210 THE CANADIAN ENtOMOLOGIST. 



instar. The line of areas in the dorsal region may be unsymmetrical, 

 which is often the case in lepidopterous larvse. The osmateria secrete a 

 bright yellow liquid of a sweetish, disagreeable odour, which is non- 

 irrilating to the liands. 



In this larva the antenn?e are very short as usual, but the long fleshy 

 processes on the prothorax seem to function in their stead. When in 

 locomotion they are held before the head, waving up and down, and the 

 larva is guided by them. The caterpillars occasionally leave a silken trail 

 behind them. 



The larvt« may become carnivorous when hungry. Some young 

 larvae, more than half-grown, were placed in a breeding cage with 

 chrysalids, and kept well supplied with food for several days until it gave 

 out. After the growing larvae had been without food for about 24 hours, 

 they began to attack the chrysalids, generally eating away the entire upper 

 half. In one case one whole side of the pupa from prothorax to abdomen 

 was eaten, including most of the viscera, and two of the caterpillars, 

 evidently concerned in this, were resting quietly beside the remains, pkuup 

 as if surfeited. The chrysalids were eaten with apparent relish. This 

 habit can hardly be termed cannibalism, as it was appeasance of abnormal 

 hunger, and the larvK did not attack the chrysalids in the presence of an 

 abundance of their natural food. 



Method of Girdling. — The larvae began to prepare for pupation on 

 June 23rd, along the wire gauze sides of the breeding cage. In preparing 

 the girdle with which the pupa is suspended, the caterpillar first spins a 

 loose web or mat of silk under its body. The girdle is then commenced 

 by fastening a thread to this mat well under the side of the body, and then 

 bringing it over across the venter of the thorax, inclosing the legs (the 

 venter of thorax being arched), by bending the head backward, and then 

 attaching the other end of the thread on the other side of the body 

 about the same distance back and under, or just opposite the first 

 attachment. This forms a loop of silk over an arch or curve of one side 

 of the body. These movements are repeated five or six times, a single 

 thread being added each time to the girdle, and the larva in fasteninc^ 

 them from side to side has to be very careful and agile in movement. 

 The head is thrown back, the thoracic venter arched, while the rest of the 

 body is straight and flat against the support ; therefore, the movements 

 are nearly all cejihalic and thoracic. When the girdle is finished, 

 consisting of five or ^ix threads of closely-applied strands of silk, the 

 hrvae pushes or works its head under it, and by a forward and then a 

 backward movement of its body, incloses the latter also within the loop or 

 girdle. Ii is ihcn gradually worked back to its usual position, passin"^ 



