On the .Miitin<] Instinct in Moths. 



183 



XXI — On the Mittin;l Instinct in Mnlhs*. 



By Alfred CIdldsijouough Mavkk. 



During the past sumnicr the author carried out a aeries of 

 experiments to determine the nature of the mating instincts 

 of Co/iosamia proniethia. 



A huge numlu'r of cocoons of tliis moth were kindly 

 coHected for the author hy W. L. 'J'ower, Ivsq , in the ni'i;,^h- 

 lK)urhood of Cauibridf^c, Massachusetts, and others were found 

 by the writer at Maplewood, New Jersey. Altogether 449 

 cocoons were olitained during the winter of 1898-Iii). These 

 were allowed to remain out of doors in Cambridge (Mass.), 

 wjiere they were exj)osed to the winter's cold, and then on 

 May o they were taken to Loggerhead Key, one of the Dry 

 Tortugas Islands, Florida. 



This situation was most favourable for the prosecution of 

 the experiments, for this insect does not extend south of the 

 Carolinas, and thus the moths were separated many hundreds 

 of miles from others of their species. Moreover, IjOggerhead 

 Key is a small sandy island surrounded by many miles of 

 ocean, and thus no interference with the experiments could 

 come from the outside. 



The cocoons were hung under the shade of some trees, 

 wliere they were protected from the direct rays of the sun. 

 It was remarkable that all but five of the moths (three females 

 and two males) issued from the cocoons during the early 

 morning hours between sunrise and II o'clock. 



The following table will show the rate at which the moths 

 issued from their cocoons : — 



Number Number 

 Date. ofmalos. of females. Total. 



May 18 1 2 3 



19 1 2 3 



20 1 2 3 



21 1 1 



22 1 1 



23 



24 1 1 



25 1 1 2 



, 26 



27 1 1 2 



28 



Carried forward .... 8 8 10 



• This papor was delivered aa the Pre.sidentinl Address before the 

 Cambridge (Sla.<«. ) Entumolticicnl Society in .lanuary 1900, and pub- 

 lished in ' Psyche,' the Journal of the Q\\x\), in February. 



