; 105 
several with the larve close to or on the empty cases, and one with a dead larva in it. 
Like the very young larve of Papilio Turnus and Asterias they are brown with a patch 
of white on the middle of the back, so as to simulate the dung of a smal) bird; but 
specimens which I am breeding have already moulted into nearly the coloration of the 
full-grown larva. I know of no other butterfly here that hybernates in the larva state, 
though there are plenty of moths that do so. Pieris Crategi is said by Godart to do 
so normally, and Melita Dia and Euphrosyne seem to do so occasionally according 
to Vaudoner (Westw. Intr. ii. 355). 
“T notice that you give the Nymphalide genus Protogonius as mimetic, though, 
probably for lack of room, it is omitted from your Table (Trans. Linn. Soc. xxiii. p.503). 
What genus does it imitate ? 
‘“‘T have been much struck by the statement which you repeat several times, that 
Ithomiz copulate only with specimens coloured almost exactly like themselves. This 
seems to harmonize well with Mr. Scott’s fact that the red variety of the primrose is 
perfectly barren with the common primrose; and that the blue and red pimpernels are 
also barren when intercrossed, according to Gartner, as quoted by Darwin. We have 
in this locality Colias Philodice and C. Eurytheme, which differ only in coloration (the 
first sulphur-yellow, the second a fine deep orange) and fly promiscuously together, 
yet keep perfectly distinct from each other, intermediate grades and intercrosses not 
occurring, except in a single instance, viz., I once found a pair in copula, one sex a 
true Philodice, and the other with the upper wing only, if [ recollect right, coloured as 
in Eurytheme, the lower wing as in Philodice.” 
Mr. Stainton referred to ‘The Zoologist, pp. 7563—65, where the history of the 
hybernation of the larva of the English species, Limenitis Sibylla, in the leaves of the 
honeysuckle, is given at length by Mr. Newman, from the observations of Dr. Maclean, 
of Colchester. 
The following is extracted from a letter addressed to Mr. F. Smith by Mr. S, Stone, 
of Brighthampton, near Witney, dated April 29, 1865 :— 
“Great as was the number of female wasps which made their appearance last 
spring, and early as was the period at which they commenced their labours, they have 
this year appeared in still greater number, and have begun work at a still earlier 
period. The weather to the end of March was bitterly cold, but a sudden change then 
took place, and a more gloriously hot aud fine April I should think was never known. 
On the 2nd of the month I observed a female wasp out for the first time, and the 
forcing weather which had then set in svon brought them out in swarms. On their 
first appearance I as usual began to form suitable cavilies in banks, &c., for the recep- 
tion of nests, and on the 19th I tovk out from one of these cavities my first specimen ; 
it belonged to Vespa Germanica, and consisted of a single cell at the extremity of a 
foot-stalk. On the following day a nest of V. sylvestris was discovered attached to a 
branch of a creeper growing beside a cottage-porch ; one covering of this nest had been 
completed, a second was far advanced towards completion, and a third had been begun. 
It contained a small comb consisting of nine cells, in six of which eggs had been 
deposited. This nest must have been begun during the first, or at any rate before the 
middle of the second, week in April—a period unprecedentedly early, so far as my 
experience goes. Some idea of the number of queen wasps frequenting the neighbour- 
hood this season may be formed when I state that, sitting quietly for half an hour the 
other evening upon a spot around which were numerous deserted burrows of the 
Ec 
