It has been already shown that the imperfect structure of the 

 mouth in the Bomhycidcc is a character of the family, and 

 sometimes they are entirely destitute of those organs ; it is 

 therefore remarkable in the genus before us, that the maxil- 

 lary palpi should be so perfectly developed. 



The appearance of the caterpillars when at rest is frequently 

 very grotesque, and their forked tails, a portion of which can 

 be exserted at pleasure, very curious. The larvas of C. vinula 

 are beautiful objects, and by no means uncommon upon poplar- 

 trees, over the polished leaves of which they weave a web im- 

 perceptible at first sight, to which the ring of hooks round 

 their abdominal feet are most firmly attached ; thereby pre- 

 venting them from being blown ofi" the leaves, and for the 

 more important object of enabling them to burst their skins 

 when they are about to change them. 



The Puss moth is less common than the caterpillar, from a 

 great portion of them probably falling a sacrifice to the Ich- 

 neumons, in spite of their tails, with which it is said they lash 

 themselves to keep them off, as well as employing an acrid 

 fluid, which they can discharge from under the head. The 

 attitude and appearance of the moth when at rest, with its 

 beautiful legs stretched forward, are peculiarly beautiful, as 

 well as the texture and delicate colour of the wings. 



The following are British species : 



1. C. vinula Linn. — Sepp. Neder. Ins. tab. B.f. 1 — 11.— 



Don. 3. pi. 85. May. Willows and poplars. 



2. erminea HUb.—Esper. 3. tab. 19. f. 1, 2. tab. 18. f. 4. 



Larva. — t. 79. Jl 6. a. b. Eggs. The true species 

 has very different markings in the upper wings to 

 those of C. vinula, and the under wings of the fe- 

 male are white, and the body with large black marks. 



3. bicuspis Hub. Bomb. tab. 10. J". SG.Jhm. July. Birch- 



trees, Darent Wood, Kent. 



4. bifida Hiib. — Esper. 3. tab. 19. f. 6, 7. — fuscinula 



Hub. var. June. Poplars, Darent Wood. 



5. Furcula Li?m. — Sepp. Nedcr. Ins. tab. 6. f. 1 — 8. 



e. July. Palings, and great round-leaved Sallow. 



6. latifascia Nob. The caterpillar of this insect I found 



in September, feeding upon a narrow-leaved Sallow, 

 that hung over a rapid stream near Linton, North 

 Devon, and it produced a female moth the middle 

 of the following May. It approaches nearest to 

 C. Furcula, especially in the black bands across the 

 abdomen ; but the great breadth of the fascia, with 

 its sinuated margin, extending to the anal angle of 

 the wing, has rendered it necessary to distinguish 

 it as a species. 

 The plant is Geum rivale (Water Avens). 



? 



