142 PROCEEDINGS OP THE CALIFORNIA 



firewood while on earth, and are forced to undergo an appropriate punish- 

 ment while in the insect state." 



The species at present described as natives of the United States are very 

 few, not more than five belonging to perhaps as many genera, being distinctly 

 known to entomologists. The most common of these is a species called 

 Thyridopteryx ephemeriformis, which, according to Dr. Harris, is occasionally 

 abundant in Philadelphia and its vicinity, and there popularly known in its 

 larval state as the drop-worm or basket-worm. It is at times very destructive 

 to the arbor-vitae, larch and hemlock trees. In California, though none as 

 yet have been described, three species are known to me, two of which belong 

 to the typical genus, Psyche; the third, and by far the most interesting, which 

 has just been discovered by our President, Prof. Davidson, representing the 

 genus QZceticus. It is, however, a matter of regret that at present the cater- 

 pillar cases of these three species are alone known, the perfect insects as yet 

 evading our discovery. 



Though, perhaps, not quite in order to give names to insects from their 

 earlier stages alone, I am induced to offer brief descriptions of these curious 

 creatures, and to suggest the names appended to them, in the hope that I 

 may, by directing attention to the subject, induce observers in various por- 

 tions of the State to devote their energies to the discovery, not only of the 

 more mature conditions of the species, already imperfectly known to us, but 

 to the detection of other forms of these most interesting insects. 



Psyche fragmentella, n. sp. Hy. Edw. 



Chrysalis case about an inch in length, tapering gradually to its posterior 

 extremity, and composed externally of portions of leaves and bark, mostly 

 ovate in shape, and fi-om one to two lines in greatest diameter, in most cases 

 laid flat on the silken web, and not overlapping each other. Chrysalis, pale, 

 tawny, shining, smooth, of uniform thickness throughout. 



Length, 0.40 inch. 



On trunks of pine trees, Strawberry Valley, Siskiyou County. Hy. Edw. 



Psyche coniferella, n. sp. Hy. Edw. 



Chrysalis case a little over an inch in length, thickened anteriorly and com- 

 posed of fragments of the leaves of pine, about three lines in length, laid in 

 rows upon the silken web, and overlapping each other, in the manner of 

 P. graminella and other European species. The fragments diminish in length 

 on the posterior layers. 



Grass Valley, Cal. On palings and trunks of pine trees. Hy. Edw. 



CEceticus Davidsonii, n. sp. Hy. Edw. (See engraving.") 



Chrysalis case about one and a half to one and three-fourths inches in 

 length; stout, a little thickened in the middle, and composed of pieces of 

 sticks or twigs from one-third to one and a quarter inches in length, laid side 

 by side longitudinally, one or two pieces nearly always extending poste- 

 riorly some distance beyond the termination of the case. The fragments with 

 which the case is covered are of different lengths, and are about fifteen in 

 number, the interstices being filled with wood dust (most probably produced 

 by the jaws of the insect itself), closely woven into the silken groundwork of 



