Packakd] 



ENSECTS OF THE GAKDE]^?^. 



23 



Lance Bearer. 



of breathing holes are two more pale lines. There are 

 eight black shining minute warts on each segment, each wart 

 bearing a short hair. 



A third species of cut worm, whose parent was called 

 by Harris tlie Clandestine Moth {Noctua clandestina) , is next 

 to the Gothic Dart Moth, our yj^ jq. 



most common species and ma}' 

 be found by day hiding under 

 boards, etc. It flies only by 

 night. It is a blackish moth 

 with obscure markings. Its 

 caterpillar is called b}'^ Riley 

 the W-markcd Cut Worm. It 

 is an inch and an eighth long, 

 and is "ash graj', inclining on 

 the back and upper sides to 

 dirty yellow ; it is speckled 

 all over with black and brown 

 spots." He adds, that besides the usual lines on the side, 

 "tho distinguishing feature is a row of black velvety marks 

 along each side of the back, on all but the thoracic segments 

 [i. e., the three succeeding the head] bearing a general 

 Fig. 11. resemblance (look- 



ing from tail to head) 

 to the letter W." 



These may be re- 

 garded as exam[)les 

 of the group of cut 

 worms, of which we 

 have numerous 

 forms. All, how- 

 ever, seem to agree in the special mode of attack. The}- cut 

 young plants square off, near the ground, and then luxuriate 

 on the soft pulpy centre of the stalk. One species in the 

 west {Agrotis Cochrani, Fig. 11) ascends pear and apple trees 



23 



(Jociirane's Dart Motli. 



