LIFE -HISTORY OP COLIAS IIYALE. 9 



the lower end, and ample wing-cases. The dorsal and ventral 

 areas are completely divided by a light lateral stripe, which is 

 conspicuous at the head, and then grows lighter until below the 

 extremity of the wing-cases, when it becomes a well-marked 

 yellow line, interrupted with faint pink spots. On each side of 

 the body, below the wing-cases, is a dull red-brown mark parallel 

 with the longest axis of the body, darkest at its upper extremit}^ 

 and shading off gradually downwards. The pupa is much lighter 

 on the back than the remainder of the body, and the wing-cases 

 have one minute black spot in the centre, and six along that part 

 which corresponds to the hind margin of the fore wings in the 

 imago. The pupa of C. hyale is almost identical in shape, colour, 

 and markings with that of C. edusa, but perhaps it is a trifle more 

 slender and upright. 



On the 19th November a slight change was perceptible in the 

 pupa, the wing-cases appearing more opaque and of a yellower 

 tint, and the position of the antennae could be traced by their 

 light brownish pink appearance, whilst on the following day the 

 pink margins of the wings showed through quite plainly, the 

 antennae being still more defined, and the head and ridge on the 

 thorax a light brown. By the next morning the dark markings of 

 the wings were to ba seen quite distinctly ; and on the 22nd 

 November the imago emerged, a male. This was followed on the 

 25th November by a second, also a male. 



I believe this is the first time that Colias hyale has been 

 recorded bred in captivity in this country. 



There being apparently some doubt as to the state in which 

 C. hyale would, under natural conditions, pass the winter in 

 England, I should mention that, bearing in mind the late date at 

 which the ova were obtained, the young larvae, as soon as they 

 hatched, were placed in a jar in a room where a fire was 

 burning for about twelve out of the twentj^-four hours of each 

 day, in order to overcome, if possible, any inherent tendency 

 towards hybernation. Generally speaking, the maximum tempe- 

 rature to which the larvae were subjected was about 80° F., this 

 reading being taken in the early evening ; the minimum (during 

 the morning) was, as near as possible, 40° F. 



At the time of writing (December 10th) three larvae, kept 

 indoors in a low temperature, are still surviving, they having 

 been absolutely quiescent for about thirty days, and are, so far 

 as can be judged at the present time, settled for hybernation in 

 the larval state. It will be an interesting point should these 

 prove capable of undergoing the ordeal of a winter in our uncer- 

 tain and often rigorous climate, and will tend to throw considerable 

 light on the vexed question as to the state in which the genus 

 Colias really does hybernate. 



30, Hanley Eoad, Hornsey Bise, London, N., Dec. 10, 1892. 



