i a Ae) 4 eRe gh 
on the Biononucs of Southern Nigerian Insects. 407 
Government Farm, Agege. 
Dec. 15, 1916.—I have since seen Rhopalocampta doing 
the same on the cement floor of the office verandah. I 
didn’t notice any spots [of perspiration] at the time. The 
chair, on the arm of which I saw the butterfly [Proc. Ent. 
Soc. Lond., 1916, p. Ixxxi] was an old one. It is possible 
that the surface, from one’s habit of involuntarily perspir- 
ing in this country, might be rather saline, but Ill try to 
get further observations. My first one was lucky, for the 
action was so prolonged. I had no difficulty whatever in 
seeing what was taking place. 
IV. MISCELLANEOUS OBSERVATIONS ON 
HETEROCERA. 
1. Elaeodes brevicornis Walk.: Noctuidae, Acronyctinae 
(Diphtherinae).—_{The material of the following note in- 
cludes 2 2, emerging about 5.0 p.m. and after 6.0, Mar. 18, 
1917; 339 2 (with cocoons)—Mar. 19; 29 1 9—Mar. 20. 
The next species #. acatharta Hmpsn., in the British 
Museum collection, is accompanied by pupa-cases and 
preserved larvae. The larvae appear to be even more con- 
spicuous than those of brevicornis, but the pupae less so. 
The cocoons of both species are very slight so that the 
pupae are visible. | 
Mar. 18, 1917.—Two of the fern-feeding moths have 
emerged to-day, one about 5 p.m., the other after six. I 
can’t say the exact time as I was out when the second 
came. It is rather a pretty moth. The larva was about 
an inch and a half long, of somewhat “ loud” pattern, being 
striped dark brown, almost black, and yellowish white, with 
translucent brown, ventral surface. In spite of their rather 
formidable appearance they were rather timid, and dropped 
to the ground when disturbed. The body had very sparse 
hairs. I took a dozen larvae—as many as I could reach— 
all of which pupated in the next two days. They bound 
one or two of the fern pinnae together with silk threads, 
but not by any means elaborately. The pupa itself is 
rather a bizarre, brown-and-yellow-coloured object. I 
collected them because it struck me I had not seen many 
larvae—Lepidopterous at any rate—feeding on vascular 
Cryptogams, but it may be quite common. 
2. Hublemma scitula Ramb.: Noctuidae, Erastriinae.— 
