358 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 
The Lepidoptera, which are most voracious feeders in the 
larval state, when they have reached the imago state indulge 
only in an occasional sip of honey by way of refreshment. For a 
supply of honey they have two natural sources— 
(1) Flowers—the principal source. 
(2) An exudation of certain Aphides, particularly of species 
belonging to the genus Lachnus, known as ‘“ Honey- 
dew.” 
In supplying insects with honey, flowers are supposed to demand 
of them certain services; but, so far, no one has ventured to 
suggest that the Aphis also asks a guid pro quo. The plant-lice 
are the most unselfish of creatures. Without recompense, they 
provide sweets for Ants, Wasps, Moths, Flies, and even Beetles. 
A taste for sweets in any shape or form we can understand, 
but many species are attracted by things which we can hardly 
call sweet, among them being the berries of the Yew, the resinous 
exudations of various conifers, and putrid flesh. This last 
degraded taste has been shown by certain species of that magnifi- 
cent family of Butterflies, the Nymphalidee—including the only 
British representative, Apatura iris, Linn. But when we have 
counted up the species partaking of all these, we find that a very 
large proportion of the order remains unaccounted for. These 
species seem in the imago state to require no nutriment whatever, 
living on the strength they have stored up during their period of 
youthful voracity. 
Let us then take the great divisions of the British Lepidoptera, 
and tabulate them according as they do or do not visit plants for 
their juices, using the old classification as most convenient. 
ORDER LEPIDOPTERA. - 
FLOWER-FREQUENTING. Non-FLOWER-FREQUENTING. 
Lhopalocera (Butterflies). Bombyces (Silk-spinners), except 
Thyatira batis, Linn. 
Sphingide (Hawk-moths, etc.)  Geometride (Loopers), except 
Larentia, Eupethecia, Anti- 
clea, Iodis, Cidaria, ete. 
Noctuc (Night-hawks). Pyralidide, except  Pionea, 
Scopula. 
Pterophori. 

