142 Scientific Notices. 
Instinct of Lepidopterous Insects. 
Philosophical Society, Portsmouth. 
My dear Sir, 
It has been asserted by entomologists that the males of the Lepidopte- 
rous Insects are guided to the females by a peculiar instinct, so that an 
unimpregnated female being carried in a wire cage along the hedges and 
other haunts of this tribe, will attract the males of that species so that they 
may be easily captured. 
I have never had an opportunity of trying this experiment; but the fol- 
lowing fact which has lately fallen under my observation leaves me noroom 
to doubt the correctness of the assertion, as it proves the existence and 
exhibits the operation of this instinct in a very remarkable manner. 
Being engaged in adding the British Insects to the Collection of the 
Portsmouth Philosophical Society, I had procured a variety of larve, 
(the insects thus obtained being generally in a better condition than those 
taken by the net). They in due time passed into the pupa, and the first 
which emerged was a female Sphinx Convolvuli. On going into my study 
in the evening I found it fluttering on the floor : on lifting it up, it ran up 
my coat, and several times round the collar, before I could place it in safety. 
I went from thence immediately into my garden to shut some hot-bed 
lights, where I was occupied about ten minutes ; from thence again to 
my study, where I found that two fine males of the Sph. Convolwuli had, 
whilst in the garden, attached themselves to the collar of my coat, where 
the female had previously been. 
After this, another female of the same species haying been produced, 
three males found their way into my study down the chimney, there being 
no other mode by which they could obtain entrance, and one of them fell 
into a vase standing under it where he was captured. A few days after, 
two females of the Phalena Salicis emerged: on the same evening I saw 
several of that species fluttering against the window, and on opening it 
six males rushed in and instantly sought the females. 
I state these facts just as they occurred. They are certainly curious, 
and go to prove that the unimpregnated female emits an odour percepti- 
ble to the delicate organs of the males at a great distance, who thus 
