466 Four Species of Insects 'which foedy 



It lay dormant in this condition until the beginning of June, when I found 

 that it had burst its cerements, and was changed into a large moth of about 

 1 in. in length, of an ash colour, with clouded wings. It was seated on the top 

 of the sawdust, and occupied in laying a number of small scaly eggs connected 

 in strings, or bunches. The tube was filled with the shell of the chry- 

 salis, which it left behind in its passage. The moth continued alive for about 

 three weeks longer, apparently motionless and inanimate unless disturbed, 

 when it showed signs of life ; and, though I opened the mouth of the phial to set 

 it at liberty, it did not avail itself of the opportunity ; whether through weak- 

 ness or choice I know not. On opening the phial, such a putrid stench- re- 

 sembling the ordure of mice, filled the apartment, that, though I immediately 

 removed it, it was for some days an annoyance. 



T think a moment's consideration may show us that Divine Wisdom has 

 endowed this animal not only with instinct, but with a degree of rationality 

 which enabled it to foresee,under the novel circumstances amongst which it was 

 placed, the imminent dangers which awaited it on its transition to a future 

 state, and to take such precautions as would most etfectually secure it against 

 them. Instinct alone is ever blind and undeviating, and reason only can ac- 

 coumiodate itself to emergencies as they arise'. — J. Robertson. Kilkenny , 

 October 2. 1831. 



It is an instinctive habit of the species to do, under ordinary circumstances, 

 as this individual did under extraordinary ones. 



Pupa (Jlg-li. c) brown ; the hinder edge of its abdominal segments bearing 

 prickles directed backwards. Before the larva becomes a pupa it spins a strong 

 web, intermixed with particles of wood, which constitutes its cocoon (^g.l'i.b), 

 within which it becomes a pupa : it is stated to become one in May. In spe- 

 cies of insect whose pupas " are enclosed in trees, and spin a cocoon," the 

 pupae are furnished with points on the head, with which they make an opening 

 in the cocoon, provisionally to their progressing to light and air, wherein they 

 are to exist under the changed form of imago. The spines upon the abdo- 

 minal segments of the pupa have been interpreted to subserve to the same end, 

 as their direction admits progression, and hinders retrogression. (Kirby and 

 Spence, Itit.; and G. H. in Magazine of Natural History, vol. ii. p. 210.) 



Fig. 74. e,f, g, h, i, are representations, magnified, of the spines upon cer- 

 tain of the abdominal segments : e represents the 4th abdominal segment, seen 

 laterally; /, three of the basal row of teeth; g, three of the hinder row of 

 teeth : k, three of the basal row of teeth of the 8th abdominal segment ; i, 

 three of the basal row of teeth of the 9th abdominal segment. The figures are 

 copied from the posthumous work of Lyonnet. 



It is proper to state that the larva, in some instances, changes to a pupa 

 deep in the ground. I state this, first, on the authority of Mr. T. Rivers, jun, 

 who has known one to be found in such a situation, enveloped in a cocoon, or 

 covering, formed, I have either understood him or have fancied, partly of soil. 

 Mr. Rivers remarked its powerful and peculiar odour ; and this identifies the 

 insect as the Cossus Ligniperda. Secondly, on the fact of my having seen a 

 very large (perhaps more than one) larva, that, from its size, must have been 

 full grown, or nearly so, walking on the surface of the ground in hot sunny 

 weather. It is not probable that it was roaming in quest of a fresh tree as an 

 object of food ; and, if a tree to undergo its change to a pupa in was the object 

 sought, it seems needless that it should have left the tree in which it had gone 

 through its course of feeding. 



Imago. (Jig. 74. d.) Wings of the male 2-^ in. to 3i in.; of the female, 

 31 in. to 3f: clouded with grey and brown, and having numerous slanting 

 black streaks ; corselet whitish, with a posterior black band. (Rennie's 

 Conspectus.) Mr. Robertson has briefly described it above. It appears in the 

 end of June and beginning of July. It flies by night, as is implied b} the sec- 

 tional name Nocturna (/nsecta is the word understood). 



