S2 



rows of branching spines, those on the third, fourth, and terminal segments black, with a 

 row of the same colour along each side, close to the under surface ; all the other spines 

 pale whitish. Under-surface nearly black, with dots of a pale hue." When fully grown, . 

 and an inch and a quarter in length, Mr. Saunders describes it as follows :^" Head red- 

 dish black, flat in front, somewhat bilobed, each lobe tipped with a tubercle, emitting five 

 simple black pointed .spines ; head covered with many small white tubercles mixed with 

 a few blackish ones. Body above, black, thickly covered with streaks and dots of yellowisb 

 white. All the segments, except the second, with either four or seven branching spines- 

 yellow with blackish branches. Under surface, yellowish grey ; feet, black and shining ■- 

 pro-legs, dull reddish." 



The chrysalis is ashy-brown in colour, with the head deeply notched, and surmounted, 

 by two projections resembling ears ; on the thorax is a long, nose-like prominence, giring 

 the creature the appearance of a grotesque mask ; and on the back are eight silvery spots. 

 It is suspended by the tail, frequently under the leaves of the plant, at other times under 

 any convenient projection. In this state the insect remains from twelve to fourteen days ; 

 the later brood usually somewhat longer. 



This insect is greatly kept in check by a minute parasite belonging to the family of 

 Ichneumons ; it is called by Dr. Harris the Pkromalus Vanessce. We have oftentimes 

 been disappointed in our attempt to raise the butterfly of this species by this little fly. 

 Everything apparently goes on well, and the caterpillar assumes the chrysalis state, but 

 by-and-by, instead of a butterfly, out comes, through a hole in the side, a swarm of tiny 

 flies. If it were not for these creatures the caterpillar would soon become a most formid- 

 able and destructive pest. 



Fig. 24. There are two other species of American But- 



terflies, whose larvaj feed upon the Ijop ; one, not 

 uncommon in Canada, the Comma Butterfly (Grapta 

 Comma, Harris), is like the preceding species, in 

 general appearance and habits ; instead of a semi- 

 colon, it has a silvery comma on the middle of the 

 hind-wings beneath. 



Fig. 24 represents this butterfly. 

 The caterpillar feeds also upon the currant and 

 elm. The other species is the Hop vine Thecla 

 {Thedalmmuli, Harris ; melimts, Hubner). It ranges 

 from the New England States to Texas and California, but we are not aware that it has 

 yet been taken in Canada. 



4. The Hop-vine Plusia [Plusia halluca, Geyer). 



LePIDOPTERA-PLUSIDjE. 



The larva^of this very handsome moth feeds upon the hop, and is occasionally found 

 in some numbers ; seldom, if ever, however, is it so numerous as to become a source of 

 serious trouble. It is essentially a Ca nadian insect, being but very rarely observed to the 

 south of us. 



The larva was found by Mr. W. Saunders, of London, Ontario, on the 13th of June, 

 1872, and is thus described by him in the January No. (1873) of the Canadian Entomolo- 

 gist : - 



" Length, 1-20 inch. Body, thickest on middle, and posterior segments tapering to- 

 wards the fnnt ; the body is arched or looped along the middle segments, when in motion. 



" Head rather small, bilobed, of a shining green colour, with a few whitish hairs. 



" Body aboye yellowisji green, streaked and spotted with white, intermixed all through 

 with green, thus dividing the white into a series of .streaks, dots, and broken lines ; there 

 is also a line of greenish wliite on each side, close to the under surface. Each segment 

 h:\s a few tubercles of a green colour, striped with white ; these are small on the 2nd, 3rd, 

 and 4th segments, but^much larger from ■5th to 12th inclusive, and entirely wanting on 

 the terminal segment. On each of tie hinder segments, with the exception of the last, 



