[Annals N. Y. Acad. Sci., XI, No. ii, pp. 219 to 223, August 13, 1898.] 



AN IMPORTANT INSTANCE OF INSECT 

 COALESCENCE. 



Henry E. Crampton, Jr. 



(Read March 14, 1898.) 



During the winter of 1896—97 the writer performed a num- 

 ber of experiments upon lepidopterous pupae, in order to ascer- 

 tain if it were possible to produce a coalescence between two in- 

 dividuals, or parts of individuals, similar to that obtained by 

 Born with the embryos of Amphibia. A report upon the re- 

 sults of these experiments is embodied in the form of a Woods 

 Holl lecture for 1897. Without going into details, it might 

 be stated that the two main problems were : first, whether 

 ''grafting," or the production of coalescence, were possible 

 with lepidoptera ; and second, if such coalescence could be 

 brought about, whether the colors of one moth could be made 

 to replace those of another by a transfusion of haemolymph. 

 The first point was determined successfully in about twenty 

 cases out of nearly two hundred experiments. The second 

 point remained undetermined on account of the small number of 

 successful cases. During the present winter, in the course of a 

 further series of experiments, numbering at present over 750, one 

 specimen was obtained which exhibited conditions of exceptional 

 interest. It is considered worthy of a special notice, as the full 

 account of the winter's experiments cannot of necessity be pub- 

 lished for some time. 



The case in question (No. 341) consists of a Callosamia 

 promethea, united "in tandem" anteriorly to a Saviia cecropia. 

 In an operation of this kind part of the abdomen of the anterior 

 component is cut away by a transverse section back of the 

 wing-cases, /. c, between the fourth and fifth abdominal seg- 

 ments ; the remainder of the pupa is united to a posterior com- 



(219) 



