| Insects. 9259 
eat; fortunately I lit upon the banyan tree (Ficus indica) the very first 
day, and this they devoured greedily. 
By the 5th of June some appeared to have passed all their moults, 
from which time they grew rapidly. In the last stage the dorsal 
tubercles on the five anterior segments are very large and of a beauti- 
ful bright golden hue: the silvery tubercle on the fourth segment on 
the side is much larger; the skin very transparent. On the 17th the 
first larva commenced weaving its cocoon, which in a few hours was 
so thick that the larva could not be seen. The cocoon, which is of a 
brownish hue, is about the size of a pigeon’s egg. 
Now it occurs to me that this larva might be easily cultivated, and 
that the silk, which is very strong, would be of the greatest im- 
portance in a commercial point of view: the silk appears to be stronger 
than that produced by the common silkworm (Bombyx Mori). 
JULIAN HoBSoN. 
Sattara, June 21, 1864. 
Long Duration of the Pupa-state in Eriogaster lanestris.—A friend favoured me 
with a larva of Eriogaster lanestris in May, 1861, which changed to a chrysalis during 
the following month. I expected to see the imago appear during the February 
following, but was disappointed, as they did not emerge until the latter end of 
February and the beginning of March, 1863. Is it not an unusual circumstance for 
this species to remain so long in the pupa state?—T. #. Gunn. 
[I think not: I have had them as much as five years in the pupa state: itisa 
curious and wonderful provision of Nature that many insects have this diversity in the 
duration of the pupa state, a state much less liable to destruction by any sudden 
catastrophe than either the larva or imago.— Edward Newman.] 
Larva of Eupithecia pulchellata, Steph.—In my note on this larva (Zool. 9253), 
I inadvertently omitted to mention that Mr. Hellins and myself were indebted to the 
kindness of Mr. Hodgkinson, of Christchurch Street, Preston, for our eggs of this 
moth. The persevering energy which this gentleman has shown in endeavouring to 
assist us by procuring these ova cannot be sufficiently praised, and I regret very much 
that I did not in my former note couple his name with those of Mr. Hellins and Mr. 
Doubleday. Dr. Breyer, of Brussels, informs me that during the present summer 
Dr. Boissler, of Wiesbaden, has taken larve on the flowers of Digitalis contigua, 
which he has little doubt belong to this species —H. H. Crewe. 
rrata.—In my note (Zool. 9253) “ Warstone, near Leck,” should be “ Warslow, 
near Leek,” and “Mr. George Bates” should be “ Mr. George Baker.”—H. Harpur 
Crewe. 
Eupithecia pulchellata.—Your notes on Eupithecia pulchellata (Zool. 9253) 
tell the history of the discovery of the larva and food-plant as far as known to you: 
had I been aware that you were about to publish so soon, I would have furnished you 
with some additional particulars, which would have made the history more interesting, 
and would have evabled you, as I am certain you would yourself have desired, to 
