9272 Entomological Society. 
hairs. The spots on the two rows down each side have also changed; they are now 
orange at base and sky-blue at tips. Prolegs and head light brown, as also are the 
hind legs, with small black spots and hairs above them. A yellowish collar of skins 
round the head, with its attendant spines, which are yellow on the capital segment, 
and, like the rest, surmounted by black hairs. The eight spiracles down each side 
are plainly visible, between the two side rows of spines and below the yellow band. 
“ June 27. The caterpillar, when in a state of rest, hangs head downwards, prolegs 
and head doubled up, and hanging only by its hind legs. They grow wonderfully 
fast, and appear on the whole hardy, not requiring much care. At this stage they are 
much like the figure of the larva of Actias Selene in Horsfield’s Catalogue. 
“June 29 or 30. (Fourth stage). The caterpillar is now about two inches in 
length. The spots on the two middle rows of spines are all of a glittering golden orange 
colour, still surmounted by a few black hairs, but several pure white hairs have 
appeared about them, on the back only, not extending down the sides. The upper 
and lower rows of spots on the sides are of a bright blue colour. The head and pro- 
legs of a rich brown; the spiracles orange-brown inside, edged first with black, then 
with light yellow. 
“July 4. (Fifth stage). Caterpillar much the same as before. The spots on the 
sides, especially on the first few segments are like shining silver, based by blue, and 
contrast beautifully with the golden hue of the spots on the back. 
“July 13. The first caterpillar began to spin. Before doing so the blue spots 
changed to a beautiful mauve-purple colour, which change, accompanied by increase 
of length to 3} inches, about the 8th or 9th of July, may be called its sixth stage, for 
although I did not see the skin cast, it might have been done during the night. 
“The larve invariably eat their skins after casting them. 
“When about to change, the worm is 4} inches in length. The process of 
spinning is well described by Lady Gilbert, whose account I quote (from Horsfield’s 
Catalogue):—‘ The caterpillar commences its operations by drawing a few leaves 
slightly together, as if to screen it from observation. It then spins a strong cord, vom- 
posed of many threads, altogether about the thickness of a crow-quill, at the end of 
which it weaves the cocoon.’ 
“One end of this cord is looped round a twig, and when hard the cocoon cannot 
be detached without cutting the twig close to this loop. In the Maunbhoom jungles 
the cocoons may be seen hanging from the bare branches of the Sal trees in March, 
and are apparently constructed without any assistance from or connexion with the 
surrounding leaves. Lady Gilbert continues:— The cocoon is so transparent for the 
first six and thirty hours that the larva may be distinctly perceived at work in the 
interior; after that time the cocoon gradually acquires consistency by the continual 
industry of the caterpillar, and becomes quite opaque from the addition of a glutinous 
liquid with which it moistens the whole. When that dries the cocoon appears as if 
covered with white powder, and in the course of a couple of days becomes perfectly 
hard.’ 
“‘T have not observed this transparency of the cocoon. Some of my cocoons are 
much darker than the rest, and some light yellow, though the worms have all had the 
same food.” 
Papers read. 
Prof. Westwood read ‘“ Descriptions of new Species of Sagrides and Megalopides 
from the Old World and Australia.” 
