LEPIDOrTERA. 375 



The moths of this tribe are mostly of small size, very few of 

 them expanding more than one inch. They carry their wings 

 like a steep roof over their bodies when they are at rest. Their 

 fore wings are very much curved, and are very broad at the 

 shoulders, and hence these insects are called Plati/omides, that 

 is, broad shoulders, by the French naturalists. These wings 

 are generally very prettily banded and spotted, and are some- 

 times ornamented with brilliant metallic spots. The iiind 

 wings are plain, and of a uniform dusky or grayish color, and 

 the inner edge is folded like a fan against the side of the body. 

 Their antennae are naked or threadlike. Their feelers, two in 

 number, are broad, of moderate length, or project like a short 

 beak in front of the head, and are never curved upwards. The 

 spiral tongue is mostly short and sometimes invisible. The 

 body is rather short and thick, and the legs are also much 

 shorter in proportion than in the Delta-moths. These little 

 moths fly only in the evening and night, and remain at rest 

 during the day upon or near the plants inhabited by their 

 caterpillars. They are most abundant in midsummer, but 

 certain species appear in the spring or autumn. The habits 

 of the Tortrices, in all their states, are not yet known well 

 enough to enable us to group the insects together under family 

 names. 



The caterpillars of some of our largest species are found on 

 the ends of the branches of various trees and bushes, in nests, 

 made of the young leaves drawn together in bunches, and 

 fastened with threads. In the middle of these nests the cater- 

 pillars live, either singly, or in companies of several individuals 

 together. Nests of this kind, containing a large number of 

 caterpillars, may often be seen on oak-trees in the summer. 

 The chrysalids force their way partly out of the nests by the 

 help of the transverse rows of prickles on their backs, when the 

 moths are about to make their escape. The moths resemble 

 in form and general appearance those of another species, the 

 caterpillars of which live singly in much smaller nests, on 

 apple-trees and rose-bushes. Early in May, or soon after the 

 buds of the apple-tree begin to open, these little caterpillars 

 begin their labors. They curl up and fasten together the small 



