6 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Jan., '04 



Ireland, which is a brown, tailed form, and seems to have 

 diverged from Attacus cranieri, or an earlier form, is an 

 instance of the origin of a local genus, originating from some 

 vSport perhaps, becoming an island form of generic value. 



The American genus Rothschildia is represented by fifteen 

 species, most of which appear to be valid. They are confined 

 to Central America and the forest regions of South America ; 

 none occurring on the Pacific coast of South America, in Chili, 

 or in Patagonia. Two species {R.jorulla {cinctus), R. orizaba) 

 cross into Arizona, and R. erycina (^Attacus splendidus Beauv.) 

 occurs in Texas. 



It is worthy of notice that species of neither of these two 

 genera occur in Africa, where, however, four species of Philo- 

 samia are found, while P. cynihia and its offshoots or local 

 forms inhabit the Oriental Realm. With little doubt, however, 

 Callosamia and Philosamia are on the whole more primitive 

 forms, and the latter genus may have given rise to Attaais. 



Notes on the Pupation of Vanessa Antiopa. 



By W. L. W. Field, Milton, Mass. 



I. Introductory. — Unusual climatic conditions during the 

 spring and early summer of 1903 delayed the maturing of the 

 first brood of Vanessa antiopa, and the larvae of the second 

 brood were consequently very late in appearing. In some 

 localities the pupae of the second brood were not formed until 

 the middle, of October. This belated transformation gave 

 opportunity for some interesting observations upon the re- 

 sponse of the insects to conditions of light and temperature 

 encountered upon the bare walls of a building in the short 

 days of mid-autumn. The main school building of Milton 

 Academ)^ is built of red brick with white stone trimmings, and 

 faces nearly south. There are tall white columns at the 

 entrance, and all the window casings are painted white. A 

 row of elm trees and a dark green fence separate the school 

 grounds from the street at this point. 



II. Movements of the Larv^.. — Larvae oi antiopa began 

 to leave the elm trees about October ist. For two or three 



