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XVII. Further observations on the Relation hetvjeen the 

 Colour and the Edihility of Lepidoptera and 

 their Larvce. By J. Jennee Weik, F.L.S. 



[Eeacl4th July, 1870.] 



I BEG to exhibit some perfect specimens of Cucullia ver- 

 hasci, and with reference to my former communication 

 (see Trans. Ent. Soc. 1869, p. 21), I have to lay before 

 the Society a few further observations on the Relation 

 between the Colour and the Edibility of Lepidoptera and 

 their Larvae, in which the history of these specimens of 

 Cucullia verbasci will be narrated. 



Mr. H. D^Orville, in a communication to the Entomo- 

 logist's Monthly Magazine, vol. vi. p. 16, states that he 

 has had some hundreds of the larvae of Cucullia verbasci 

 in his garden, but as soon as they began to show colour 

 and size, and appear on the upper-side of the leaves 

 and on the stems to partake of the flowers, 'Mown come 

 the birds, and ofi" go the larvee." He adds, that he there- 

 fore cannot feel so satisfied as I express myself to be, 

 that, as a general rule, birds refuse to eat gaily coloured 

 larvae. 



Mr. D'Orville also suggests, that the birds on which I 

 made my experiments reject in confinement food which 

 they would partake of if at liberty. My own experience 

 is quite opposed to this suggestion, and I am inclined to 

 think that the contrary is the fact, and that birds in 

 captivity, being deprived almost entirely of insect food, 

 eat readily species that in a state of liberty they would 

 disregard. 



After reading Mr. D'Orville's communication, I became 

 very desirous of obtaining a brood of Cuctdlia verbasci 

 for experiment, and I was fortunate enough to find them 

 in some plenty at Lewes on the Verbascum thapsus. 



1 brought away a sufiicient number for my purpose, 

 leaving, however, some behind ; these, I am informed, 

 grew and thrived so well, that the plant was utterly 

 disfigured by their ravages, and was removed as unsightly 

 from the garden. It may therefore, I think, be assumed, 

 that the birds of Sussex did not eat the larvae of Cucullia 

 verbasci. 



TUANS. ENT. SOC. 1870. PART III. (AUGUST.) 



