256 Notes on the Habits of some Leipdopterous Larvae. 



the pupae to maturity. However, I have managed to rear a 

 very few out of a large number of larvae; several emerged 

 crippled in the wings, and the experiment altogether was 

 almost a total failure, as we only obtained two good specimens 

 out of twenty-three healthy larvae, which we brought from 

 Hyeres in April last. Feeding them during the journey was 

 of course very difficult, and the change from a hot climate to a 

 cold one did much mischief. When this larva is full fed, it 

 suspends itself by the tail, the head curled round towards the 

 tail in the usual manner of diurnal lepidopterous larvae. In 

 this position it remains for ten or fourteen days, during which 

 time the least touch is fatal. At the expiration of that period 

 the skin cracks at the fourth segment, and the bright green 

 pupa emerges, the old skin shrivels up (leaving the pupa free) 

 the " mask" alone remaining. The pupa state lasts but a few 

 days, the markings on the wings soon appear, and are rapidly 

 developed, the antennae and legs assume their proper colours, 

 and the perfect insect emerges (always, it is said, at noon) 

 about the first week in June, sometimes earlier. The perfect 

 state is usually of very short duration j for the young larvae 

 are found in July and August, the parent insect disappearing 

 about the same time. Occasionally, however, the perfect insect 

 survives until the winter ; indeed, once I saw it on the wing in 

 December, but this was considered by French entomologists as 

 quite an abnormal appearance. 0. Jasius flies with amazing 

 rapidity, and it is very difficult to catch on the wing, taking- 

 alarm at even the distant approach of the entomologist, and 

 flying off at a marvellous speed. 



