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XXI. Life History of Cydimon (Urania) leilus, L. By 
L. GUPPY, jun. 
[Read April 10th, 1907.] 
Puates XXVI, XXVII. 
In “ A Handbook to the Order Lepidoptera,” by W.F. Kirby, 
vol, ili, p. 45 (“Lloyd’s Natural History”), it is stated, 
“The earlier stages are unknown, for it is not possible 
that the larva figured by Madame Merian, with long 
branching spines as hard as iron wire, can belong to a 
Cydimon, in view of MacLeay’s description, etc, of C. 
boisduvalit.” 
This statement is correct, as my description and figures 
of the early stages will show. 
I have observed C. lei/ws carefully for years past, 
especially in 1901, when they swarmed all over the 
island, and I have netted numbers of females in a fresh 
and immaculate condition, and from their appearance it 
would seem they had not come from far; however, it 
always occurred to me, whatever the larvae fed upon, 
if they were properly established on this island, from their 
numbers there would surely be some indication from the 
state of the vegetation to betray their whereabouts, in the 
shape of trees, creepers, ete., denuded of their leaves. 
1 may here observe, however, that as the creeper on 
which they do feed is often so much concealed by other 
similar and parasitic plants, that the destruction of this 
particular creeper might pass unnoticed; and the lofty 
trees in the forests on which these grow are not sufficiently 
under observation anyhow, especially as the season in 
which I discovered the eggs and larve is the wettest and 
stormiest time of the year. 
In a spot about eight miles inland (due east from the 
town of Port of Spain), situated at the foot of the northern 
hills of Trinidad, on the southern side, there are a few big 
trees, the remnant of the virgin forest which was cut 
down to form the present cacao plantation, overgrown, as 
is always the case with our forest trees, by parasites and 
creepers, till there is hardly anything to be seen of the 
TRANS. ENT. SOC. LOND. 1907.—PART III. (NOV.) 
