132 



^TRANSFORMATIONS OF INSECTS. 



is slightly crested. When the caterpillars are full grown they 

 spin a slight cocoon of silk amongst the leaves or in the bark, 

 and the chrysalis becomes covered with a curious purple or blue 

 efflorescence, which makes it look like the skin of ripe plums 

 or grapes. Some of the American species are very large, and 

 although very little is known about their metamorphosis, they are 

 worth mentioning on account of the sombre colours of such species 

 as Ercbiis strix, which is common in the Brazils ; its wings, which 



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""'tsrfPil 



EREBUS STRIX. 



are of a pale grey colour with black or grey ornamentations, are 

 nearly seven inches across. 



Before concluding this notice of the nrst great division of 

 the Noctidna, we ought not to pass on without considering the 

 curious habits of the caterpillar of one of the species of the genus 

 Scopdosoma. The larva lives upon the oak, beech, and elm trees, 

 and is a dark black-brown insect, with three white lines on the 

 back of the second segment, and a Avhite spot on most of the 

 others below the spiracles. It is very common, and, according 



