MEMOIRS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



2(U 



(3) The head, compared with that of Ceriiia, is not icdactile, the i)rothora(;ic .segment being of 

 tlie normal size. 



Tliis retraetility of the head in ( 'eiiira may be an a(hi])tive, recent ehaiacter, and tlii.s feature 

 appeals to indicate tiiat it is a later, more specialized form than H. inarthcuut. 



Cocoon. — The ('aterpillur spins between the leaves (in the breeding cage) a symmetrical oval- 

 elliptical, evenly woven cocoon of pale gray silk, thougli it is thin and tran.slucent. It is 30 nnn. 

 in length and 17 mm. in widtli. 



I'lqid. — Two ,'j , three 9 . Body full and tliick, the abdominal segments 1 to 7 punctured much 

 as in Jl. <intfiri/ti( and hiiindaUi. Tlie head is full, rounded, with two well-marked, parallel vertical 

 ridges, which are convex; and smooth, passing up and down between the eyes; on the to]) of the 

 head are slightly marked corrugations. In the transverse black band extending acro.ss behind 

 and next to the hinder edge of the thorax are eight large, deep pits, the squarisli tubercles 

 between them being simple on the upper surface, whicli is dull, unpolished. 



Fig. 87.— Pupa of Maenirocamixt rnarlhebia, 

 fiid ol' btidy of ,/ . 



Fig. 88 — Pap.a fif Macriimcamita marthi^gin, up., 

 spiracle; end of body of 9 ■ 



Thecremaster bears two very stout, diverging si>ines, conical, corrugated on the surface; they 

 are unarmed, being siini>le, with no accessory spinules, except minute rudimentary ones on the 

 inside. Length, 18 mm. 



Habits. — The caterpillar of this moth is one of the most interesting among the Ntjtodoutians, 

 since it connects Cerura with the other genera, by reason of its two long caudal filaments, .so 

 much like those of Cerura. These appendages are simply modified aual legs, and seem to be 

 tactile and repellant organs. This caterpillar is also interesting from its power, when touched, of 

 forcing out a ileiise cloud of flue sjjray from a gland in the under side of the prothoracic segment 

 near the head.' 



In certain favorable years this is an abundant caterpillar on the oaks in Providence, E. I. 



In Elaine I have noticed the caterpillar in its fourth stage resting on the underside of the leaf, 

 on a lateral rib, the dorsal stripe resembling in color and appearance the jiecnliar greenish yellow 

 shade of the rib. When thus at rest the tails are not spread apart, but when disturbed it whisks 

 its tails about. Jerking them over its back just like a Cerura larva, its tlagellum being everted and 

 withdrawn as freely as in that genus. The cocoon is of silk, not very thick, si)un between the 

 leaves, and in confinement the moths issued at Providence in November, though ordinarily not 

 due until June. 



Professor Ifiley has observed it on oak at St. Louis, Mo., June 22, and in July; also in 

 September, the moths issuing March 11 and 18. lie has bred a Tachinid fiy and a Cryjitiis parasite 

 from the cateri)illars. 



Food plants. — The oak of various sjjecies; also found on the beech in Maine. 



Gcof/raphicul distribution. — Very interesting, as it occurs from Jlaine to Georgia and Texas, 

 also occurring in Jalapa, Mexico, according to Druce in Biologia CentraliAinericaua, Heterocera, 

 page 238, and in Surinam and Brazil. Its southwestern and western limits are unknown. It has 

 not yet occuried in the liocky Mountain region (Camiiestrian subprovince). 



' I have deferred the doscriptimi of the spraying glauds of this and .several other Notodoutians to a future 

 occasiou. (See Journal New Vork Kntomological .Society, .Sept., 1895.) 



