106 MR. H. 8. LEIGH ON THE [ Feb. 2, 
This habit of discharging the eggs no doubt ensures a better 
distribution of the offspring, as the females are extremely sluggish 
creatures, and if the eggs were simply dropped they would in all 
probability be clustered together in masses and fall an easy prey 
to their enemies. 
It is necessary when rearing the Phylliums in captivity to 
provide abundant moisture as well as heat for the ova. They 
were placed in an orchid house where a temperature varying from 
65°—-85° F. was maintained, the atmosphere being also exceedingly 
moist. 
Under these conditions the ova began to hatch about the 
end of August 1907, the first larva appearing on August 28th, 
and they continued to hatch very irregularly until the end of 
January 1908. Although the majority of the larve appeared 
during September, October, and November, I found that their 
emergence depended to a great extent upon a high temperature ; 
none hatched unless the temperature exceeded 70° F. Morton 
and St. Quintin each speak of this irregularity in the hatching of 
the eggs, and the latter says that although his larvee continued to 
emerge during several months, “ the: ova were all deposited 
between the 7th April and the 15th May.” 
I think it is very probable that the time passed in the egg 
stage 1s exceedingly variable and may be prolonged. In confine- 
ment embryonic development requires four to seven months for 
its completion. Apparently the larve emerge very irregularly in 
the Seychelles, for some were found in the early larval stages side 
by side with the adult insects. 
The larva, when ready to emerge, pushes off the lid or stopper 
to which reference has already been made. When newly-hatched 
it is about 16 mm. in length and possesses the characteristic form 
of the Phylliums. The head and prothorax are reddish-brown ; 
meso- and metathorax brown with a red dorsal line; flattened 
expansions of the abdomen reddish-brown, but marked with dark 
brown semicircular rings from the fifth to ‘the tenth segments. 
I found that the young larva takes no food until four days after 
hatching, and during this time it is rather active, moving about 
with a singular hesitating and staggering action, which is even 
accentuated if the insect is alarmed. 
The plant upon which these insects principally feed is the 
Psidium guava, but in Ceylon they are said to feed also on the 
leaves of the tea and certain species of lemon trees. 
This question of food probably offers one explanation for the 
young larve fasting a few days, as the chances are it would be 
extremely difficult for them (on emerging from the eggs lying on 
the ground) to climb up the stems of their food-plant through the 
thick and entangled vegetation and obtain food at once. 
Not being able to procure any of the natural food-plants, I 
followed the example of Mr. St. Quintin and placed my young 
larvee on oak leaves which I ional they took to well; they 
require, however, to be provided with plenty of moisture, and to 
