186 INSTEUCTIONS FOR COLLECTING INSECTS. 



Uarities ; and if he can sketcli and color natural objects with facility 

 and accuracy, a collection of drawings representing the larvae, food- 

 plant, and pupa would be very valuable and interesting. 



There are certain terms employed by entomologists which will be of 

 use to the observer, and which we will endeavor to explain. 



Any particular family will always be found to show a variety of 

 larval forms, which, whilst they conform to a certain type, indicate 

 by their modifications the relationships existing in every direction 

 between it and other families. Hence, whilst there is no standard or 

 invariable larval form for any family, it may be well, by the employ- 

 ment of general terms, to give the novice some conception of the 

 affinities^, at least, of those which will most probably first attract his 

 attention. 



1. Sphingi/orm would, therefore, characterize larvae having naked 

 bodies and a horn or shining lenticular tubercle on the eleventh ring, 

 and broad, strong anal prolegs. 



2. Notodontiform larvae generally have the body furnished with 

 fleshy elevations, and usually hold the hind segments elevated. 



3. Ghelonidiform larvae have the body covered by long ttiick hair, 

 arranged in verticillate bunches or whorls, arising from verrucose 

 points or warty excrescences. 



4. Geometriform larvae are characterized by the absence of some of 

 the abdominal prolegs, or the want of development in some of them. 



5. Catocaliform larvae have the head rather small, flattened, and 

 carry it horizontally ; the body is semi-cylindrical, tapering anteriorly 

 and posteriorly from the middle ; a small transverse, fleshy ridge or 

 prominence on the eleventh segment ; the anal prolegs rather long 

 and thrown backwards, generally the first two pairs of abdominal 

 prolegs not well developed, and the rings of ventral surface marked 

 with round spots ; they arch the body in motion, particularly when 

 young. 



6. Phaleniform larvae consist of the geometers, properly so called, 

 or measuring loorms ; they are characterized by the absence of the first 

 three pairs of abdominal prolegs quite constantly, leaving but one 

 pair of abdominal and one pair of anal prolegs, in all ten feet ; the 

 true or thoracic feet are placed on mammillons, which increase in size 

 to the third pair ; the body is generally cylindrical, and the middle 

 segments longer than either those of the anterior or posterior portions ; 

 the eleventh segment is marked on the dorsum by a transverse ridge 

 or small excrescences^ and frequently the fourth, fifth, and eighth 

 have fleshy excrescences or appendages. 



7. Uranidiform larvae will be found possibly in southern Texas or 

 in Florida ; their forms are not well known: They are described as 

 being either semi-geometrical — that is, having some of the prolegs 

 absent or atrophied, arching their bodies when in motion, swollen in 

 the middle, having two retractile tentacles on the head,(?) and living 

 on the terebinthaceae ; or they have sixteen feet complete, are thick, 

 with deep incisions between the rings, a large head joined to the body 

 without any intermediate constriction, the flrst segment liaving a 

 corneous and shining shield, and the body furnished with quite lopg 

 isolated hairs ; they hide during day under a transparent web of silk 



