RE-DEVELOPMENT OF LOST LIMBS IN THE INSECTA. 10^ 



apex. This swelling was slightly paler in colour than the 

 surrounding skin. 



At the time this occurred, I was undetermined whether this 

 cone was the commencement of the re-developing leg, or was 

 merely an inflamed area, and the black tip the cicatrix of the am- 

 putation ; but, as subsequent events have lately proved, I believe 

 it to have been the early development of a new leg. 



During the fifth age this swelling (appreciably) did not grow 

 more in proportion than the rest of the body, and the larva spun 

 up its cocoon as usual. An early examination of the pupa 

 revealed the fact that no new leg had then been developed ; at 

 all events as far as could be determined by outward examination. 

 In the front of the pupa there was a groove, just as if when the 

 pupal skin was soft the leg had been lifted up and severed off as 

 high and near the body as could be reached. I examined this 

 pupa at various times, to see if I could observe any trace of a 

 new leg, as the pupal skin at the base of this groove was 

 thin, chitinous, and almost transparent. However, I could not 

 see any growth, even as late as two days prior to the insect's ' 

 emergence, when it was minutely examined by myself and Mr. 

 E. C. Stump, of the Manchester Microscopical Society. The 

 moth emerged, and lo ! there was a leg. This I examined, and 

 found it had the usual number of joints, and was freely movable, 

 the only difference being that it was about one-third the size 

 of the corresponding leg on the other side. I exhibited this 

 moth alive, and gave its history, at the Lower Mosley Street 

 Natural History Society, where it attracted considerable atten- 

 tion. When running or walking, it tucked this leg up under the 

 thorax, and used the other five. 



The second case to mention is not one of complete re- 

 development, but rather one of complete cicatrisation of a wound 

 received by a pupa ; cicatrisation being the primary commence- 

 ment before re-development can take place ; and as this occurred 

 at a late stage of insect life, it is my excuse for mentioning 

 it here. 



I was opening a cocoon of Antherea mylitta, when my pen- 

 knife went a little too deep, with the result that I cut into the 

 pupa in a diagonal line across the right antenna cover, and in a 

 line from about the middle of the costal margin of the forewing 

 to near the centre of the discoidal cell. The wound bled freely, 

 80 freely indeed that I had no hopes of it living, and not liking 

 to throw it away, but rather wishing to have it as a specimen, I 

 put it away. Examination a day or two later showed that the 

 pupa was still alive, and the wound had stopped bleeding. The 

 blood had hardened over the wound and prevented any more 

 oozing out. The pupa was much shrunk and contracted. Seeing 

 it still alive, I again placed it in my hatching cage, hoping it 

 would still live on and emerge, which it did. This moth emerged 

 a little later than the others, and when examined I found that 



