BRITISH LEPIDOPTERA. 231 
and interesting cases of sagacity, in fact we might almost say their 
name is legion, but the following experience may be somewhat 
unusual considering the subject under consideration, and in any case 
will be another contribution to the biolog gy of the Wax moth. 
Some time ago I had collected three larve of the above species 
from my experimental apiary for microscopical examination, and 
had put them into a cardboard box in order to rear pupe, I also gave 
them a small piece of artificial comb to feed on. However, two of 
them spun their threads directly underneath the comb, whilst the 
third was thereby entirely shut off from the store of food, and directly 
the larva approached the other two she was instantly driven away. 
This continued until the first two sallied forth to pupate elsewhere. 
It may be a subject worthy of note to record that I did all 1 could 
to coax this unbefriended grub to throw in her lot with the others, but 
everything was of no avail, until ultimately she took possession of the 
empty passages and devoured the remaining portion of food, by which 
time one of the others had actually pupated. What was my surprise on 
examining the box a day or two after to find that the larva had torn 
open the puparium, and turned the chrysalis out of its resting-place— 
thus making room and opportunity for herself to undergo that same 
period of rest. 
The conclusion [ have come to as an explanation of this proceed- 
ine—the whole of which lasted no more than a week—is that the 
larva, through some means or other, was prevented from spinning 
quantities of threads, and that she had therefore learnt by natural 
instinct how to overcome that difficulty ; or could it be—that a spirit 
of revenge had seized hold of her—revenge at being excluded from the 
liberal board ? How was it she knew her strength and ability directly 
her foe lay helpless, having undergone that process for which end she 
herself was straining every nerve to bring about that lke change ? 
and did she not know that she would thus be secure and unmolested 
until the time should come for her to enter into that much longed for 
bliss of the imago state ? 
Naturally all my sympathies are with the first view being the 
most likely, the more so as we know cases-—such for instance as 
recorded by the then Sir John Lubbock—of spiders unable to spin 
more than a certain number of webs, and even if the glands and the 
organs directly in relationship thereto, were in no way injured—is 
not this possible, especially as throughout the whole proceedings this 
larva showed herself incapable of spinning? I think, also, that we may 
read in thisinteresting case, the way adopted by nature, through natural 
instinct, teaching the feeble to help themselves, sugvesting to the 
helpless a way of “self- brceerve ation for the perpetuation “of its species. 
British Tiepdopeekal= 
By WILLIAM BATESON, M.A., F.B.S., F.E.S., &e. 
It is pleasant to write a few words in appreciation of the second 
volume of Mr. J. W. Tutt’s British Lepidoptera. Of the great utility 
of las work there can be no doubt whatever, and the punetual : appear- 
* A Natural Toon of ate British Lepidoptera. By J. W. Tutt, F HS. Vv ol IL., 
pp- set vili. Published by Swan Sonnenschein & Co., Paternoster Square. 
Price 20s. net. 
