74 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



and the atmosphere as near saturation -point as possible, to suit 

 Phalcenopsis and other heat and shade-loving orchids. The 

 temperature has varied night and day between 70° and 85° Fahr. 



The first larva did not appear until the last week of August, 

 and they continued hatching until the end of the year, though 

 mostly in September and October ; but two larvae appeared in 

 December, and one of the last remaining ova hatched on 

 January 8th. This irregularity seems strange, for the ova were 

 all deposited between the 7th April and the 15th May. That 

 this is the case sometimes with these insects in the wild state 

 is shown by the fact that on the islands, amongst the adults, 

 were found, as I have said, a few examples in the early larval 

 stages. 



The ovum bears a general resemblance to those of the P. 

 scythe figured in the 'Bulletin' referred to, and is wonderfully 

 like the seed-capsule of certain flowering plants, as Mons. Morton 

 remarks. The wall of the ovum is rough in texture, and of an 

 umber-brown colour, as is the characteristic lid or stopper, which 

 is pushed off by the young larva as it emerges. 



The larva when newly hatched is of a pale amber colour, 

 streaked and splashed with dull rose. It is lively, and moves 

 with a curious swinging action, which is exaggerated when the 

 insect is alarmed [as in the case of the young Mantis, and also 

 the young "stick-insect" (Bacillus)], and which maybe intended 

 as a menace. 



At this tender stage, the only losses up to the present time 

 occurred — one larva getting crushed by the lid of the cage, while 

 two others were killed and sucked dry by some small spiders 

 which managed to get through the perforated zinc. I found the 

 larvae soon took to the beech-leaves, which, following the example 

 of Mons. Morton, I offered them. As the season advanced, and it 

 became difficult to find fresh beech foliage, I got the insects to take 

 to that of the common oak, with a little unwillingness on their 

 part; and later on to some young bushes of Q. ilex, which seems 

 to satisfy them completely. Probably there will be no necessity 

 again to unsettle them, as I have a good supply of plants, and I 

 find that the ilex stands the heat and damp of the stove well 

 enough. 



I have found it impossible to note the periods of skin-casting 

 exactly, as the larvae are of such different ages. Besides, their 

 extraordinary similarity to the ilex leaf makes close observation 

 difficult. But my gardener, F. Puddle, who has had the insects 

 from the first constantly under his eye, and to whose care any 

 credit for success is due, believes that the largest individuals 

 (females), now 2§ in. long, have in the twenty-one weeks up to 

 the present date (February 4th) changed their skins eight or 

 nine times. 



The larvae after each change devour the shed skin immedi- 



