LEPIDOPTEROUS INSECTS. 93 



window ; and, on opening it, six males rushed in, and 

 instantly sought the females. 



" I state these facts just as they occurred. They 

 are certainly curious, and go to prove, that the 

 females emit an odour perceptible to the delicate 

 olfactory organs of the males at a great distance, who, 

 when attracted, are stimulated to overcome every 

 obstacle in the way of the fulfilment of the great law 

 of nature. After the female has become gratified, 

 this effect appears to cease. 



" Precisely similar circumstances took place with 

 the Phal&na neustra, the males presenting themselves 

 at the window." 



Professor Rennie says this does not always suc- 

 ceed ; for, says he, " In the spring of 1830, we 

 bred a female of the Lime-hawk Moth, (Smerinthus 

 tU'ue of Latreille,) and placed her on a small lime 

 tree, planted in a garden pot, and left her at full 

 liberty, trusting to the known stationary habits of 

 female insects for not losing her. In this we were 

 not deceived ; for though the tree consisted only of 

 a single stem, of about three feet high, she never left 

 it, remaining upon the same leaf sometimes for 

 several days without stirring ; and when she did 

 move, it was only to perambulate the plant, agitating 

 her wings the while, (as she did while stationary,) 

 with a sort of tremulous quivering, not very percepti- 

 ble, unless closely inspected. It might be, that there 

 were no males in the vicinity, though the insect is by 

 no means rare around Lee. At all events, she 

 remained without a male for about three weeks, as 



