FORCING AGROTIS ASHWORTHII. 41 



About the middle of September the sallow began to fail, and 

 those larvae which were then left were given lettuce. This, how- 

 ever, did not agree with them very well, and, after about seventy 

 had pupated, the remainder either died off or absolutely refused 

 to feed. 



On September 30th, or exactly nine weeks from the ova, the 

 first imago emerged, and they continued to do so until November 

 9th, when the last specimen appeared, making sixty-two in all. 

 I examined the remaining pupse and found them dead, probably 

 having been damaged when removing them from the earth in 

 order to take them with me when I had to leave home for a week 

 in October. 



The largest number which emerged on one day was seven, on 

 October 9th, and, though I have one or two small ones, there is 

 not a single cripple. I found that they emerged at all times, 

 from early morning to late in the evening, and rarely moved after 

 their wings had dried. As soon as this had taken place they 

 settled in some corner or crevice in the cage, just as they do in a 

 state of nature. They never flew at night, and, although I left 

 several which came out late, they were perfectly fresh the next 

 morning. 



I am inclined to think that the insect is sluggish by nature, 

 and this will probably account for its being so seldom taken at 

 sugar. I have sugared regularly in its haunts, when I have taken 

 it at rest during the day, but have only caught three specimens 

 by this method. 



The bred specimens vary considerably, and range from the 

 palest dove colour to a dark slate colour, with intermediate forms, 

 having a dark band on a light ground. 



I think my success in rearing the species was due to the fact 

 that the larvae were put into warm quarters soon after hatching. 

 On previous occasions they were kept for about a fortnight before 

 the forcing commenced, owing to my absence from home. 



One thing about .4. ashworthii which puzzles me is that 

 batches of ova are laid in small tufts of grass among the rocks, 

 yards away from growing plants of any kind, so that either 

 many of the larvae must perish from hunger, or else they must 

 be great travellers. The former appears very probable, as in my 

 experience the number of imagos to be found in any season is 

 not proportionate to the number of ova laid. The female 

 deposits the ova in batches of from twenty to fifty, and, if only 

 half of the larvae lived, the insect should be quite plentiful in 

 most seasons. 



15, Rectory Road, Crumpsall, Manchester : Dec. 15th, 1900. 



