Cc 
on a green leaf, and on a door which was painted green (specimen shown). There are 
also before you green specimens of Pieris Brassice which were under a vine on the 
side of a house which was of a stone-colour, with many others taken from the adjoining 
side of the same house, where there was no vive to affect their colour, but only the 
somewhat dirty stone-coloured surface; I particularly noticed that there were no green 
specimens to be seen on this side, although their number was very considerable, and they 
were attached at various heights, some very near the ground, and others at the house-top 
under the projecting eaves. Some of the darkest specimens shown on blackened surfaces 
were exposed to a very subdued light in a dark corner, and the detached ones so strongly 
suffused with black were taken from a tarred fence. One of the chrysalides of Pieris 
Brassice on a white surface, now exhibited, is almost an albino. I also exhibit green, 
reddish, and dusky chrysalides on surfaces of similar tints. Specimens kept in the dark 
would be interesting ; I have one of P. Brassice which was placed on whitish wadding 
in a box from which light was excluded, and it is of a light colopr, although possessing 
all the specific markings, but from this solitary example no conclusion can be drawn. 
Mr. A. G. Butler has informed me that he also has made some experiments with 
chrysalides of P. Rapz, and has procured a reddish tinge by means of a red surface, 
besides other colours. The gilded chrysalides deserve mention here; those of Vanessa 
Urtice I have hardly ever found except when concealed by nettle-leaves; those on 
fences, walls, tree-trunks, &c., being of similar colours to those objects, and mottled more 
or less. The fine chrysalis of Vanessa Polychloros, when amongst foliage, is coloured 
like a withered elm-leaf; I have not unfrequently found it of a light reddish brown, 
with a cluster of metallic silver (not golden) spots on the back at the juncture of the 
thorax with the abdomen: this colouring also gives place to mottled grayish when the 
individual is on a wall or other object. The metallic appearance is probably of 
service in giving the insects an uneatable look, and is not necessarily connected with 
the possession of Ichneumon in their interiors, as one or two of my entomological 
friends think, for 1 havehad very fine butterflies out of very metallic chrysalides ; 
indeed J consider this to be the normal colouring, it being the most beautiful by far. 
I would venture to suggest another reason why the gilding, when amongst leaves, is of 
service in the way alluded to: it is this—that the Vanessa chrysalis is quite loosely 
attached, hanging only by the tail, so that, even if it could assume the green colour by 
which it is surrounded, it would be rather dangerous to it than otherwise, for it would 
then appear to birds very much like a green caterpillar swinging in the air, but as it is 
it looks more like a piece of gold or brass than anything else, and birds probably do not 
think of touching it. There are doubtless many instances of the absence of variability 
in chrysalides, but I think they would all be found to be mimics of some disliked or 
dangerous insect. The chrysalis of Aporia Crategi is very conspicuous and not very 
variable, but I have been much struck by its strong resemblance to the caterpillar of 
the currant-bush moth (Abraxas grossulariata), as both are speckled with black on a 
whitish ground, and the moth caterpillar is extremely abundant in the same localities, 
and is probably disliked by birds. The pupa of the moth is very remarkably coloured 
with yellow bands on black, giving it a waspy appearance, and I recollect being afraid 
when a child to touch it, thinking it would sting. I feel convinced that by the proper 
use of gilded surfaces the gilded chrysalides of Vanessa, and perhaps of other genera, 
would be obtained, and I hope to be able to try the experiment next season; also to 
obtain colours with coloured glass, as it js probable that the strongest effects would be 
