( xxviii ) 



further experiments on the variation of lepidopterous cocoons, 

 &c. Evidence was brought to show that the cocoons of Saturnia 

 carpini do not always colour in accord with the substances 

 to which they are attached, as has been alleged. The colouring 

 substance was shown to be derived from the contents of the 

 alimentary canal, being probably a chlorophyll-derivative. Ex- 

 periments were also described which confirmed Mr. Poulton's 

 statements as to the influence of surroundings on the colour 

 of pupae of Vanessa urticcB and larvae of Amphydasis betulana. 



Mr. Poulton said that he was glad to admit that Mr. Bateson 

 had proved his point with regard to the cocoons of Saturnia 

 carpini, and he wished to take the opportunity of acknow- 

 ledging that he had been mistaken in the belief that the larva 

 modified the colour of its cocoon in response to the influence 

 of reflected light. At the same time, he was not convinced 

 that other larvae do not possess this power. He had obtained 

 some very conclusive results with Flalias prasinana, in which 

 it did not appear that any of the sources of error demonstrated 

 by Mr. Bateson in the cases of S. carpini and E. lanestris could 

 have operated. The cocoons had been shown at a meeting of 

 the Society in 1887 (Proc. Ent. Soc. Lond. 1887, pp. 1, li). 

 Since then Mr. Tutt had made similar observations on a very 

 large scale in the case of Halias chlorana. Mr. Poulton stated 

 that he was now experimenting again with H. prasinana, and 

 hoped soon to be able to bring further evidence. He also said 

 that he had not been able to obtain many individuals of the 

 species, but the results had been uniformly in favour of the 

 view that the susceptibility exists. He further said that Mr. 

 Arthur Sidgwick was observing the species, and had arrived 

 at the same opinion. 



Mr. Poulton read a paper entitled "Further Experiments 

 upon the Colour-relation between certain Lepidoptera and 

 their surroundings." 



Miss Lilian J. Gould read a paper entitled " Experiments 

 on the Colour-relation between certain Lepidopterous larvae 

 and their surroundings, together with Observations on Lepi- 

 dopterous larv£e." A long discussion ensued, in which Mr. 

 Jenner Weir, Dr. Sharp, Mr. Merrifield, Mr. Poulton, Mr. 

 Tutt, and the Chairman took part. 



