Abstract
MR. DOVER in his communication on this subject1 has confused the phenomenon of metamorphosis with that of moulting. These two phenomena are entirely distinct. It is well known that, whereas all insects periodically moult during their life-cycle, only certain groups undergo metamorphosis. Regarding moulting, his observations support the views to which I subscribed in my papers quoted by him. My conclusions2 were that the number of moults is in proportion to the length of the larval life, and that moulting cannot be solely, and possibly is not mainly, correlated with growth but is primarily connected with metabolism. Mr. Dover observed that when the larvae of Orgyia turbata completed their life-cycle sooner, they underwent a lesser number of moults than is normally the case. He concluded that the decreased number of moults was due to a lesser accumulation of waste nitrogenous matter. The only difference between our views seems to be that, whereas I connect moulting with general metabolism (which includes excretion), he connects it specifically with excretion, but without advancing evidence in support of his conclusions.
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