310 THE BOMBYCINA. 



upon the leaves of trees in the neighbourhood of their 

 dwelling. Some of these, such as the caterpillars of 

 the Gold-tail {Porthesia chrysorrhoea) and Brown-tail 

 (P. auriflua) Moths_, sometimes occur in great profu- 

 sion, when their ravages become exceedingly serious ; 

 so much so, in fact, that their destruction has been 

 publicly prayed for in the churches both in this country 

 and on the Continent. The Lackey Moth {Clisiocampa 

 Neustrid) in its larva state also lives in society, and 

 forms a silken nest, from which the caterpillars issue 

 in a regular procession every morning in search of 

 food ; and their appearance when marching along in 

 regular order is said to be most beautiful, the crea- 

 tures being of a yellow colour, with thin red stripes 

 on the sides and a white line down the back. It is, 

 in fact, from the gorgeousness of the livery worn by 

 this caterpillar that it has obtained the name of the 

 Lackey, which is also applied, with qualifying adjec- 

 tives, to several other species whose caterpillars are 

 adorned with varied colours. 



The Lappet Moth [Gastropacha quercifolia) is re- 

 markable from the position assumed during repose 

 by the hinder wings, which, instead of folding under 

 the anterior pair, project horizontally, so that a con- 

 siderable portion of them is visible when the wings 

 are closed. The insect, which is of a brown colour, 

 thus acquires the appearance of a bunch of dead leaves, 

 which may probably sei*ve to protect it from some of 

 its enemies. Its name of the Lappet Moth refers to 

 some peculiar fleshy lobes which exist on the sides of 

 the abdomen of its caterpillar, concealing the prolegs. 

 The larva, w^hich feeds on the white thorn and some 

 other hedge plants, is of large size and very hairy ; 

 but in this respect it yields to the caterpillar of tlie 



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