72 Daguerreotype.—Migrating Caterjnllar . 
They are examples of a discovery at which Captain Ibbet- 
son has been at work—of a method of transferring to stone 
copies of the drawings made by solar rays upon a Daguerreotype 
silvered plate. This transfer is made by applying a peculiar 
lithographic ink to the Daguerreotype, from which an impres¬ 
sion is taken on paper, as an engraving is printed from a cop¬ 
per-plate ; and the impression being transferred from this paper 
to stone, the stone is used to print off copies such as T send you. 
The lithographic ink is probably very delicate, adhering to the 
darkened parts of the Daguerreotype, and not adhering to the 
smooth silver surfaces. There is no calculating the importance 
of this invention for multiplying figures in Natural History, of 
which the accuracy must be perfect; no other artist than the 
Sun being employed in copying the figures submitted to it, to 
have their portraits engraved. 
You 'are aware that iodine is used in Daguerre’s process 
for getting the solar drawing on his silvered plate. Who could 
have anticipated that the discovery of a violet-coloured gas in 
the refuse of kelp would lead to such important results? No¬ 
thing is yet published of Captain Ibbctson’s process; but he is 
about to make a report on the subject to the Meeting 0 f the 
British Association at Glasgow. 
MIGRATING CATERPILLAR. 
Notice of a Species of Lenidopterous Insect of Tasmania; 
addressed to the Eutomological Society, London, by the 
Rev. T. J. Ewing, For.M.E.S. 
The habits of this species struck me as being rather singular. 
I have called it in iny notes the u Migrating Caterpillar.” 
Back brownish olive, bounded by a longitudinal straw-coloured 
stripe on each side. Sides rather lighter, with minute dots : on 
the back are small jet-black clots, tw o on each segment only per¬ 
ceptible when the animal walks. Under parts straw-coloured 
yellow. Legs and prolegs brown. Head glossy brown, with 
a Y-shaped yellow band, with its base towards the back, which 
part of the head has also two short yellow stripes. 
This caterpillar made its appearance about *20th December 
on which day a barley-fiel.l was ploughed up, not fur from the 
house, winch appeared literally to he moving; and for live davs 
after the migration of the caterpillars was astonishhig. They 
proceeded up the road from the field, entering at the gateway 
into the lawn, then crossed the verandah in front of the house 
and through two gardens, until they reached a field laid down 
m English grasses, where they committed sad havoc. Many 
of them did not stop here, as the whole road, from the field to 
the town, about half a mile, was black with them. They did 
