2S 



body and tlie hen nro dull rod, with a wide bnnd beliind the bead and the hinder edfres of the 

 sesriuems of the ;ibilonien white ; the under s-ide of the body is also irrciruhirly marked with 

 whi'e. The under surface of the wines is very uiucli like the upper, but somewhat paler. 



Ceeropia was the ancient name of t'-e Oitv of Athens, and it has been a matter of sur- 

 prise to some that IJnnacus should have <riven this name to our moth, Dr. Fitch thiows liirht 

 on this subject in the Ibllowinir words, " The great legislator of this department of human 

 knowledge, as he is expressively styled by Latreiile, it has been frequently remarked, was 

 endowed with a genius which, but few of his disciples have inherited, for selecting names for 

 natural objects, which are most appiopriate and happy. The idea which was present in the 

 mind of ].innaeus wlien he named this splendid moth, we think is sufficiently evident. The 

 Athenians were the most poli-hcd and refined people of anti(|uity. The moths are the most 

 delicate and elegant of ini-ects; they were the Athenians of their race. Ceerops was the 

 founder the head of the Atlienian | eople. When the ninies of men were bestowed upon cities, 

 ships, or other objects regarded as being of the ieminine. gender, classical usage changed these 

 nanjes to the feminine form. The moths {riiala-iio) being feminine, and the name of Ceerops 

 being more euphonious in this form, pn bably induced Linnwus to change it in the manner 

 he did. The name thus implies this to be the leader, the head of the most elegant trilie of 

 insects, or in other words the first of all insect kind. What name more appropriate can be 

 invented lor this sumptuous moth." The figure we have given is that of a male which differs 

 from the female in having a .smaller abdomen and larger and more deeply feathered antennae 

 or feelers. 



During the winter months, when the apple trees are leafless the large cocoons of this 

 moth may he found here and there, firndy bound to the twigs, they are also frequently found 

 on currant bushes, and occasionally also on lilac, cherry, hazel, 

 plum, blackberry, maple, willow and some other shrubs and trees ; 

 for this insect in its larval stage is a very general feeder. The 

 cocoon, .see fig. IS, ("after Riley) is about three inches long, pod 

 shaped and of a dirtv brown colour, and is entirely constructed of 

 silk, the fibres of which arc very much stronger than those of the 

 common silk worm lloinlii/r mmi. The silk has been uorkid to a 

 liniite<l extent and niimufactured into socks and other articles, 

 which have been found very durable ; but a drawback to the 

 advaneenjcnt of this hr.inch of industry lies in the fact that the 

 caterpillars do not bear confinement well, and hence are not ea.sily 

 reared. 



The exterior structure of the cocoon is very close and papery- 

 like, but on cutting through this, we find the interior — surround 

 ing the dark brown chrysalis — made up of loose fibres of strong 

 yellow silk. This snug enclosure effi;ctually protects the insect in 

 its dormant state from the extremes of weather during the long 

 wintry months W^licn the time approaches for the escape of the 

 moth, which is about the beginning of June, the internal dark 

 brown chrysalis is ruptured by the .stru<.;gles of the occupant, and 

 the newly born moth begins to work its way out of the cocoon. 

 .\s it is possessed of no cutting instrument of any kind, this would 

 indeed be a hopeless t.-!sk had not the all wise Creator made a 

 special provision for this purpose, and to this end a fluid adapted 

 for softenine the fibres is furnished jni>t at this juncture and 

 secreted from about the mouth. On listening to the creature as 

 it works its way through, vou hear a scrajiing tearing sound, 

 which is made by the insect working with the claws on its fore- 

 feet, tearing away the softened fibres and packing them on each 

 side to make a channel for its escape. The place of e.vit is 

 thf smaller end of the cocoon, which is more loosely made than 

 any other part and tlirough which, after the infernal obstacles are 

 overcome, the passage is c fficted without much further trouble. 



We have frequently watched their escape. First through 

 the opening is thrust the ant(.Tior pair of bushy looking legs, th« 



