112 TRANSFORMATIONS OF INSECTS. 



Several of the Boinhycidcs, which are common in England 

 and France, are very interesting to the naturalist, but are very- 

 troublesome to the farmer and gardener. 



The Eggars, so called from the firm, egg-shaped cocoons 

 spun by the caterpillar, are very numerous, and the Oak Eggar, 

 which is so common, is named Lasiocaiiipa quercils. Although 

 so constantly seen, this species requires much more study than has 

 hitherto been given to it, and one or two points especially deserve 

 attention — namely, the duration of the caterpillar life, and the 

 hybernation which takes place before the transformation into the 

 chrysalis condition. The male moths are of a rich chocolate 

 brown colour ; beyond the centre of the wings is a deep yellow 

 band, which shades into chocolate at the hind margin, and there 

 is a white central spot in the fore wings, and a yellowish patch 

 towards their base. The female has pale yellow wings, with the 

 white spot and a very light bartd. Mr. Stainton says that the 

 colour of the female is tawny. There is thus a great distinction 

 between the colours of the sexes, and, moreover, the females are 

 much larger insects than the males. 



These moths appear in the month of July, and the females lay 

 their eggs in August upon leaves. The eggs are hatched in a 

 few days, and the caterpillars do not begin to eat like most 

 others, but to all intents and purposes hybernate, if they can 

 be said to do such a thing, in the month of August, As soon 

 as they are out of the &g^, the caterpillars begin to look out 

 for a shelter, and seek cracks in the bark of trees and such 

 places. Having discovered a fit place, the insect hides itself up, 

 does not come forth to feed, and does not become metamorphosed 

 into a chrysalis, but stops there through the autumn, winter, and 

 far into the spring. The caterpillar does not take any nourish- 

 ment for nine months, but remains in a stupid and lethargic 

 state until the warmth of the spring drives a little vitality into 

 it. Then it feeds, and soon becomes transformed into a chry- 

 salis. These fasting caterpillars are of a blackish hue, with rusty 

 greyish hairs, which wave gracefully when the insects walk ; they 

 feed upon the oak, the briar, and the broom, in woods, and upon 

 gooseberry bushes, plum trees, lilacs, and privet, in gardens and 

 orchards. They fasten their egg-shaped and dense cocoons either 



