8 Proceedings of the 



t&j popularly considered, for natural history students very early learn that 

 the chrysalis state is not one of utter quietness ; indeed in some groups not 

 only is there power of locomotion, but even of reproduction, as in the 

 common Blatta or European cockroach, more familiarly known in our 

 kitchens as the black beetle. These diverse habits in the immature con- 

 dition attracted about 100 years ago the attention of two oflScers of the 

 Austrian army, who were writing a book on the natural history of the 

 neighbourhood of Vienna, and they adopted as their motto for the title 

 page of their work, " One eye to the larva, and the other to the imago," 

 anl by this means succeeded in the discrimination of several nearly allied 

 liut obscure species. The idea once started was admitted to be a step 

 forward in the science ; it has ever since been recognised, and many good 

 effects have resulted ; but unfortunately it is easier to roll a cannon ball 

 down hill than to stop it when in motion, and the consideration of the 

 immature forms has been given more and more prominence, so that now 

 they are almost allowed to take precedence over the imagos, and I fear 

 much confusion is likely to arise in the future. Thus in the latest pub- 

 lished work on the British butterflies there is an attempt to classify them 

 not from peculiarities of structure or similarity of external form or colouring, 

 but according to the mode of pupation ; thus the 65 species are referred to 

 three groups, viz., those suspended and girt with a thread around the 

 middle as an additional support, Betergentcs ; those simply suspended, 

 Suspemi ; and those which change within a slight cocoon or web, Cclantes. 

 Distinctions such as these alone would lead us into terrible difficulties of 

 classification, for habits of pupation vary even in the same family. Our 

 common grayling (Hipparchia semele) would not apply to either group, as it 

 changes to the pupa on the plain surface of the ground without the slightest 

 cocoon or protection of any kind, and when we come to consider the hundreds 

 of foreign species we should doubtless meet numerous instances with other 

 peculiar and varied habits. But apart from this no such system could 

 ever be adopted, for the very simple reason that original types and specimens 

 have almost always been taken on the wing, and not reared in captivity, 

 the life histories of the great part of the tropical species being absolutely 

 unknown. I have thought it as well to refer to this proposed 

 classification, if only to point out that one of these modes of pupation is 

 unknown among motks, viz., the habit of suspending itself by the 

 tail without any other support than that afforded by the micro- 

 scopically minute hooks of the last segment; but whatever may 

 be the position in this stage, that of the insect within the chrysalis always 

 assimilates to the external appearance of its envelope ; thus the vrings 

 are placed at the sides, slightly bent forwards, so that the costal margins 

 touch near the tips. Within the space enclosed are the legs, whilst the 

 tongue, unfolded and at fuU length, occupies the medial line ; all these 

 may be distinctly traced. The antennae also are very visible, sometimes 

 occupying a space by themselves on either side, at others almost covering, 

 and hiding the other organs from view. The subject I intend to treat of, 



