ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 559 
the disposition of the colouring. ITc also points out relations between 
the nature of the colouring and the mode, time, and place of flight. 
Reproduction in Butterflies.* — Dr. Ad. Seitz begins his third 
bionomical study by observing that the reproductive function is 
peculiarly dominant in the life of butterflies, but more so in the older 
forms, such as Cossidae, Hepialidaa, and many Microlepidoptera, than in 
young genera such as Apatura , Euripus , and Hestina. 
Psychidae, Sesiidae, and others tend to copulate immediately after 
becoming adults ; tbe males (e. g. of Heliconius charitonia ) may even 
await the emergence of the female ; in many cases, however, some time 
is first spent in feeding. The females of Psyche- species spin their larval 
sac where the males are likely to see it ; in many cases certain places 
ajjpear to be rendezvous for the sexes ; the odour of an imprisoned 
female often attracts a crowd of males. The search for the female is 
often very impetuous, and sometimes mistaken (or abnormal), thus the 
persistent pursuit of an Erycinid ( Emesis fatime Cr.) by a Colsenis julia 
is described. In mating, one must distinguish the suit and the choice ; 
the former as well as the latter is sometimes on the female’s part. 
Darwin’s hypothetical interpretation of the use of the blue “ eyes ” of 
the female Diadema holina is confirmed from direct observation. 
Bigamy and biandry are not infrequent. Repeated copulation on the 
part of a male has been observed in Aglia tau, Eudromis versicolora, 
Platypteryx hamula, and Selenoscopus nnheculosus, all of which fly very 
early, when favourable weather is often rare, when therefore it may be 
advantageous that one male act as several. Various abnormal sexual 
relations are chronicled. Many cases of hybridization are known, 
perhaps as the result of likeness of odours, or from a strange female 
coming in between an impetuous couple on the crowded thistle-top. 
Notice is taken of the fertile result of certain crossings. In Lcisiocampa 
pini the eventually disastrous effects of breeding in and in are illustrated. 
Seitz goes on to discuss egg-laying, the number and form of the eggs, 
&c. He doubts the accuracy of the observation that the nutrition of 
caterpillars alters the normal proportions of the sexes. Cases of birth 
after death are noted. About a score of Lepidoptera are now known 
to illustrate parthenogensis, and a much larger number show casual 
hermaphroditism, which is the result of a physiological inhibition con- 
serving the potentially bisexual embryonic state. Gynandromorphism 
is a more superficial phenomenon. 
Transformations of Saturniidse.']' — Prof. A. S. Packard has an im- 
portant paper on the life-histories of these Moths, of which the most 
valuable part, philosophically, is the attempt to discriminate, of the more 
salient ontogenetic features those that are congenital from those that 
are later and adaptational. It is probable that the group is derived 
from the Ceratocampidae. 
Red Pigment of Pyrrhocoris apterus.J — M. C. Phisalix, after dry- 
ing two litres of this hemipterous insect, isolated and dissolved a yellow- 
ish colouring matter ; this was found by spectral analysis to be near 
* Zool. Jahrb. (Abth. Systematik. Biol.), vfi. (1894) pp. 823-51. 
t Proe. Amer. Acad. Sci., xx. (1893 [received July 1894]) pp. 55-92 (3 pis. and 
11 figs.). I Comptes Rendus, cxviii. (1894) pp. 1282 and 3. 
2 q 2 
