198 



SUB ORDER III. — LiGULiFLORvE. I Lactuca sativs, L. cult. 

 Sonchusoleraceus.L. (Sow thistle) ■ Scorzonera Lisp mica, (non Triu.) 

 Brachjrhamphus iatybaceus, Gr. 



W. E, Broadway. 



3rd March. 



NOTES ON SOME LEPIDOPTEEOUS INSECTS 



(Collected Principally on San Fernando Hill). 



These notes refer to insects collected in the early part 

 of this — or latter part of last— year. 



In the early part of the year, when the East wind blows 

 from day to day, and the atmosphere is unusually dry — which 

 has been especially the case this year — butterflies and moths 

 are much scarcer than in the later months, owing to these con- 

 ditions, which are unfavourable to their development, and the 

 enjoyment of their ephemeral existence, because this period is 

 not conducive to the growth of the fresh young shoots upon 

 ■which the larvje feed. There are always, however, some of 

 these insects to be seen in the gardens all the year round, 

 perhaps the most noticeable among the butterflies here is a 

 Callidnjas, sp. I have been told by collectors, and have myself 

 noticed, that when this species is plentiful, other butterflies 

 also are abundant. Specimens of this Callidri/as sy>. can 

 always be procured here, and, of course, there are some other 

 kinds which are always plentiful. The pupa of Callifdnas 

 (enbule) sp. or common yellow is a beautiful pink, the yellow 

 venation of the wings of the imago being all that denotes the 

 colour of the winged insect. The peculiarities in the shape are 

 interesting, the head being prolonged into a tubercle, and the 

 thorax bulging out. The pupa3 of many Hesjperidoe sp. have 

 the head prolonged into a tubercle, but not as long as this of 

 Callidryas. The larvas are green, cylindrical, and slightly 

 covered Avith down. They were found feeding on Cassia 

 hacillaris on March 4th, and pupated March 6th : the imago 

 emerged early on March 17th. 



The larva of a Sphinx of the species Macrosila wa^, found 

 full-fed in a garden- in Port-of-Spain on October 2Sth feeding 

 on the heliotrope, which it had almost completely denuded of 

 leaves but which, however, could not have afforded it sustenance 



