PROCEEDINGS OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 453 
of the Island of Mauritius to investigate the subject and suggest a remedy, 
in the autumn of 1848, on the first outburst of the alarm, when the moth 
was found to have fairly made good its footing in Mauritius, that, as the 
original documents are somewhat difficult of access, and the numbers of the 
* Sugar-Cane’ and the ‘ Royal Gazette,’ in which they are reprinted, appear 
to be almost equally so, I venture to give some points from the Report. 
“Tt appears that the presence of this moth was not known in 
Mauritius, either by any planter, or by any naturalist familiar with the local 
Entomology, until November, 1848, when, with a view to regenerate the 
canes of the islands (then diseased in another way), a quantity of new canes 
were sent for from Ceylon. Before the arrival of these canes a report was 
circulated that Cingalese canes were infested by a borer. On their arrival 
examination was made by a Committee appointed for the purpose, and almost 
all these newly-imported canes were found to be perforated by the moth cane- 
borer. The immediate destruction of the canes was recommended, but it is 
conjectured that some left temporarily in an accessible spot were carried off 
and planted, for two years afterwards the moth made its appearance. 
“The notes from Mauritius agree with most of those from British 
Guiana as to the moth-egg being laid on the cane-leaves; the caterpillar 
feeding in the cane, and subsequently coming out again and turning to pupa 
in a slight web amongst the leaves. The eggs are stated to be transparent, 
their greenish colour making them difficult of observation on the cane-leaf; 
their shape is depressed and oval; their longest diameter is stated to be 
the third of a line. 
“The only moth observed in the act of oviposition deposited 162 eggs, 
which were placed in two parallel rows and hatched on the ninth day. 
Their extreme transparency allowed of observations of the development of 
the caterpillar in the egg. On the second day an opaque line was noticed, 
indicating the first appearance of the digestive organs. On the next day a 
small black point at one extremity of the line indicated the future head; 
later the body of the insect became more apparent; movement became 
visible, and its position is stated to have been coiled on itself with the head 
in the centre. The length of the caterpillar on coming out of the egg on 
the ninth day is given as 1} line. 
“When the caterpillar has reached full development, which is at the 
end of about thirty-one days, it is ]2 to 14 lines in length, and its move- 
ment is described as being very quick in either direction, whether forward _ 
or backward. The head is depressed, furnished with strong toothed jaws, 
and with a plate of a paler colour. ‘The labrum is said to have a very hard 
lance-shaped termination, which helps it to perforate the cane. 
“¢Kach segment has four black glands in a longitudinal row on each 
side of the back marked by a pink band. On the lateral sides are also 
seen eight black points surrounded by glands of the same colour, united 
