1198 Insects. 



Hounds, just out ; and several others at the new Victoria Park, Hackney. They have 

 been taken near that spot for some years past. — H. J. Harding ; 1, York St., Church 

 St., Shoreditch, 



Capture of Colias Edusa near Chenies, Bucks. Seven specimens of this butterfly 

 were captured near this place in September, 1844, six males and one female. Several 

 others were also seen, one female was caught this year. I also caught two specimens 

 at Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex. — J. Taylor ; Chenies, Bucks. 



On the Influence of the various Bays of Light upon the Caterpillar of Vanessa Io. 

 Having seen a statement that tadpoles, supplied with every necessary of life, but en- 

 tirely secluded from light, are arrested in their development, and merely increase in 

 size, without undergoing the usual transformation ; I was led to try a similar experi- 

 ment upon caterpillars. The remarkable effects, also, of the different rays of light 

 upon vegetation, caused me to subject a number of specimens to this influence. I 

 employed in this experiment two breeding-boxes ; the one divided into four compart- 

 ments, covered respectively with yellow, red, blue and green glass ; the other box had 

 two compartments, the one perfectly darkened, the other covered with ordinary glass. 

 As a subject for the experiment, I saw it would be advisable to select some species not 

 much given to vary, in order that any result obtained might be the more manifest. A 

 brood of Vanessa Io that fell into my hands about the middle of July, seemed suitable 

 for the purpose, and I distributed them in the yellow, blue, dark and light compart- 

 ments ; they having at the time just changed their first skins. The feeding was con- 

 ducted with the greatest equality, that no other cause than the difference of light 

 might operate upon them. Sometimes I thought that those under the yellow light 

 looked less healthy than the rest; but I cannot say this decisively. In the time of 

 their making up I could perceive no difference. In their emerging from the chrysalis 

 there was, however, a marked distinction ; those in the dark all made their appearance 

 first (August 12 and 13), and were all out before a single specimen had appeared in 

 the other three cells. Next came those in the common light (August 14 and 15) ; then 

 the blue and yellow together (August 15 — 20). Those bred in the dark were in gene- 

 ral larger than the rest, and their colours seemed to me brighter ; many specimens 

 from the yellow cell were small, and their antennae crippled. The results were thus 

 less decisive than I had expected, and differed considerably from my suppositions, as 

 I had looked for the yellow first, and the dark last. I do not by any means regard the 

 matter as decided, but intend to repeat the process with other species of caterpillars, 

 and with a few additional precautions. I noted down also, with some care, their hours 

 of emerging, in order to ascertain how far these would agree with the hours stated by 

 MM. Queteletand Laycock, as so decisive in the animal economy, namely, 8 — 10 and 

 4 — 5 ; but could not perceive any marked distinction. — J. W. Slater ; Fairfield, Sep- 

 tember 11, 1845. 



Capture of Sphinx Convolvuli at Driffield. A very fine specimen of Sphinx Con- 

 volvuli was lately talcen at Driffield, having flown into the window of the Ked Lion 

 hotel there ; and was given to me by the landlady, Mrs. Johns, who had kindly pre- 

 served it for me. Unfortunately, I was from home at the time, and the insect being 

 put under a glass, it rubbed off the ends of its wings, having been a remarkably large 

 and fine specimen. When first taken, it was covered with down, they told me ; and I 

 have no doubt, from its present appearance, that it had but just come out of the chry- 

 salis. The neighbours saw it flying, and told Mrs. J. that a bat had gone in through 

 the window. — F. Orpen Morris ; H offer ton Vicarage, September 19, 1845. 



