THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 39 



Cucubali, H. Serena, A. Lignstri. This statement only the 

 more confirms my belief that the males of all the species 

 first emerge, with a few exceptions. — J. S. Dell ; 121, Navy 

 Row, Morice Town. 



Developmoit of tJie Wings of Lepidoptera. — I have often 

 watched with intense interest the gradual expansion of the 

 wings of a lepidopterons imago directly after it has left the 

 puparium. On several occasions 1 have noticed the bag-like 

 appearance they assume when about half-exjjanded, and on 

 a careful examination I found that the wings were formed of 

 two skins, which were kept separate, during the time of their 

 expansion, by a fluid which was forced between them through 

 an orifice at the base, and which was gradually absorbed and 

 formed part of their substance. I also found that the perfect 

 development of the wings depended very much on a full 

 supply of this fluid, and on the skins being kept separate. 

 If they were pressed so as to cause them to adhere, or an 

 incision made in them, allowing the fluid to escape, a cripple 

 was the result. Any Entomologist may satisfy himself of the 

 correctness of these observations by removing the wing of a 

 large moth and carefully dissecting it. Take, for instance, 

 the half-formed wing of Acherontia Atropos. Having made 

 an incision down the costal margin, carefully separate the 

 two skins ; in doing so the veins will be laid bare, and may 

 be separated from the wing by a fine pin. Ifthewingis 

 now placed under the inch-power of a microscope, each vein 

 will be seen to be beautifully branched. A still higher power 

 will show their compound structure, each vein being com- 

 posed of an outer tube, through which passes a spiral nerve, 

 which will) ease may be drawn from the tube. The whole 

 forms a beautiful subject for microscopic examination. — 

 Henry Moncrcaff ; Soutlisea. 



Influence of wet Winters on Insect Life. — The Rev L. 

 Jenyns, in his interesting ' Observations on Natural History,' 

 expresses a conviction that rainy winters are much more de- 

 structive to insect life than frost}' ones, even severe cold pro- 

 ducing little or no effect upon liybernating insects, while 

 heavy rains drown them in their burrows. I cannot help 

 thinking that the influence of intense cold is here somewhat 

 underrated. However this may be, it would be worth while 

 to note, during the coming season, if the recent heavy rains 



