upon Ceylonese Lepidoptera. 45 



represented in plate V. fig. 9, a section of it being figured in 

 fig. 10. Of Pohjommatus I have twelve species, or very distinct 

 varieties ; of Thecla twenty-five, some very distinct and beautiful. 

 Of some genera of minute Lepidoptera I have beautiful scries, 

 especially of the Pyrcdkhe ; and of the china-marks, and their allies, 

 some very handsome species. 



It may be worthy of notice that if a Centipede be mutilated by 

 a blow which only half kills it, after its death it contracts in 

 length to a very great degree, whence I was formerly led to believe 

 this to be a specific peculiarity. I may also add, in correction of 

 a previous remark of mine, that I now possess numbers of the 

 cast skins of the Ceylonese species of Phrynus, 



XIV. Notes on Indian Lepidoptera. By Captain Thomas 

 HuTTON. In a letter addressed to J. O. Westwoodj 

 Esq. 



[Read 5th October, 1846.] 



Mussooree, 26th June, 1846. 

 My dear Sir, 



Your letter was duly received, and 1 would 

 long ere this have answered it had I not wished to do so after 

 another careful examination of the manner in which the Saturnia 

 Selene {Plectroptcr on Diana) effects its exit from the silken cocoon. 

 After such examination however I can find nothing to alter or add 

 to my former notice of the insect, except that I have made a 

 rough sketch of the caterpillar (Plate V. fig. 11.) and enclose it in 

 this letter ; the colours are dull compared to those of the living 

 insect, and the green is beautifully soft and almost transparent, 

 while at the same time the animal feels crisp and firm to the 

 touch ; the sketch is very imperfect and faulty, but will convey 

 the figure of the caterpillar accurately enough if not already 

 known. You state in your letter that you cannot believe the 

 escape from the cocoon is effected by the instrument I pointed 

 out, (namely the appendages at the sides of the front of the 

 thorax,) because that is present in all Lepidoptera ; this however, 

 so far from upsetting my statement, should rather lead to the 

 suspicion that many other species may effect their escape in the 

 same manner as S. Selene, particularly as in many cases it is not 



VOL. V. F 



