his notice. As was well known the Lepidoptera in passing from 
the egg to the mature state underwent the several changes of 
larva, pupa, and image. In two, and in some cases in only one, of 
these did the insect partake of food. For, while all were voracious 
in the larval state, and while many possessed a proboscis of great 
length, other species did not possess any suctorial apparatus, and 
therefore could not take food. The parent, as a rule, laid the eggs 
on or near the food substance of the larvae, the gradual develop- 
ment of which, in many transparent eggs, could be watched under 
the microscope. While these changes were taking place the colour 
of the egg also changed. As soon as the larva is ready to escape 
it eats its way out, very seldom at the apex or macropgle, but 
generally below and at one side. The eggs of many are very beau- 
tiful objects for the microscope. The larvae of various, and some 
of peculiar forms and habits, spend their time in eating and chang- 
ing their skins. In fact, the chief aim of their existence at this 
stage is storing up vitality to enable them to undergo their fur- 
ther changes ; for, when supplied with insufficient food, or alter- 
nately starved and fed, the imago stage is either not reached, or 
a mutilated or deformed insects results. When the time arrives 
for the change to the pupa state some construct elaborate coccoons, 
others suspend themselves from twigs, and others burrow, all 
casting the last larval coat when they become chrysalides. Just 
before the final change the colour of the chrysalis alters, and 
through the pupa case the several parts of the future insect can be 
made out. At last the pupa case bursts, and th e fully fledged insect 
emerges, with wings of minute size ; these expand as air and fluid 
are forced through them. The scales at the time of emerging are 
all of full size. This is an important fact, for some assert that 
the scales expand together with the wing membrane itself, the air 
breathed in entering between the laminae of each scale ; others 
maintain that the scales are small and few in number in newly- 
developed insects, but larger and more numerous as the insect 
increases in age. Both these theories are contrary to fact, as may 
be proved by examining a wing either before or immediately after 
the insect has escaped from the pupa case, when it will be seen 
they are all of full size, but packed closely together, laterally and 
longitudinally. Experiments made with the Puss Moth and Oak 
Egger Moth, the former to determiue in what way the insect dis- 
solved its hard coccoon, in the latter to discover by what means 
the males were attracted in such numbers and from such long dis- 
tances, were next described. Several cases of parthenogenesis, in 
which the larva did not reach the third moult, and examples of a 
second copulation, were mentioned. The females possessed greater 
vitality than the males, and made in articulo mortis efforts to lay 
eggs, which in some cases were extended for days after death. 
While such varied colours were seen in Lepidoptera, the scales 
themselves when viewed by transmitted light were either colour- 
less or of a dull yellowish tint. As regarded a distinctive scale 
on the males, there was not a doubt that in many families the 
