LIPHYRA. 455 



they affix themselves rather firmly ; but in many instances the 

 ants utilizing the iveb of their grubs, secure them still more firmly 

 to their position, the web reaching halfway to or even up to the 

 rim. Whether this ant web is added with friendly intent or with 

 a view to fasten down a larva to get rid of him if possible is a 

 puxzliug matter; still I have not met with any dead larvse so- 

 fastened. Pupae are occasionally treated in a similar manner 

 without the escape of the butterflies being prevented. The larger 

 larvae require three or four days after taking up their moulting 

 position to crawl out of their old skins, which become a little darker 

 and finally split downwards under the front edge and right and 

 left along the rim. 



******* 



" Change to the pupa. The larval skin is not cast off, but changes 

 in shape and becomes a comparatively strong and outer covering. 

 The insect shrinks away from this and becomes detached so that 

 it can be shaken like an Antherea pupa in its cocoon or a nut in 

 the shell. The true pupal skin is very thin and transparent, and, 

 provided of course the outer shell is opened, the colour-changes of 

 the chrysalis can be observed plainly. After the larva has taken 

 up its position for the transformation there is no change for 

 thirty-six hours or so, the first being a narrowing of the thoracic 

 portion, with an increased thickness in same. Upon examining 

 the future pupa, at this time underneath, it will be noticed that 

 the shell has closed in on each side, enveloping the head and legs 

 completely ; no closing in upon the prolegs occurs. For some 

 hours no further alteration takes place, then the remaining portion 

 of the creature contracts accompanied by a considerable rise in 

 the dorsal surface ; the pupal change so far as can be ascertained 

 from outside observance being now complete. 



" The perfect insect comes forth in twenty -one to twenty -five 

 days and further astonishing developments in the life-history of 

 this strange insect occur." Of the freshly-emerged imago 

 Mr. Dodd says : " Instead of the weak drooping wings of a 

 butterfly, he has little short appendages like a freshly-emerged 

 moth and lying very flat ; the front wing is creamy white and 

 the tip of the hind wing projects from under this ever so little ; 

 the abdomen looks very large, a thick mass of furry -looking 

 substance showing on each side of it to the tip ; on the thorax 

 small tufts of loose brownish scales may be noted which easily roll 

 off. It is soon seen that the white appearance of the fore wing 

 is caused by a dense covering of fugitive scales ; there is also a 

 small patch on each side of the thorax. . . . These white scale* 

 fly off after the expansion of the wings at the least breath of 

 air. . . . The matter on the abdomen is also of course composed 

 of scales, they are dark grey, packed very densely and cover about 

 half of the ventral surface, reach further along the sides but do 

 not reach the thorax, none being on the upper surface. These are 

 much more adhesive and must be scraped away, as they cannot be 

 blown off ; they come away in masses and fasten lightly to any- 



