THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 75 



underneath the bark of Hickory trees, and suspected it of making galleries 

 under the bark. Dr. Clemens more correctly suspected that it was 

 lichenivorous and hoped that Mr. Walsh might ascertain its larval history. 

 Alas ! the researches of both have terminated forever. 



Only the male was known to Dr. Clemens, and from his description I 

 think his specimen must have been somewhat rubbed. Male, " Head 

 and face dark gray. Antennae dark gray, slightly spotted with white." 

 Fore wings dark gray at the base, remainder paler, sprinkled irregularly 

 with dark spots and scales. Ciliae grayish white. " Hind wings gray.'' 

 (The quotations are from Dr. Clemens' description.) The female is apter- 

 ous, with the head clothed with hoary scales and a tuft of the same at the 

 apex ; but the body is nearly naked. Al. ex. S/% inch. Kentucky. Com- 

 mon. 



The larva feeds upon lichens and may be found in March and April, 

 feeding up. It becomes a pupa in April and the imago emerges about a 

 week thereafter. The larva is whitish, head black, upper surface of the 

 two succeeding segments shining yellowish brown, anteriorly margined 

 with white. The case is prismatic in outline, and of an almost leathery 

 consistence, about T /z of an inch long, and tapering slightly towards each 

 end ; it is composed of silk, sand, particles of lichens, and excrement of 

 the larva, and I have sometimes found small Molluscous shells adhering to it. 



ON SOME OF OUR COMMON INSECTS. 



IV.— THE ISABELLA 1IGER MOTH. 

 Pyrrharctla (Sfiilosoma) Isabella. 



BY W. SAUNDERS, LONDON, ONTARIO. 



There are but few of our readers who are not familiar with the cater- 

 pillar of the Isabella Tiger Moth, one of our commonest " woolly bears,'' 

 and found, we believe, in almost every part of Canada and the Northern 

 United States. This larva, in common with many other members of the 

 family (ardiadee) to which it belongs, hybernates during the winter. It 

 acquires nearly full growth in the autumn, and then, having selected a cosy 

 sheltered spot under bark, log, rail, stone or board in which to hide, it 



