March iSS?. PSYCHE. 29 



warm, moist atmosphere have but five (Papilio, 1S82, v. 2, p. 165), noticed 



stages; Mr. VVeniger tells me tliat there the fact that a certain larva of Orgyia 



was no error on his part as to the num- Icncostignia., bred at the same time, and 



ber of stages; none were overlooked. under the same conditions as others of 



"My correspondent in Ceylon, who its species, molted once more than did 



has for many years reared Antho-aea any of the others, and that this individ- 



mylitta, likewise asserts in an article ual, upon emergence from the cocoon, 



published by him in a journal at Co- proved to be a female. The variability 



lonibo, and vyhich I have lately read, of the number of molts of Orgyia le7i- 



that the wj'////'rt; race which he reared C(?j-//Vwa is evidently for the purpose of 



had but five stages ; in Ceylon too the enabling the female to attain its full 



climate is warm and moist. size, which is, in that genus, considera- 



'■' Pla/ysaniia cecropia has also six bly larger than that of the male, but 



stages, but cannot this likewise have there is possibly a variation in the num- 



but five, reared under these same condi- ber of molts that is due to climatic in- 



tions? May we not conclude from these fluences, corresponding, therefore, in a 



facts that certain species of lepidoptera way, to the results obtained by Mr. 



can have many or fewer stages accord- Weniger. 



ing to the conditions or according to the Dr. C. V. Riley disagrees with Mr. 

 way in which they are reared? Further Wailly as to the number of molts of yJ/- 

 observations will be made on this sub- tacus cecropia, the former (Amer. 

 jectwbichi shall submit to the society." entom., Feb., 1870, v. 2, p. 100) record- 

 In connection with this article by Mr. ing but five, the latter (Bull. Soc. ac- 

 Wailly, it may be well to mention a few dim. France, May 1882, s. 3, v. 9, p. 

 more observations on this interesting 266-267) six stages. Might not this be 

 subject. Dr. C. V. Riley (ist ann. due to climatic influences.? Mr. W : H : 

 rept. state entom. Mo., 1S69, p. 145), Edwards stated (Psyche, 18S1, v. 3, p. 

 observed that the larvae of Orgyia leu- 17O that he found upon rearing Cailo- 

 costigma which produced females had samia prumethea that the larvae molted 

 four molts, while those producing males but three times, while Mr. Lintner 

 had but three. Mr. J. Hellins (Entom. (Entom. contributions, no. 3, 1874, p. 

 month, mag., 1881, v. 18, p. "^(i) 126) believes the larva of this species 

 noticed, apparently, no sexual difference to have four molts. As Mr. Edwards' 

 as regards the number of molts of Or- specimens werereared farthersouth than 

 ^7/^ a//%//a, having reared four larvae were Mr. Lintner's, it would appear 

 which molted as follows : one male molt- that this instance, if i\w. to climatic in- 

 ing three, another one four times ; one fluence, was as would be expected, i.e., 

 female molting four, another one five that the larvae reared at the north had 

 times. This is at variance with Dr. moi'e molts than those reared at the 

 Riley's statements above noted. Yet south, 

 another observer, Mr. N. Coleman 



