INSECT COALESCENCE. '2>'2.^ 



The above conclusion receives considerable support, and, in 

 point of fact, confirmation from the results of certain other ex- 

 periments. In several cases, where a small part of the moth 

 has been united to a much larger part, the former takes on, in 

 the imago, the characteristic colors of the major part. One 

 very striking case in point is one obtained recently. The head 

 and prothorax, with other minor parts of a polyphemus pupa, 

 having been removed, the corresponding parts of a cecropia 

 were supplied. The resulting metamorphosed imago exhibits 

 an apparently perfect insect. The hairs of the head and thorax 

 derived from the cecropia^ however, show no trace of the 

 cecropia color, but are shiny buff, the color of the correspond- 

 ing parts of a polyphemus. The available haemolymph was, of 

 course, only that of the polyphemus body, and therefore the 

 colors were those characteristic of that species. 



The foregoing account, reinforced by the other minor results 

 above mentioned, goes to show, I believe, that it is possible m 

 some cases to produce a definite color-effect of one moth upon 

 another, by producing a coalescence between them, thus per- 

 mitting a transfusion of haemolymph. Why this reciprocal color- 

 effect obtains in some cases, but not in others, now becomes 

 the next problem to be investigated. 



Columbia University. 



