228 



THE BRITISH NATURALIST. [November 



hatched, and the three remaining pupae all produced perfect examples, 

 the last appearing on the 2nd of March. 



As my method proved so successful I placed the remainder of my 

 pupae in the " Pine Stove " and treated them in the same way as the 

 first lot, the only difference being a slight increase in the day tempera- 

 ture, which sometimes was as high as 90 deg. during sudden bursts 

 of sunshine. 



From this lot of pupae the first imago hatched in 24 days. The 

 last imago appearing on the 31st March. 



In all 17 pupae were treated under the foregoing method, all of 

 which produced imagines but one, and this pupa, strange to say, lived 

 on for a long time, and until some weeks after when it was placed in 

 " spirits " to be preserved, and to complete a life-history of its species 

 for our Museum. I should also add that four larvae out of the total 

 number were also preserved, which account for my having but the 

 17 pupae mentioned above. I trust you will not be like a correspondent 

 in the " Entomologist," who writing on the forcing of D. galii, says : — 

 " To the fortunate possessor of a hot-house this is easy enough." I 

 did not find it very easy for to say nothing of the constant attention 

 tbey needed in the way of damping and shading ; for the sun was 

 always kept from them. I had an almost daily walk of a mile to their 

 place of keeping, for a period of some 66 days. I was not the fortunate 

 possessor of a hot-house and must here acknowledge my indebtedness 

 to Mr. A. O. Walker for the use of his " Pine Stove," without which 

 I fear many of my insects would have died in the pupal stage. 



The following is an abstract of the times and temperature in which 

 the larvae and pupae were kept. 



Larv,e. 



September 18th to October 21st. Outside all day fully exposed to 

 sun, but always taken in during rain and at night. 



Pup/e. 



November and December. Indoors. Temperature, day 50 0 night 45 0 

 January 1st to 22nd ,, ,, 55° ,, 46 0 



Once damped. 



January 23rd to time of hatching ,, 75 0 ,, 6o° 



Kept constantly damp. 

 The above are the average maximum and minimum temperatures. 

 On cold nights the temperature would be considerably lower, and on 

 bright sunny days in March the temperature would sometimes rise as 

 high as 90 deg. 



Some of our members may have been equally fortunate as myself 

 in rearing D. galii, on a much simpler plan. I have heard of several 

 methods, but do not think anyone could adopt a more successful one 

 than my own. My " Hot-house " may be a bone of contention 



