( xxiii ) 



observation supplies further interesting evidence of the super- 

 stitious dread of larva; with terrifying eye-like markings 

 (Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. 1902, pp. 399-401):— 



" Petauke, Fort Jameson, 



JST.E. Rhodesia. 



"January 4-5, 1905. While here my boys brought me a 

 specimen of Sphinx larva with terrifying markings. I think 

 this must be the Choerocampa osiris mentioned by Marshall 

 (Trans. Ent. Soc. vide supra), but I have written a description 

 of it in case it should prove to be different. I can add some 

 further interesting evidence as to the value of its terrifying 

 markings. It most successfully imposes upon the natives, who 

 will not actually handle it at any price, and say they are afraid 

 of its ' eyes.' I have asked I should think fifty natives and 

 they all consider the ocellated spots to be eyes. They have 

 also a superstition that it jumps out of the bush and up a 

 man's nostrils. This is all the more interesting when we 

 remember that all other species of Sphinx larva? that I have yet 

 seen, besides many other Lepidopterous larvae, are eaten by the 

 natives and much searched for, being considered a great delicacy. 

 They have different names for different species, which shows 

 their great interest in them." 



"Jan. 14. I have several of the Choerocampa larva? in 

 captivity and three have just pupated. They spin a very 

 slight web, with large meshes of tough silk around them. The 

 natives were unaware of the metamorphoses of these larva? 

 and were very astonished to see the pupa?. They are inclined, 

 I think, to attribute it to magic on my part ! " 



Papers, etc. 



The President read the following note on experiments 

 conducted by him to ascertain the vitality of pupa? subjected 

 to submersion in water : — 



"The popular impression, as often shown in the news- 

 papers, that severe winters are specially destructive to insects 

 is well known to be unfounded, as our native insects in the 

 hibernating stage will bear lower temperatures than they 

 are ever exposed to, but I am not aware that there is any 



