294 Mn. A. Thomson's eepokt ox the iis'sect-house. [Mar. 7, 



Of the Lepidopterous Insects which I have the honour to place 



before the meeting, Attacus pryeri, Aciias artemis, Ehodia fugax, 

 from Japan, Actias leto (females), from the Himalayas, and Auto- 

 meris ruhrescens, from Buenos Ayres. were exhibited for the first 

 time during the past season. 



I have received during the past three years cocoons of the 

 beautiful Indian Moth Actias leto (the female of which is known 

 as Actias 7nmias) • but with the exception of the last consignment 

 (which was received on Dec. 26th) all the Moths emerged en route, 

 and iu this case I found that all the males had emerged. The box 

 in which the cocoons were packed, being made of tin, was badly 

 crushed in the post, but I was pleased to find that eleven cocoons 

 contained living pupas. They were immediately placed in the 

 Insect-house, aud on the 28th of December a tine and perfect 

 specimen of the Moth emerged, and the remainder during the 

 next fortnight. Three of the cocoons produced specimens of 

 Actias selene. I regret to say that with the exception of the t\\o 

 perfect specimens which I exhibit this evening, and two others 

 not quite perfect, all the Moths that emerged were useless cripples. 

 This is, however, I believe, the first time that this species has been 

 exhibited in Europe alive. 



The specimens of Ehodia fxigax were reared from ova received 

 from Japan. The larvsB fed well upon sallow and plum, and in 

 due time spun their curious cocoons, some of which I exhibit, 

 together ^^ath a sketch of the larva. When the Moths emerge 

 they soften the opening of the cocoon, but, as will be seen, they 

 harden again afterwards, and the cocoons have the same appearance 

 as before the Moths emerged. The larvie of this Moth make a 

 curious squeaking noise vvlien disturbed. 



Together with the cocoons of Actias mimosce, which we received 

 from Delagoa Bay, was a small smooth cocoon. From this 

 emerged the female specimen of Leheda l-oelUJceri, which I exhibit 

 this evening. I have set the Moth in exactly the same position 

 as that in which it rested on the virgin cork in the case, so as to 

 show the curious shape of the upper margin of the under-wings. 



During the past season several specimens of the Goliath Beetle 

 (GoliatJius dniriii) were received, but did not live very long. A 

 specimen of "Ehinoceros" Beetle (Oryctes hoas), from Port Eliza- 

 beth, was presented by Miss Matcham and Captain Travers on 

 February 24, and lived till August 5. The specimen (which I 

 exhibit) used to burrow in the sand very rapidly, and when doing 

 so laid its horn back in the manner shown in the " setting." 

 When walking about above the ground it carried the horn upright 

 or nearly so. Its principal food was bananas. 



One of the most remarkable inmates of the Insect-house at the 

 present time is a very fine specimen of the Giant Centipede 

 (ScoJopendra qiqas), from Trinidad, which was presented by 

 Mr. E. E. Mole, July 7, 1898 (see P. Z. S. 1898, p. 587). 



This Centipede, on arrival at tlie Gardens, was in ratlier poor 

 condition, but it fed voi-aciously twice a week, and entirely con- 



