NOTES AND OfeSERVATIONS. 1'29 



allowed to escape, so that I have no note of the precise period of the 

 retardation of emergence behind the others of the brood. 



Pararrje erjeria. — Five ova were laid on July 3rd, the larvae hatching 

 on the 14th. The first pupation took place on August 11th, and that 

 of two more a few days later. At this period the two remaining larvae 

 were less than half-grown, one pupating on September 19th, the other 

 a day or two later. These two are now hybernating, apparently quite 

 healthy, as pupae; but the former three, after imaginal development had 

 reached an advanced stage, dried up and failed to emerge, doubtless 

 owing to unnaturally dry artificial conditions during a period of 

 unusual heat. 



Lyccena argiolus. — Ova from the first brood were laid on May 28th, 

 the succeeding larvae being full-fed about June 23rd. All but five of 

 the ensuing pup» emerged in due course on July 12th and subsequent 

 few days; these five are now hyberuating, and appear to be quite 

 healthy. In contrast to this, it may be of interest to record that 

 one pupa of some two dozen of the second brood, September, 1895, 

 produced a female butterfly of a third brood, the same autumn, all 

 the other pnp^e waiting, in the usual course, until the following spring. 



Lijcana alexia. — Ova laid June 18th, hatched 29th; larvee developed 

 well for a few weeks, feeding on young pods of Lotus ; then all, with 

 one accord, ceased growing or feeding entirely, although offered various 

 other Leguminosffi, but remained about a quarter grown, and were 

 alive, but still iu this stage, in October last, 



Anticlea badiata. — A number of larvae from ova, fed up well and 

 rapidly, last spring. On October 20fch a female emerged, slightly 

 undersized, but not otherwise different from those now appearing from 

 the same brood (March 18th, 1901). These latter are all slightly 

 over the average size. 



Melanippe unaniiulata. — Ova laid July 10th, hatched 19th ; had all 

 gone to earth by August 14th. On the 25th of the same month a 

 moth emerged, followed by eight more subsequently. These moths 

 are all decidedly smaller than specimens taken at large at the usual 

 time of flight. The greater number are still hybernating as pupae. 



Chrysophanus phlmas. — Contrary to previous experience with this 

 species, some two dozen, reared from ova last year, formed an example 

 of simultaneous growth and development. Ova laid July 8th, hatched 

 17th and 18th; all the butterflies emerged between August 21st and 

 28th. 



Colias eduaa. — Considerable difference in rate of larval growth 

 was observed with this species, but of a rather different significance 

 than attaches to those mentioned above ; inasmuch as delay seemed 

 generally, though not always, to be the accompaniment of feeble 

 vitality, such specimens that were much behind the others either 

 producing diminutive specimens, or else failing to reach maturity. 



In all the above instances, larvae of each species were always 

 confined in the same cage, suitable to their successive changes, and 

 fed on the same leaves, the pupae being also kept together ; so that 

 the unnatural uniformity of conditions in captivity serves to emphasize 

 the importance that these irregularities must have to the species in 

 nature, and can scarcely fail to be a powerful factor in the production 



RNTOM. — APRIL, 1901. I^ 



