106 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Mr. F. Moore, of the Bethnal Green Museum, who already had 

 some in the first and second stages, together with selene in fourth 

 and fifth stages. These larvae were artistically drawn and painted 

 by his son. 



Before concluding, I shall say a few words respecting a most 

 extraordinary specimen which I obtained from one out of the 

 large stock of Samia cecropia cocoons I had this year. Whether 

 the cocoon which produced this abnormal specimen differed from 

 the Cecropia cocoons I could not tell ; in fact, I never saw any 

 difference in any after removing them from the cages, when 

 empty. As to the locality it came from, it would equally be 

 impossible for me to say, as I had a large number from various 

 States : Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, New York, Delaware, and 

 perhaps from other States. 



A long and interesting description of this unique specimen 

 has been written by Mr. W. F. Kirby, of the British Museum, 

 which will be found in the ' Proceedings of the Entomological 

 Society of London.' This specimen, if not a new species, I 

 consider as being a most wonderful aberration of Cecropia, rather 

 than the produce of a cross between Cecropia and some unknown 

 species — but it will, in course of time, be known whether other 

 such specimens have been found in America. This specimen, 

 measuring 6f inches in expanse, is not only remarkable for the 

 great difference in the markings and designs on the wings, as 

 compared with Cecropia, but also for the exquisite beauty and 

 variety of its colours, which are arranged or blended so har- 

 moniously together that they form a striking picture which 

 few, if any, specimens of the same family could surpass or 

 even equal. 



This specimen was exhibited by me on the 3rd of October, 

 at the Meeting of the Entomological Society of London, together 

 with a number of various silk-producing specimens of those 

 species which I have bred for a number of years. Conspicuous 

 among them were specimens of A. mylitta (the Indian tussah), in 

 their various shades of colour; also two giant Himalaya Atlas, 

 male and female, of unsurpassed beauty, each measuring over 

 10 inches, as stated before. Together with these silk-producers were 

 specimens of the little Sphinx, Hemaris tenuis, or rather diffinis ; 

 the specimen of Darapsa myron and its pupa-case, and the two 

 specimens of Apatura clyton (bred by me from the larva), with 



