GSD 
VI. Life-histories of Rhopalocera from the Australian 
region. By Gervase F. Maruew, Staff-Pay- 
master, R.N., F.L.S., F.Z.S., &e. 
[Read December 7th, 1887. } 
Prats VI. 
Durixe a period of more than three years spent in 
eruising off the coasts of Australia and New Zealand, 
and amongst the islands of the Western Pacific, I 
devoted as much of my leisure time as I was able to in 
collecting Lepidoptera, and working out, to the best of 
my ability, the life-histories of such Rhopalocera as it 
was my good fortune to obtain the larve of. In doing 
this there were many obstacles to contend with, such as 
the constant change of locality, the shortness of our 
stay at the different places visited, and the difficulty of 
preserving fresh, for any length of time, the various food- 
plants for the sustenance of the larve. 
For many years I have taken the liveliest interest in 
rearing Lepidoptera from the egg or larva, and noting 
the habits of the different species in a state of nature, 
and have often regretted, when perusing descriptive 
works on exotic butterflies, that so little has been 
written concerning their earlier stages, or so little said 
as to the general habits, localities, times of appearance, 
&e., of the species described. If, when practicable, 
such information were furnished, the books would be 
infinitely more valuable ; and would, I feel convinced, 
tend to attract many more to the study of these charm- 
ing creatures, 
Melanitis leda, Linn. 
In Australia, I have met with this species at Cooktown, 
Brisbane, and Thursday Island, and Mr. Masters in- 
forms me that he has taken it near Sydney. It pro- 
bably occurs, in suitable places, in all tropical parts of 
Australia. In the Western Pacific | observed it at Fiji, 
TRANS. ENT. SOC. LOND. 1888.—PaRT I. (MARCH). 
