294 Dr. T. A. Chapman's Contribution to 



It is very probable that other Lycaenid larvae hibernate 

 in more than one instar, and this may account for dis- 

 crepancies between the reports of different observers, but 

 I think this is the first instance in which the fact has been 

 unmistakably proved. 



When settling down for hibernation the larvae spin a 

 little carpet of silk, to which they hold very firmly, so 

 that if an attempt be made to remove them, it is more 

 usual for the silk to come up with the larva than for it to 

 be left behind. I was no doubt rather unkind in the 

 matter of providing hibernacula, so can only report gener- 

 ally that they seemed to desire to get as low as possible 

 and under some cover, as inside a curl of a dead leaf. I 

 imagine that naturally they settle down on some dead 

 material still attached to the root stock of their plant. 

 Of some larvae placed on living plants and left out of 

 doors several survived and must have been in some such 

 place, as they duly appeared on the leaves of the plant 

 when it was brought indoors. 



When the larvae had settled down for hibernation I 

 placed them (towards end of September) in a refrigerator, 

 with temperature from 34° to 36° (Fah.). There was a 

 considerable mortality (vastly less, however, than amongst 

 eros in precisely the same circumstances), but I got a good 

 share through. I brought them up about the end of 

 December and beginning of January, and found they 

 became active and began feeding in a few days. 



I pursued this course to diminish the loss during hiberna- 

 tion and was encouraged by the mild winter that made it 

 possible to get Sainfoin in satisfactory condition. Luckily 

 no hard frost set in after I had committed myself to this 

 course. 



Sainfoin is not now cultivated in the immediate neigh- 

 bourhood of Redhill or Reigate, and I have to thank 

 gratefully several friends who assisted me in finding the 

 plant and for supplying me with it, until I had ascertained 

 such localities. 



The following notes were made in regard to the larvae 

 after their abbreviated hibernation. They were kept in a 

 room usually about 60° to 66°, but sometimes down to 

 55° at night ; under these artificial circumstances dates are 

 of little account, though affording some indication of rate 

 of growth, etc. 



