theory), 

 while in captivity, are fair prima facie evidence. Thus, if 



