90 ON SOME LEPID^PTEEOUS LARV.E. 



with great force, and flies to some little distance. Mr. 

 Poulton proved by experiment that it had a fatal effect 

 upon the ichneumon fly which attacks the larva, and is 

 therefore a great protection. The ichneumon, if it succeeds 

 in effecting a lodgment, lays its black eggs just behind 

 the head, whence the caterpillar cannot dislodge them, and 

 once laid, the unfortunate creature's fate is sealed. 



Another very remarkable caterpillar is that of the Lob- 

 ster Moth {Sfauropus fagi), which is rare in England, so 

 that we seldom have the opportunity of observing it. I, on 

 one occasion, however, obtained three larvse from the New 

 Forest, and found them very curious and interesting crea- 

 tures. My experience of them began badly, for within a 

 few days of their arrival the largest larva devoured the 

 smallest. The second one was either unhealthy or had been 

 bitten by the other, for it did not thrive, and eventually 

 died; but the large one justified the theory of the survival 

 of the fittest, for it is now in my collection in the perfect 

 state. These larvc^, with their brown colour, strongly re- 

 semble the bunches of brown scales which enclose the buds 

 of the beech tree, and hang down after the leaves are 

 expanded. The long bent legs also add greatly to this 

 special resemblance. But if the larva be approached or 

 disturbed, it quickly throws itself into a terrifying atti- 

 tude, holding the fore part of its body erect, and stretching 

 out its long legs, thus looking like a large spider. The 

 front pair of legs in this resemblance do duty for the 

 jaws of the spider, whilst the other four are made to clutch 

 and quiver in the air, as though the creature was on the 

 point of seiziug its prey. The hind part of the body is 

 thrown forward over the head, so that the fork-like append- 

 ages at the tail quite project beyond it, giving the larva a 

 most formidable appearance. On the side of the fourth and 



