THE TRIBE OF THE EMPERORS 213 



seems to be some uncertainty in regard to many points in 

 its development, notably the number of broods in different 

 localities and the habits of the larvae when preparing for 

 hibernation. 



The principal points in the life-history of the species may 

 be outlined as follows : some time in July the eggs are laid 

 on the leaves of hackberry in dense clusters, each of which 

 may contain from two hundred to iSve hundred eggs. 

 These are usually deposited in two or more layers, one 

 upon another. A little more than a week later these eggs 

 hatch, each caterpillar eating through one end in a way to 

 cut out the rim of a tiny cap which is pushed up as the 

 larva escapes. The whole brood emerges at practically 

 the same time and collects upon one or more leaves where 

 they begin to feed upon the succulent green tissues. Like 

 so many caterpillars that feed in companies each spins a 

 silken thread wherever it goes. 



The little larvae remain together until after the third 

 moult, at which time they are about half grown. In the 

 more northern regions where they are found they are now 

 likely to scatter about in search of quarters for hibernation- 

 Having found suitable shelter, they remain through the 

 winter to come forth early the following spring and feed 

 upon the developing leaves of the hackberry trees. They 

 continue to do this for a few weeks before they become full 

 grown. They are then smooth-bodied, greenish worms 

 about an inch and a half long, striped longitudinally in 

 yellow and brown. The hind end of the body is forked 

 in a curious fashion and the head is even more remarkable 

 for the strange pair of tiny antlers projecting from it. 



These full-groAvn caterpillars soon change to pale green 

 chrysalids, lightly striped with longitudinal lines of yellow. 



