BUTTERFLIES OF MAINE. 5 
yellow are the prevailing tints. They are deposited here and 
there upon the leaves of the plants on which the young feed. 
A few species deposit their eggs in clusters within which 
they are arranged regularly. 
The term /arva or caterpillar is applied to the insect as 
soon as it hatches from the egg, and is the voracious period 
of life. In some species it is the longest period of their 
existence, since they pass the winter hibernating in this stage, 
while in others, this period is comparatively short. The 
larva sheds its skin (molts) several times before it reaches 
its full growth, and often changes its color with each molt. 
EXTERNAL ANATOMY OF THE CATERPILLAR. 
The body of the caterpillar is elongated, cylindrical, and 
composed of thirteen joints or segments. Some caterpillars 
are naked, others have a few scattered hairs scarcely visible, 
while others are more or less covered with spines. The 
first segment forms the head which has the mouth organs on 
the lower side. The second, third and fourth segments have 
each a pair of short legs, the rudiments of the future legs ; 
and the seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth and thirteenth, have 
each a pair of soft membranaceous ones which- disappear 
when the larva changes to a chrysalis. On each side of the 
body there are nine oval apertures, the spiracles or stigmata 
(breathing holes). These are situated in the second, fifth, 
sixth and following segments to the twelfth. 
The head is of a rounded or oval form, and of a harder 
texture than the other parts of the body. On its lower side 
are situated the organs of the mouth, and at the sides, the 
rudiments of the eyes and the antenne. The head is divided 
into two halves by an indented line or suture which extends 
down the middle of the front, from the vertex or epicranium 
to the face, the front of which is formed by a convex plate, 
the clypeus. Immediately below this is another plate, the 
labrum or upper lip which forms the upper boundary of the 
mouth. Beneath this is a pair of strong horny jaws or 
