452 REMARKS ON VARIOUS INSECTS. 



tinue its (.lownward course, and there make an outlet, it would 

 admit the water, and be drowned ; in fact, notwithstanding the 

 precautions of the larvae, many pupas were drowned this year, 

 by the sudden rise in the ponds, caused by the heavy rains we 

 had in July. But instinct, or something else, points out to it 

 the course which ought to be followed ; and at this stage of its 

 growth it turns round, and proceeds upwards, enlarging its old 

 track ; and by the time it has arrived a few inches above the 

 water, it is full grown. 



About two inches below the place where it means to spin, it 

 gnaws quite through to the outside of the stem, closing this 

 opening, which is generally of an oval form, with a slight web 

 of silk, to which it glues some of the fragments of leaves or 

 stem which it has detached. It now commences its web, which 

 I have before described. In this the pupa is suspended by a 

 thread, about two lines long, with a small cup-shaped termina- 

 tion, which invests its telum, or last segment. I am at a loss to 

 conceive how the pupa attaches itself to this thread after it has 

 thrown off the skin of the larva. It is a very different case 

 from that of the N ymphalidce , because there the larva covers 

 a considerable space with silken threads ; and the pupa, grasp- 

 ing part of the skin of the larva between its segments, can 

 thrust its well-armed telum into any part of this network, with 

 a certainty of gaining sufficient hold. But the telum of our 

 pupa, furnished with only a few slight tubercles, must be 

 inserted into a little cup, not above three-fourths of a line in 

 width ; certainly no easy task. I hope to be able to clear up 

 this point next year; but I must beg such of your readers as 

 have an opportunity, to observe for themselves, as I may chance 

 to be unsuccessful. The pupa being thus fixed by its last 

 segment, with its head downwards, the moth easily extricates 

 itself, and a few steps bring it to an opening by means of 

 which it can escape from its confinement in the stem. 



Here let me advise such of your readers as are desirous of 

 obtaining pupae of our insect, not to be guided solely by the 

 yellowness of the younger leaves, but also to observe whether 

 there is a hole at the side of the stem, and whether or no it 

 still remains closed, since, if they neglect this, they will be sure 

 to waste much time in opening stems deserted by the larva, or 

 which the moth has quitted ; and it is by no means desirable, 

 even in summer, to stand longer than needful half way up to 



