HETEROCERA SATURNIIDAE 



173 



scaled. In Attacus these attain a large size. In other species, 

 such as the South African Ladia dclegorguei, there is a small 

 letter-like, or symboliforni, transparent mark towards the tip of 

 each front wing. We have at present no clue to the nature 

 or importance of these remarkable markings. In the genus 

 Automeris, and in other forms, instead of transparent spaces 

 there are large and staring ocellate marks or eyes, which are 

 concealed when the Insect is reposing. In Arceina, Copiopteryx, 

 Eudaemonia and others, the hind wings are prolonged into very 

 long tails, perhaps exceeding in length those of any other moths. 





Fig. 187. — Larva oi Attacus atlas. Imlia. A, at end of 1st iiistar, profile ; B, 4th 

 instar, dorsal view : C, full-grown larva, in repose. (After Poujade.) 



The cocoons are exceedingly various, ranging from a slight 

 open network to a dense elaborate structure arranged as in ovir 

 Emperor moth ; in this latter case an opening is left by the 

 larva for its exit after it has become a moth, but by an ingenious, 

 chevaux-de-frise work, this opening is closed against external 

 enemies, though the structure offers no resistance at all to the 

 escape of the moth. Fabre has recorded some observations and 

 experiments which seem to show that the instinct predominating 

 over the formation of the cocoon is not cognoscent. The Insect, 

 if interfered with, displays a profound stupidity. Its method is 

 blind perseverance in the customary.^ The cocoon of Saturniidae 

 is more often continuous, i.e. entirely closed. Packard says that 

 1 Souvenirs entomologiques, (|iuatrieme serie, 1891, pp. 39-46. 



