436 3[r Edwards, On the Procession and Pupation, etc. 



the whole mass gradually became engulfed, and finally, in the 

 course of a few da3's, reached a depth of several inches. 



When large processions became buried in this way, without 

 first fragmenting, bundles of considerable size were formed. 

 I discovered one numbering more than 100, buried at a depth 

 of 3 inches. Some of these I removed with the sand containing 

 them. These completed pupation 19 days after burrowing. 



Conclusions. 



The facts recorded in the previous observations all seem to 

 support the conclusion that, though the individuals of a procession 

 may act alike when influenced by the same stimuli, yet each larva 

 is capable of independent action, (Cf. voluntary chauge of leader, 

 action of primite under special conditions, fragmentation of pro- 

 cessions occasionally preceding pupation, etc.) 



If this be so the procession cannot be said to act in any real 

 sense as a single individual. 



Fabre states that the poisonous properties of the larval epi- 

 dermis are exceedingly severe in some cases ; yet, if this be true, 

 the effect must depend largely upon the individual. I was not 

 affected at all, though I was handling the larvae for several hours 

 at a time. Mr Brindley also found no irritation from the larvae, 

 though the Tachinid flies which he observed laying their eggs in 

 a procession were noticed by him evidently to fear and avoid the 

 hairs. I was told, ho\vever, by an inhabitant of the district, that 

 some persons were subject to a msh at the time when the pro- 

 cessions were abroad. This is said to be produced by the fine red 

 hairs of the dorsal papillae which float in the air. 



Literature, 



Reaumur, 1736, Memoires pour VMstoire des Tnsectes, li. pp. 149 — 161. 

 Fabre, circa 1898, Souvenirs Entomologiques, ser. vi. pp. 298 — 392. 

 Ratzeburg, 1840, Forst-Insecten, ii. p. 128, and Stettiner Entomologische 



Zeihing, p. 40, 

 Brindley, 1906, Proceedings of Camb. Phil. Soc. Yol, xiv. Part I. 



