recnpihilafory aflifudcs in Lepidoplera. 341 



ChrysopJianus dispar. var. nililus emerges about 9.30 a.m. 

 Wings expand vciy rapidly in from six to ten minutes, 

 they expand to butterfly resting attitude, i. e. wings 

 closed dorsally. There then begins a succession of what 

 nuist be called opening and shutting the wings, though 

 the opening only amounts to a separation of 2 or 3 mm. 

 When closed, the wings (costae) are in contact for four- 

 fifths of their length, when open, though the wings are 

 elsewhere separated, the apices may in some cases meet. 

 They remain closed for about thirty seconds and open for 

 forty-five seconds, but the time varies a little, for about 

 sixteen times in twenty minutes and then for several times 

 more, but so slightly as to be almost doubtful, settling 

 down to the distal two-thirds of the wings touching at the 

 end of half an hour. About the middle of the period the 

 hind-wings open from the fore-wings, so that their tips are 

 6 or 7 mm. apart during several periods of being open. 

 Various minor details as to movements of proboscis and 

 positions of antennae are not perhaps worth reporting. 



SmerinfJiKs popiili and oceUafus only afforded me three 

 observations ; they have a habit, very trying for this pur- 

 pose, of emerging hardly before and usually a good time 

 after midnight. They ex]iand the wings into the drying 

 attitude, and then gradually and imperceptibly open them, 

 during about half an hour, to the ordinary resting attitude 

 for the fore-wing; the hind-wing is then only partially 

 advanced to show its costa, not more, in fact, than is 

 compelled by its greater width ; they project about 7 mm., 

 and it is some time before they advance to show nearly 

 double this width. 



It cannot be said, so far as my meagre materials justify, 

 that these species show any attempt to exhibit the normal 

 Lepidopterous resting position. 



Falcaria falcataria follows very closely the habits of the 

 Geometevs, Ephyras, Acidalias, etc. It emerges about 5 to 

 5.30 a.m., rarely or never after 6.30. It expands the wings 

 under an hour, then throws them hack into usual drying 

 attitude with a little sudden jerk, remains so for perhaps 

 forty minutes, then gradually lowers them, i. e. with no 

 sudden jerk to flat attitude, with inner margins against 

 body, i. e. to normal Geometer resting attitude. Some speci- 

 mens advance the fore-wings gradually and very shnvly to 

 the resting attitude of the species, i. e. exposing much of 

 the hind-wings; others remain in the triangular position 



