552 
MR. NEWPORT ON THE RESPIRATION OF INSECTS. 
capacity, the time of day and temperature of the atmosphere being noted. After a 
certain period the stopper was carefully withdrawn under, and the phial was allowed to 
remain inverted in lime-water for about an hoar. The quantity of carbonic acid gas, 
and consequently a near approximation to the real amount of respiration in a given 
time, was thus indicated by the absorption which took place, — proper allowance being 
made for the variations of the thermometer, and for other circumstances, which oc- 
curred during the period of observation. Although it must be evident that this mode 
of ascertaining the quantity of respiration is open to objections, it is sufficiently ac- 
curate to enable us to form a comparative view of the amount in different states and 
insects. 
The quantity of respiration during a given period is very greatly influenced by the 
insects being either in a state of activity or quiescence, which explains the apparent 
discrepancy of some of the results, as shown in the accompanying Table. 
Table I. 
Exhibiting the quantity of carbonic acid gas excreted by different species of insects 
in their different states, and under different circumstances. 
No. 
Name of insect. 
State. 
Speci- 
mens. 
Bulk. 
Capacity, 
of phial. 
Hours 
inclosed. 
Temperature. 
Carbonic 
acid pro- 
duced. 
1. 
Sphinx ligustri 
Larva 
i 
0-13 
1-96 
5 
69 
to 71 
0-430 
2. 
Sphinx ligustri 
Larva 
i 
0-15 
3-16 
5 
69 
to 71 
0-431 
3. 
Sphinx ligustri 
Pupa 
i 
0-29 
2-68 
147 
47-5 to 47-5 
0-210 
4. 
Sphinx ligustri 
Pupa 
i 
0-29 
1-88 
95 
52-5 to 58 
0-230 
5. 
Sphinx ligustri 
Pupa 
i 
0-29 
2-03 
156 
46 
to 46 
0-190 
6. 
Sphinx ligustri 
Pupa 
i 
0-29 
1-94 
156 
46 
to 46 
0-190 
7. 
Sphinx ligustri 
Pupa 
i 
0-29 
1-88 
180 
58 
to 58 
0-400 
8. 
Sphinx ligustri 
Pupa 
i 
0-29 
2-34 
194 
61-5 to 59 
0-345 
9. 
Sphinx ligustri 
Pupa 
i 
0-29 
1-88 
194 
61-5 to 59 
0-310 
10. 
Sphinx ligustri 
Pupa 
i 
0-28 
1-89 
210 
48 
to 48 
0-235 
11. 
Papilio urticae 
Larva 
3 
0-09 
1-14 
12 
70 
to 66 
0-120 
12. 
Papilio urticae 
Larva 
3 
0-07 
1-14 
11 
68 
to 78 
0-140 
13. 
Papilio urticae 
Larva 
3 
0-07 
1-14 
7 
65 
to 74 
0-110 
14. 
Papilio urticae 
Larva 
3 
007 
114 
n 
75 
to 69 
0-140 
15. 
Papilio urticae 
Pupa 
5 
0-10 
1-96 
48 
67 
to 78 
0-130 
16. 
Papilio urticae 
Pupa 
3 
0-08 
1-14 
22 
74 
to 84 
0-160 
17. 
Papilio urticae 
Pupa 
3 
0-08 
1-14 
10 
74 
to 69 
0-050 
18. 
Papilio urticae 
Pupa 
3 
0-08 
1-14 
10 
69 
to 69 
0-040 
19. 
Papilio urticae 
Pupa 
3 
0-08 
1-14 
10 
67 
to 67 
0-041 
20. 
Papilio urticae 
Perfect 
3 
007 
1-14 
16§ 
79 
to 82 
0-200 
21. 
Phalaena vinula 
Pupa 
1 
0-11 
2-34 
257J 
54 
to 58 
0-270 
22. 
Phalaena vinula 
Pupa 
1 
Oil 
2-68 
194 
61-5 
0-363 
23. 
Phalaenn vinula 
1 
2-68 
12 
63 
0-480 
24. 
1 
2-68 
12 
63 
0-490 
25. 
Bombus terrestris 
Perfect 
1 
0-035 
2-03 
1 
60 
0-255 
26. 
Bombus terrestris 
Perfect 
1 
0-055 
2-03 
1 
60 
0-345 
27. 
Bombus terrestris 
Perfect 
1 
0-055 
2-03 
20 
59 
0-305 
28. 
Bombus terrestris 
Perfect 
1 
0-055 
2-03 
34 
60 
to 59 
0-120 
29. 
Anthophora retusa 
Perfect 
1 
0-023 
1-88 
14 
64 
0-255 
30. 
Anthophora retusa 
Perfect 
1 
0-023 
1-88 
14 
66 
0-330 
31. 
Geotropes vernalis 
Perfect 
1 
0-1 
2-68 
12 
63 
to 62 
0-215 
32. 
Geotrupes vernalis 
Perfect 
1 
0-11 
2-68 
26 
60 
0-480 
33. 
Carabus cancel latus ... 
Perfect 
1 
0-4 
1-94 
20 
60 
to 62 
0-400 
34. 
Carabus cancellatus ... 
Perfect 
1 
0-4 
1-94 
54 
60 
to 60 
0-430 
35. 
Chrysomela tenebricosa 
Perfect 
4 
0-4 
2-34 
174 
58 
to 57 
0-340 
36. 
Meloe violaceus 
Perfect 
1 
0-4 
2-34 
25 
63 
to 63 
0-190 
Remarks. 
f During the day, soon after entering 
[ its last larva skin : August. 
During the day, in the same condition. 
March 6, confined in the open air. 
Confined in my sitting-room, March 6. 
Confined in the open air, March 12. 
Confined in the open air, March 12. 
Confined in my sitting-room, Mar. 12. 
J March 25, has been long kept in high 
\ temperature. 
j Brought from exposure in open air to 
\ higher temperature. 
J Confined in open air on the ground, 
\ March 25. 
j. Larvae not full grown. 
Very active, July. 
Two days old. 
Three days old. 
During the night. 
During the day. 
During the night. 
Four weeks old. 
Just taken from its cocoon, March 6. 
Same specimen used, March 25. 
Active, April 23. 
More active, April 23. 
Just captured, active, April 6. 
Just captured and fed, very active. 
Resting during the whole observation. 
Very slightly active. 
Just captured. May 6, active. 
Just captured. May 7, violently active. 
Active. 
Active. 
Moderately active. 
Debilitated by fasting for three days. 
March 9, active. 
A very small female, active. 
