1882.] THE SECRETARY'S REPORT ON THE INSECT-HOUSE. 633 
larvee obtained, I did not succeed in rearing any, although every care 
was taken to give them fresh food every morning and evening. The 
young larva fed well and appeared to be in excellent health, till the 
second or third time of shedding their skins; they then died by 
dozens, principally from diarrhoea. I had several hundreds of the 
larvee of Actias selene, which fed upon walnut. Some of these I 
placed in a cage in the Gardeners’ greenhouse, thinking perhaps 
the Insect-house did not suit them; but they died there also, although 
one or two grew to be about 13 inch long. Not only did these 
exotic species die, but also such hardy European species as Sphing 
pinastri. 
Larve which were introduced into the house nearly full-fed did 
much better ; but those that were bred in it, with one or two excep- 
tions, died. I am quite unable to say what was the cause of the 
diarrhoea ; but I am inclined to think that the heat of the house 
during the nights was too great. This, however, could not be avoided, 
as it was necessary to keep the house very warm, on account of the 
Birds-of- Paradise being there. 
It is generally said that the silk-producing Bombyces are much 
degenerated by ‘breeding in;’’ but this could hardly have been the 
case with Actias selene, Attacus roylei, and Telea polyphemus, as 
the insects from which the young larve were bred were exceedingly 
fine, and it is rather difficult to get these species to pair in confinement ; 
at the same time it is possible that these and other species (now 
there is such a demand for them) are “bred in” in their native 
countries by the persons who supply the European dealers. 
The examples of Attacus mylitta, which were sent home by 
J. Wood-Mason, Esq., and those of At¢tacus atlas, which were 
purchased, were all dead in the cocoons with the exception of two 
specimens of each species. This, I fear, was the result of getting a 
“chill en route, as the insects were perfectly formed. 
Of perfect insects I had generally a good series on exhibition, 
especially of the beautiful Indian Moon Moth (Actias selene)—the 
first specimens emerging on the 18th April. 
Attacus roylet was exhibited for the first time, and also specimens 
of Cricula trifenestrata and Hypochera io. 
Of Butterflies, the following species were exhibited for the first 
time :-— 
Thais polyxena, Argynnis paphia, 
Parnassius apollo, Lycena iolas, 
Vanessa xanthomelas, Thecla betula, 
levana, var. prorsa, spint, 
and also several species of the Sesiidze or Clearwings (see P. Z. S. 
1882, p. 548). / 
Of Moths, Sphinw pinastri, Deilephila vespertilio, and the 
beautiful North-American Ceratocampa imperialis were the most 
noticeable species exhibited for the first time. 
