1890.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 1 25 



was the not too encouraging remark. But, with the exact lo- 

 cality given (which chanced to be a large stone horse-block at a 

 gentleman's residence, some distance away, and which of course 

 could suggest no food-plant for his meals), I started — and to re- 

 ward faith and perseverance — he was found on the identical block, 

 captured safely, although snappish at disturbance, and after being 

 secured in his box prison was tempted by every imaginable kind 

 of leaf to be obtained from garden or wood. Nothing would he 

 touch, and of course he soon died without a sign. Had he then 

 been placed upon earth he would probably have "gone down" 

 and become a chrysalis in his own way. At any rate, acting on 

 this thought, the one secured last September was placed on a box 

 of earth and was soon lost to sight, going down on the next day 

 (September 13th). On September i8th, rolling back the earth, 

 I found a fine large chrysalis with an unusual tinge of red in the 

 brown. The rings were formed by two or three narrow and some- 

 what constricted rings; the chrysalis was broadest in the middle, 

 and tapering to a sharp point at the end. The head has a pinched 

 look and markings, which, as hasty dashes, give the effect of a 

 face, two eye dashes and a horizon mouth line. From that day 

 of September until now (April 13, 1890) he has lain so still that, 

 but for an occasional tremor and a very occasional jerk when 

 slightly touched, one would have said there was surely no life 

 there. But he has moved to-day, and now all one can do by way 

 of satisfying his curiosity is to wait a development, which cannot 

 be far off. A line hinting of a crack down the centre of the front 

 of the head shows where the chrysalis will break, and it is exactly 

 like that of the Imperial Dryocampa {E. imperialis). 



On April 21st the chrysalis responded to raps upon the box 

 every time (and for the first time) as I have often had the Poly- 

 phemus chrysalis do by a rapid movement of the end of its body 

 which shows me it is nearing the time of its change to the imago. 

 Through all the past months it has lain as still as if dead, with a 

 very occasional exception of a slight movement when touched. 

 Ordinarily it made no response to this, and tried one's faith as 

 to any latent life as much as the chrysalis of the Royal Walnut 

 (C regalis) does. 



Note. — It was suggested that this might be Ceratomia amymtor, 

 the four-horned sphinx, but Mrs. Ballard has reared ainyntor, and 

 the unknown cannot be it. — Ed. 



