28 



body and the leg;s are dull red, with a wide band behind the head and the hinder edores of the 

 secments of the abdomen white ; the under side of the body is also irregularly marked with 

 wlii'c. The under surface of the wings is rery much like the upper, but somewhat paler. 



Cecropia was the ancient name of t^e City of Athens, and it has been a matter of sur- 

 prise to some that Linnaeus should have given this name to our motli, Dr. Fitch throws light 

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

 knowledge, as he is expressively styled by Latreille, it has been frequently remaiked, was 

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

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

 mind of Linnaeus when he named this splendid moth, we think is suflBciently evident. The 

 Athenians were the most polished and refined people of antiquity. The moths are the most 

 delicate and elegant of insects ; they were the Athenians of their race. Cecrops was the 

 founder, the head of the Athenian jieople. When the names of men were bestowed upon cities, 

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

 names to the. feminine form. The moths (Phnlwiia) being feminine, and the name of Cecrops 

 being more euphonious in this form, probably induced Linnaeus to change it in the manner 

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

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

 invented for 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 be found here and there, firmly 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. 18, (after Riley) is about three inches long, pod 

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

 silk, the fibres of which are very much stronger than those'of the 

 common -silk worm Bomlii/x wmi. The silk has been worked to a 

 limited extent and manufactured into socks and other articles, 

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

 advancement of this branch of industry lies in the fact that the 

 caterpillars do not bear confinement well, and hence are not easily 

 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 cfltctually protects the insect in 

 its dormant state from the extremes of weather during the long 

 wintry months When 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 struggles of the occupant, and 

 the newly bom moth Vicgins to work its way out of the cocoon. 

 As it is possessed of no cutting instrument of any kind, this would 

 indeed be a hopeless task had not the all wise Creator nride a 

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

 for softening the fibres is furnished just at this juncture and 

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

 it works its way through, you hoar a .scraping, tearing sound, 

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

 feet, teariiii; away the softened fibres and packing them on each 

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

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

 any other part and through which, after th<' internal obst.ielrs are 

 overcome, the passage is (ffcct<>d without much furthir trouble. 



We have frequently watched their escape. First through 

 the opening is thrust the anterior pair of bushy looking legs, th» 



