NOTES ON REARING EXOTIC LEPIDOPTERA. 29 



numerous enemies, with the exception of a few Cecropia, one of 

 which I found on a currant bush, as late as the 14th of October, 

 in its last stage. 



Poylphemus larvae, reared on small oak trees, were protected 

 by wire and fish-netting, and these magnificent larvae formed 

 their cocoons on the trees in spite of some heavy rains and 

 unfavourable weather, from the 18th of September to the 7th of 

 October. I only obtained three pairings of this species, — the 

 first on the 20th, the second and third on the 23rd of June. As 

 I stated, in several of my previous reports, it is difficult to obtain 

 the pairing of Polyphemus in captivity. Of Cecropia I had nine- 

 teen pairings, from the 30th of May to tho 19th of July; and of 

 Promethea eleven or twelve pairings, from the Cth of July to the 

 14th of August. Many more pairings of these two species could 

 have been obtained if the ova had been wanted. On the 25th of 

 June a male Cecropia paired with a female Polyphemus ; and on 

 the 1st of July a male Cynthia paired with a female Promethea. 

 I also find that on the 25th of June a male Cecropia paired with 

 a female Polyphemus. The ova in the three cases were unfertile. 



Actias luna. — Of this I had no cocoons, but received ova from 

 France and from three American correspondents. Those from 

 Illinois and Iowa hatched during the voyage, and the larvae were 

 dead on their arrival, or died shortly afterwards. On the con- 

 trary, the ova received from New York, in consequence of the 

 much shorter distance, gave a rather satisfactory result. Many 

 of the larvae from these ova (the number of which was enormous) 

 hatched during the voyage, lived, and thrived. These ova and 

 young larvae arrived here on the 28th of July, and the small 

 numher I had time to rear pupated about the middle of 

 September. 



Hyperchiria io— With about fifty moths, from cocoons sent 

 me from New York, which emerged from the 2nd of June to the 

 1st of July, I obtained fourteen pairings, which I consider a great 

 success, as some of the moths were preserved for the cabinet. 

 Some of the larvae, bred on willows in the garden, had not yet 

 pupated on the 15th of October. 



Ceratocampa (Eacles) imperialis— With fifteen pupae only one 

 moth emerged on the 1st of July ; it was a fine male specimen. 

 The moths in the other pupae I found, later on, dried up, but 

 perfectly well developed. I attribute the loss of these moths to 



