8606 



Insects, 



different cabinets." So by Mr. Newman's account this insect is very 

 rare in this country, though not so I believe on the Continent. 



With this species I bring my few remarks to a close, trusting I have 

 not occupied the time and attention of the Society without imparting 

 a little information, if not to all, to at least a few of the members. In 

 conclusion I hope what I have read will be the means of inducing a 

 discussion, aud thus eliciting more information than I am able to 

 impart. 



Thomas Huckett. 



April 9, 1863. 



Description of the Larva of Papilio Machaon.—Heaid much narrower than the 

 body *. body nearly uniformly cylindrical, but having the segmental divisions strongly 

 marked ; every part of the body emitting very short stiff black bristles ; these are 

 abundant and conspicuous on the 12th and 13th segments. Head green, with a yellow 

 spot in the centre of the face ; a black spot below this and above the mouth ; two longi- 

 tudinal black stripes down the face; a large spot outside these on each cheek; and a 

 smaller black spot on each side of the mouth : ground colour of the body delicate 

 green, the second segment having three black spots immediately behind the head, and 

 again behind these spots is a transverse slit from which the larva can protrude 

 at pleasure, but more particularly when annoyed, two yellowish divaricating processes, 

 the use of which is not known ; at the same time the creature emits a disagreeable 

 scent ; the interstices of the segments are velvety black and unspotted, and every seg- 

 ment, except the 13th, has also a transverse jet-black velvety band, in each of which, 

 except that on the 2nd segment, are six bright orange-coloured spots ; the 2nd 

 segment has the black band unspotted, and the 13th segment has its place supplied 

 by four roundish black spots ; there is also a roundish black spot above the insertion 

 of each leg, and two roundish black spots above each clasper; the side of each clasper 

 is also black ; the ground colour of the belly is paler green than the back, and is 

 adorned with a series of large black markings. It feeds on Peucedanum palustre 

 (hog's fennel) and Heracleum sphondylium (cow parsnep), and also in gardens occasion- 

 ally on rue, and in confinement thrives very well on the leaves of carrot : wheu full- 

 fed it ascends the reed-stems in the neighbourhood of its food-plant, and assuming 

 a vertical or ascending position, fastens itself to the reed-stalk by its tail and by a 

 silken belt round its body ; it then turns to a chrysalis of a uniform pale yellow-green 

 colour, the anterior extremity having four lobes or protuberances ranged transversely, 

 the exterior ones much larger than the others ; the thorax also has three distinctly 

 pronounced prominences, one on each side, the others dorsal and median. It remains 

 in the pupa state throughout the winter, and the perfect insects begin to emerge in 

 the following May, and continue emerging until August; a constant succession of 

 individuals appear on the wing, thus giving some colour to a prevalent belief that 

 there are two or more broods in the year, a belief at variance with the facts that have 

 come under my notice. — Edward Newman. 



Description of the Jlarva of Melitma Cinxia. — Falls off its food and rolls itself into 

 a tight compact ring v^hen disturbed. Head distinctly exserted, distinctly notched on 



