34 g [Proc. B.N.F.C., 



It had also two to five pairs of claspers or pro-legs. The larva 

 breathed by means of spiracles which were protected by hairs. 

 During the larval stage the skin was cast three or four times, the 

 last moult revealing the pupa. The larva fasted before moulting 

 and rested afterwards. The larva stage varied in length — in one 

 species occupying six weeks, while in the Goat-Moth it extended 

 over three or four years. There may be from three to four broods 

 in one year and these are often dissimilar owing to weather 

 conditions. The methods of pupation varied, more so in moths 

 (Heterocera) than in Butterflies (Rhopalocera). The latter 

 usually hung suspended by the cremaster, as in the Nymphalidae 

 or were attached to some object by a silk belt. e.g. the Pieridos. 



The larvae of many moths before pupating spun a silken 

 cocoon which acted as a protective covering, e.g. S. pavonia. 

 The Sphingidae larvae first burrowed in the ground and there 

 pupated. The tendency in most Insect Orders was to shorten the 

 period of pupation. In Lepidoptera the tendency was to lengthen 

 the time. The reason of this was that whereas the mouth of the 

 larva was fitted only for biting, that of the imago was formed for 

 sucking juices of flowers, etc., and hence a period of quiescence 

 was necessary for the insect to undergo these changes in structure. 

 The wings were furnished with tubes through which a fluid was 

 forced which helped to expand them. The insect had compound 

 eyes at the sides of its head and simple ones on the top. Mr. 

 Dunbar then dealt briefly with the life-histories of some local 

 species of Butterflies — showing that some were indigenous while 

 others never hibernated with us, e.g. The Painted Lady, also the 

 Peacock. It was further stated that the Red Admiral arrived 

 as an immigrant at the end of May and had several broods during 

 the Summer, the larva? feeding on nettles. 



Among Moths the Death's Head was the largest. Its larva 

 attained a length of five inches. The Elephant Hawk-Moth, the 

 Drinker- Moth and the Puss-Moth were also considered. The 

 larvae of the latter on hatching are black and feed on poplar 



