S94 MR. A. thomsok's repoet ok the insect-house. [Mar. 7, 



Of the Lepidopterous Insects which I have the honour to place 

 before the meeting, Attacus j)r7jeri, Aciias artemis, Ehodia fugax, 

 from Japan, Aciias 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 Aciias leto (the female of which is known 

 as Aciias mcenas) ; but with the exception of the last consignment 

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

 and in 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 pup^e. They were immediately placed in the 

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

 specimen of the Moth emerged, and the remainder during the 

 nest fortnight. Three of the cocoons produced specimens of 

 Aciias selene. I regret to say that with the exception of the two 

 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 Rliodia fugax were reared from ova received 

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

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

 together with a sketch of the larva. AVhen 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 larvae of this Moth make a 

 curious squeaking noise when disturbed. 



Together with the cocoons of Actias mimosa;, which we received 

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

 emerged the female specimen of Lebeda JcoelliJceri, 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 

 {Goliatlius druryi) were received, but did not live very long. A 

 specimen of " Ehinoceros " Beetle (Orycies boa.i), from Port Eliza- 

 beth, was presented by Miss Mateham 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 

 (Scolopendra qigas), from Trinidad, W'hich was presented by 

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



This Centipede, on arrival at the Gardens, was in rather poor 

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



