XXVil 
placing too many on some bushes and too few on others. A certain number 
of bushes are always to be kept in reserve, in case that it should be found 
necessary to remove to them worms which have consumed all the leaves 
where first placed. This operation is done by cutting the branches bearing 
the worms and transferring them as already indicated. In case it is not 
convenient to do so, then each worm must be seized with the thumb and 
fore finger by the posterior end, and suddenly pulled off at the same time ; 
otherwise, such is their power of adhesion, they would be torn to death 
sooner than relinquish their hold. All kinds of birds must be kept away, 
to prevent the destruction of the worms. 
“ Bombyx Pernyi undergoes five mute of the following periods:— 
Ist muta from 4 to 5 days. 
ana * 55 ‘ia poe ak oda 
ord”; i ake = 
4th, ne is Ss 
Gti ss rie ailerrsd Mts allah 
having in average, from the hatching to the beginning of formation of 
cocoon, a period of forty-five days. The worms, after undergoing the fifth 
muta, will form the cocoons in about three days; but as a general rule they 
are not gathered till after the fifth day, in order to give time for the perfect 
formation of cocoons by such worms as are somewhat later than others. 
“The cocoons reserved for obtaining seed for the second yearly pro- 
duction are spread out to dry for three or four days, and are then strung 
together, as mentioned for the first production. The moths will issue from 
the cocoons after twelve or fifteen days from the gathering of cocoons. The 
coupling-baskets used this time are not provided with paper, on account of 
the high temperature of the season (August). The females when separated 
from the male moths, instead of being replaced in baskets, are fastened with 
a thread by one of their larger wings, and tied (leaving a few inches scope) 
on bunches of fresh-cut branches with leaves, which are suspended by their 
cut ends: on these branches the female moths will deposit their seed. The 
rooms where the branches are kept suspended must be cool and well 
ventilated. When the worms are hatched the branches are straightway 
carried to the bushes, upon which the worms are transferred at once, to 
proceed through their successive stages till the formation of the cocoons.” 
Papers read. 
Mr. W. F. Kirby communicated the following “Synonymic Notes on 
Lepidoptera”: — 
1. SPHINGID®. 
“ Under this title I propose from time to time to publish such corrections 
of synonymy as may occur to me in the course of my studies, supple- 
mentary to the three most recent Catalogues of the Order Lepidoptera—my 
