MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES. 195 



In the months of June and July, if we look on the 

 dogwoods, elms, sassafras, or poplars, we find upon 

 their leaves a number of small pale green caterpillars, 

 covered with clusters of light green short prickles, 

 and having a brown and white longitudinal stripe on 

 both sides of the lower ventral part of the body, and 

 extending from the head to the abdomen. These ca- 

 terpillars live together very sociably during their in- 

 fancy, but disperse at mature age, and travel about 

 through meadows and gardens, where they are often 

 found upon the leaves of clover, Indian corn, and oth- 

 er grass-like plants, upon which they feed. 



One of these caterpillars is represented in Plate VI. 

 fig. 27, and when full grown is more than two inches 

 long. Its fine colors attract many a young person, 

 who soon finds himself affected to tears by the sharp 

 pains of its prickles, which sting like nettles. 



It is easy to raise these caterpillars, as their food 

 can so easily be procured, consisting of elm and pop- 

 lar leaves, or any kind of grass. After having cast 

 their skin four times, and when they are about seven 

 or eight weeks old, each one looks out for a large leaf 

 on the ground, the margins of which it fastens togeth- 

 er in an irregular form, then lines the inside with gum 

 in order to make the cocoon stiff and impenetrable to 

 the inclemency of the severest weather. In this con- 

 dition the chrysalis remains through the whole winter 

 and until the following summer, when they awake by 



