496 BRITISH LEPIDOPTERA. 



hatched a month later. Still later pupae (October i5th-2oth) did 

 not produce moths until the 2nd and 3rd weeks in December, 

 and I think it very unlikely that they would have produced imagines 

 at all if left out-of-doors. We had some cold weather in late 

 November and early December, durng which time I kept my pupae 

 indoors. The markings of the wings had been showing for three 

 weeks at least before the moths emerged. Two of these late moths 

 were deformed, and the others, though well developed, had the 

 colours pale, the green being yellowish-olive, even rusty-olive, in 

 some specimens. I have still (December 22nd) 22 living pupae, 

 many with the moths almost completely developed, others showing 

 no sign yet beyond an increased opacity of the wing-cases, and a 

 darkening of leg- and eye-cases. Pupae formed late in November 

 partly develop the moths in the course of the winter, but they do not 

 hatch. I had six such last year, which I kept outside. They all 

 died towards the end of January, and, on opening them, I found 

 the moths nearly complete, but their wings were uniform brown. I 

 am convinced that no pupae pass the winter alive in the open in 

 the south of France, and feel pretty sure that, in average years, no 

 moths emerge later than the middle of November in the wild state. 

 Very late pupae have light brown streaks on the wing-cases along 

 and between the nervures. Moisture is certainly harmful to the 

 pupae. If kept too damp they generally rot and turn black. I 

 always keep mine perfectly dry and with very good results. The 

 autumn rains must destroy a great many out-of-doors. The pupa 

 to begin with is very sensitive, and, at the least touch, it will swing 

 the free abdominal segments round violently ; it is, in fact, one of the 

 most muscular pupae I know. When the wing-cases become decidedly 

 opaque indicating that the moth has commenced to mature, the pupa 

 loses a great deal of its sensitiveness. This returns again, however, 

 when the moth is nearly matured inside the pupa-case. The eyes can 

 be seen shining the night before emergence, and, if examined only 

 a few hours before, they are seen to be brilliant. The markings 

 of the wings are also very evident (Powell). 



[Page 259.] Parasites. — I think I may safely say that the larva of 

 Daphnis 7ierii\s entirely free from parasites in southern France. I have 

 bred in all about 500 moths and have never lost a single larva or pupa 

 from this cause (Powell). 



[Page 259.] Habits of imago. — In summertime, and early 

 autumn, the moths emerge from the pupae between sunset and midnight, 

 8 p.m. being an average time. Cold weather upsets all this, and often 

 delays emergence many days after the moth is ready, if it does not 

 prevent it altogether. The moths climb up and rest on the sides of 

 the cages holding the thorax well back during the development of the 

 wings. This process is soon complete, but the wings still hang back and 

 down for about two hours. Then the distance between them widens, 

 and they are brought down rather abruptly into the position of rest 

 usual in hawk moths. The moth then settles itself closer to the cage 

 side, and tucks its antennae under the wings, close to the body. Next 

 morning at daybreak the moths fly, hut their flight is of short duration, 

 for all are at rest again before sunrise. [To prevent this they should be 

 placed overnight in a cupboard or dark room where no light will 

 reach them in the morning. They can then be killed at any time 



