2 Mn. Becxwitn’s Hiflory and Defcriptions of 
ber than is generally fuppofed efcape our notice by taking their 
nourifhment only in the night. Of this kind, one of the following 
Caterpillars is an inftance. And, though many feed more con- 
fpicuoufly upon the leaves of trees and plants in the day time, yet a 
confiderable number of thofe, -as if confcious of the fimilarity of 
their colour to the underfides of the leaves, and of the fafety they - 
derive from attaching themfelves thereto, are feldom to be feen but 
in that fituation. Many others, of the family of Phalænæ Geo- 
metra, will very frequently fix themfelves upon the trunks or 
branches of trees, in an almoft erect attitude, and remain motion- 
lefs for feveral hours together; and their roughnefs and colour, in 
generalío nearly refembling that of the bark, aiding the decep- 
tion, a perfon not ufed to fuch appearances, and often a good 
connoiffeur, would not hefitate to pronounce them mere lifelefs 
twigs, or decayed branches of the trees. 
'Thefe various methods of eluding our fight, added to the un- 
certainty of breeding many fpecies when procured, have prevented 
our being acquainted with the larvz of the far greater part of the 
Lepidopterous infeéts. In the courfe of feveral years endeavours 
to promote fo defirable an object as the aícertaining them m 
generally, various obfervations upon, "and drawings of larvæ, &c. 
were made, which produced undefcribed Phalznz, among which I 
apprehend are the four following Noétuæ. 
The larva tab. 1. fig. 1. is of a pale greenifh yellow ; two rows of 
minute white fpecks are placed longitudinally on each fide: thefe, 
upon the pale ground colour of the caterpillar, are fcarcely to be 
diftinguifhed at firft fight: the head is red, and the whole cater- 
pillar perfectly fmooth : it feeds upon the oak, enclofed within two 
or three leaves flightly fpun together, and generally places itfelf in 
a curved pofition when at reft, as in the figure. About the end 
of June it attains its full growtb, and fpins a weak web, ufually 
among 
