4o6 



Marvels of Insect Life, 



caterpillar passes the winter. When the new leaves are expanded next year the 

 caterpillar resumes its feeding, and becomes full fed about the end of May. Then 

 it spins a flimsy cocoon, and changes to the yellow-banded black chrysalis, from 

 which the moth emerges in July or August. In suitable seasons the young cater- 

 pillar is sometimes able to attain to its full growth in the first year, and becomes 

 a moth in the autumn. 



The clouded magpie, ^ which is our only other representative of the genus, 

 is a much less common Insect, and it is probably not so thoroughly inedible as the 



magpie. It has not been 

 experimented upon in the same 

 way ; but though it has the 

 warning coloration it is not so 

 strongly and obviously marked. 

 The body is yellow with black 

 spots, but on the white wings 

 the markings are blotches of 

 yello\\'-brown and clouds of 

 grey. This colouring — apart 

 from feeding experiments with 

 birds, etc. -would lead one to sup- 

 pose that it would be less hurt- 

 ful than merely uninviting as 

 food, for it appears to rely upon 

 a protective resemblance more 

 than upon warning colours. 

 It haunts the edge of the wood- 

 land, and may be seen sitting 

 with expanded wings on the 

 leaves of dog's mercury and 

 other low plants. When so seen 

 it is not likely to be suspected 

 of being a. moth b}' those who 

 are unacquainted with its 

 peculiarities. It will be passed 

 by as the dropping from a 

 wood-pigeon squab in the 

 branches above. That is exactly 

 the appearance presented. 

 The caterpillar, which feeds chiefly upon wych-elm, is grevish-white, which 

 becomes yellowish on the back, w'here there is a black central line and a broken 

 one on each side of it. The spiracles are black, and there is a yellow line below them. 

 It will thus be seen that in this species the caterpillar is more warningly coloured 

 than the moth, and the presumption is that it is more inedible in the earlier stage 

 than in the perfect state. In a few other geometer-moths protection is obtained 

 by a similar likeness to bird-droppings. 



1 Abraxas svlvata. 



FlwU) by\ [H. Bastm. 



The Magpie-Caterpillar. 



This white caterpillar, spotted and blotched with red and black, is a most con- 

 spicuous as well as destructive Insect. Like those of the moth, its colours ad- 

 vertise the fact that it is inedible, and for that reason it is not careful to hide itself. 

 Twice the actual size. 



