MR. STAI>"TOX OX ORGYIA. 



163 



remarks, and though I have allowed so long a period to elapse, 

 yet I believe I ought not to keep back my observations on the, at 

 any rate, quite analogous mode of copulation of Orgyia dubia, 

 since possibly nothing thereon may yet have been published by 

 German entomologists. 



" I have never had an opportunity of observing 0. Ericce, and can 

 consequently say nothing respecting that species ; but it would 

 seem to me that the same thing takes place with O.Ericce as with 

 O. dubia, which is common here. 



" I forbear from giving a complete biology of this Moth, as super- 

 fluous, and I only remark that, as in all the Orgyics, the female 

 [larvae] are distinguished from the males by their greater size. 

 Usually I do not take the trouble, when rearing thein, to separate 

 the male larvae ; and hence I have to be particularly attentive at the 

 time of their exclusion, in order to secure them uninjured. The 

 female larva forms a cocoon very roomy for its size, in which the 

 female perfect insect bursts open the thin pupa-skin, without, 

 however, being in a condition to remove it from the head. I cer- 

 tainly know of no more helpless creature : the head and antennae 

 are so small and inconspicuous that they can only be perceived 

 with difficulty ; the legs are so feeble and so very short (much 

 shorter than those of the larva) that the insect cannot use them 

 at all. In fact, we have here little else than an abdomen full of 

 eggs, which the creature can scarcely move : any violent agitation 

 is not to be thought of. The female never leaves its cocoon, and 

 closes, in its habitation (which will soon become its coffin, unless 

 some amorous male takes pity on it), in lonely and joyless state, 

 its short life, yet not without at least depositing some of its 

 numerous white eggs. These soon shrivel, since they are un- 

 fertilized. 



" The lively male, on the other hand, displays, soon after its exclu- 

 sion, a quite peculiar activity in order to accomplish its life's 

 mission. Often before half an hour has elapsed after its exclusion 

 and complete development, it begins to seek eagerly for a consort. 

 It soon scents out the thoroughly closed habitation of a female, 

 settles on it, and seeks for the most convenient place for pene- 

 trating into the maiden's apartment. It soon discovers the right 

 place at the most accessible end of the pupa, at the place where 

 usually the moths make their escape. With indefatigable per- 

 severance and haste it now bores with head and legs, afterwards 

 helping itself with its wings into the cocoon, which generally 

 happens after half-an-hour's hard work : copulation then takes 



