( 1C6 ) 



with two petals exjiaiidpil and several others partly o])ene(l ; these (litTer in number, 

 the totiil varying t'roni four to six. After ]irepariny the fonndation of the cocoon 

 the caterpillar quickly builds up the sides ; after these one end, or the first " petal " 

 is spun, then, turning about, it spins another, thus forming the other end. 

 Commencing abont half way down one of these, a portion of the top of the cocoon 

 is added, the web being continued on and outwards to form the third "petal." 

 Finally, there are generally five of these, the centre two being as if abont to 

 open. This ornamental work ends in the centre, the last two jietals, which are 

 somewhat curled, being drawn tugether and fastened. The spinning of the " flower," 

 after completion of the foundation, takes some ninety or a hundred minutes, rather 

 longer by the larger larvae, but there are several stopjiages, for the insect in 

 its various turnings pays much attention to the bottom and ends of the structure. 

 80 far this web is composed of row after row of loops, or rings ; each row runs 

 very evenly, and is spun under the preceding one, and joined to it all along about or 

 a little below the centre, so that a row scarcely jirojects luilf its height beyond the 

 one spun before. When a row of loops is finished the next is commenced where 

 that ended, — the work going on alternately from side to side. The web is formed at 

 a rapid rate, 95 to 115 loops being spnn per minute by small larvae, a lesser 

 number liy larger. When sjiinning, the actions of the larvae are so peculiar that 

 they cannot fail to attract attention, for the head, in moving up and down, is 

 tliriiwn much farther back, and thrust much more underneath, than apparently 

 necessary ; but it is soon ascertained tliat these extended movements are made 

 with a s])ecial object, and that is to give a partial coating of the waxy substance 

 to the web, for it will be seen that the head is supjjlied with short hairs, and as 

 it is thrown Ijack they touch the wax — already becoming slightly loosened, and 

 in wooll3'-looking tnfts, owing to the insect's various twistings and turnings, — 

 and little masses are caught upon them, which gradually transfer the substance 

 to the loops Ijy being purposely and regularly brought into contact with them as 

 the head moves up and down. A little of the stuff, here and there, also becomes 

 dislodged, and adheres to the fabric wherever it tonches. By the time the " flower " 

 is corai)leted the waxy matter has disappeared from the first thickly clothed 

 segment, and often quite from the next, as well as small portions from the sides. 

 The whole of the balance is then worked into the threads of the cocoon proper 

 nnderneath ; not a particle seems to be left upon the larva when the spinning is 

 completed. When the "flower" is finished the larva can be seen but indistinctly, 

 therefore its actions cannot be followed, but the restricted space would scarcely 

 admit of the head work referred to, so the waxy matter must be rublied or pressed 

 between the threads as the cocoon progresses. 



" Hliould a cocoon be knocked sharply, or torn asunder, little clouds of white 

 jiowder fly oft', or a cocoon will leave patches of white upon anything with which it 

 comes in contact. The ichneumons all issue from the one hole, and the earlier 

 ones to emerge are finely powdered. 



"It will be noted that the cocoon has a wide "frog-mouthed" slit, and 

 that the pupa shell protrudes therefrom. The mouth is forced open by the 

 pupa, but closes down njion the end segments, holding them securely enough to 

 enable the moth to burst the shell and escape. Several other species, including 

 the one referred to in these pages, which I have bred, but which, however, 

 are ant associates, form these " frog-mouthed " cocoons, and the moths emerge in 

 a similar manner. 



