142 Scientific Notices. 



Instinct of Lepidopterous Insects. 



Philosophical Society, Portsmouth. 

 My dear Sir, 



It has been asserted by entomologists that the males of the Lepidopte- 

 roiis Insects are guided to the females by a peculiar instinct, so that an 

 imimpregnated female being carried in a wire cage along the hedges and 

 other haunts of this tribe, will attract the males of that species so that they 

 may be easily captured. 



I have never had an opportunity of trying this experiment; but the fol- 

 lowing fact which has lately fallen under my observation leaves me no room 

 to doubt the correctness of the assertion, as it proves the existence and 

 exhibits the operation of this instinct in a very remarkable manner. 



Being engaged in adding the British Insects to the Collection of the 

 Portsmouth Philosophical Society, I had procured a variety of larvcB, 

 (the insects thus obtained being generally in a better condition than those 

 taken by the net). They in due time passed into the pupa, and the first 

 which emerged was a female Sphinx Convolvuli. On going into my study 

 in the evening I found it fluttering on the floor : on lifting it up, it ran up 

 my coat, and several times round the collar, before I could place it in safety. 

 I went from thence immediately into my garden to shut some hot-bed 

 lights, where I was occupied about ten minutes ; from thence again to 

 my study, where I found that two fine males of the Sph. Convolvuli had, 

 whilst in the garden, attached themselves to the collar of my coat, where 

 the female had previously been. 



After this, another female of the same species having been produced, 

 three males found their way into my study down the chimney, there being 

 no other mode by which they could obtain entrance, and one of them fell 

 into a vase standing under it where he was captured. A few days after, 

 two females of the Phalcena Salicis emerged: on the same evening I saw 

 several of that species fluttering against the window, and on opening it 

 six males rushed in and instantly sought the females. 



I state these facts just as they occurred. They are certainly curious, 

 and go to prove that the unimpregnated female emits an odour percepti- 

 ble to the delicate organs of the males at a great distance, who thus 



