113 



curved at the tip ; lower portions of the sides each with a 

 longitudinal series of globular tubercles, densely beset w^ith 

 very short setee ; body beneath reddish ; feet sixteen, very 

 short, frequently withdrawn. Appendages not essential. Food, 

 the leaves of white and red oak, chokecherry (^Pt'iinus virgin- 

 ianus), etc. Time of appearance, beginning of September. 

 Mannei-s, slow of motion, eats in daytime, and sparingly ; does 

 not bear confinement well, — at least, few will encase themselves 

 when confined. Encases itself about the middle of September, 

 sometimes later ; case membranaceous, brownish, suboval, some- 

 what less than five lines in length and three lines in breadth, 

 affixed to a small twig. Transforms into a pupa the following 

 April, and the moth is developed about eight weeks after. 

 Length of the larva ten lines generally, when full grown. 

 Breadth seven lines, across the appendages generally fourteen 

 lines." 



MELSHEIMER TO HARRIS. 



Dover, Dec. 23, 1840. 



I was entirely at a loss where to place the species of Pero- 

 phora which you were pleased to dedicate to our name. With 

 respect to the habits and manners of its larva it approaches the 

 genus Psyche : but as regards the characters of the perfect 

 insect, the difference between it and that genus is too essential 

 to associate or unite them. As I found the larva3 of this moth 

 always in their adult or mature state, I cannot say whether 

 they always live in one pod, or form larger ones, as they in- 

 crease in size ; but it is very probable that in some of their 

 moultings they fabricate new ones. It is really very amusing 

 to observe the interesting manners of tiiese larvae. They 

 have never occurred to us before the close of autumn ; when 

 confined they bore their confinement well, and never refused 

 their food, the leaves of red and black oak coppice or sprouts of 



OCCAS. PAPERS B. S. N. H.— I. 8 



