( xevii_ ) 
larva turns round, weaves a few turns of silk round one and 
drags it away to the required position, I believe by means of 
these silk threads. It then fixes it by a few further turns of 
silk, and then removes the remaining spheres one by one in a 
similar way. The silk spun over the spheres is white. The 
spheres vary in colour even when first passed, some being 
yellowish and often containing one or two bubbles darker 
than the rest, others being much paler. I think that the 
latter darken with age. The time occupied in spinning over 
a single sphere is just a few seconds, and I think the silk 
serves asa handle. I have not observed the whole process of 
cocoon formation, for it takes some hours, the larvae frequently 
commencing at night, and I have not seen the final stages at 
all, but I shall look into the various points you mention.” 
Concerning the cocoon of the allied southern and eastern 
species of Deilemera,—D. leuconoe, Hopff., Mr. G. F. Leigh had 
written to Prof. Poutron on Oct. 27th, 1911— 
*T noticed what you say about the cocoon, and, in a short 
discussion some years ago at the Durban Field Naturalists’ 
Society, I pointed out this very thing ; for when I first bred 
this species I actually threw away three or four cocoons of 
the first lot, thinking that ichneumonid parasites had emerged 
from the larvae. I have bred hundreds of the insects, of 
which there are two forms of imago, one black-and-white, 
the other black-and-buff. The larva is_ black-and-white, 
slightly hairy, as may be seen in blown specimens sent by me 
to the British Museum and Tring Museum. It feeds on a low 
plant, but always climbs up on to a fence, wall or trunk of a 
tree to make its cocoon. The larva is protected and distaste- 
ful to birds, Mantis, ete. The cocoon is formed of a substance 
very much like jelly, which, as long as the pupa is alive re- 
mains soft; if, however, the pupa dies the substance becomes 
dry and shrinks also, The pupae will live if the substance 
that forms the cocoon is taken off. The colour of the pupa is 
light brown. The cocoon-like bodies vary in tint, but are 
generally yellow, although I have had them white like very 
small pieces of boiled rice. The duration of the pupal state is 
very short, not more than a week. The larva is attacked by 
an ichneumon of apparently the same species as that which is 
PROC. ENT. Soc. LonD., v. 1911. G 
