92 OF THE SENSES OF 



experiment ; but the following fact, which has lately 

 fallen under my observation, leaves me no room to 

 doubt the correctness of the assertion, as it proves the 

 existence, and exhibits the operation of this instinct 

 in a very remarkable manner. 



" Being engaged in adding the British insects to the 

 collection of the Portsmouth Philosophical Society, I 

 had procured a variety of larvae, (the insects thus 

 obtained being generally in a better condition than 

 those taken by the net.) They in due time passed 

 into the pupa ; and the first which emerged, was a 

 female Sphinx convolvuli. On going into my study 

 in the evening, I found it fluttering on the floor. On 

 lifting it up, it ran up my coat, and several times 

 round the collar, before I could place it in safety. I 

 went from thence immediately into my garden, to 

 shut some hot-bed lights, where I was occupied about 

 ten minutes ; from thence again to my study, where I 

 found that two fine males of the Sphinx convolvuli 

 had, whilst in the garden, attached themselves to the 

 collar of my coat, where the female had previously 

 been. 



" After this, another female of the same species had 

 been produced ; three males found their way into my 

 study down the chimney, there being no other mode 

 by which they could obtain entrance ; and one of 

 them fell into a vase standing under it, where he was 

 captured. A few days after, two females of the 

 Phalfsna salicis emerged. On the same evening, I 

 saw several of that species fluttering against the 



