436 



Marvels of Insect Life. 



Plwlo by] [H. Mam, F.E.S. 



Young Caterpillars. 



When very young the caterpillars of the Kentish 

 glory cluster together around a birch twig, with 

 their fore-parts raised. .As they get larger they 

 separate and feed singly. 



The Kentish Glory. 



Although in general appearance this splendid 

 moth resembles the eggers, the very considerable 

 difference in the caterpillar shows it is not closel\' 

 related, and the authorities have erected it into 

 a separate familv. If the photograph of this cater- 

 pillar is compared with those illustrating the 

 article on eggers (page 246), it will be seen that, 

 quite apart from the absence of hairy covering, the 

 Kentish glory caterpillar is quite different in form, 

 tapering to the head and ha\'ing a pyramidal 

 elevation on the last segment but one, which 

 suggests a resemblance to the caterpillars of the 

 hawk-moths, a likeness increased by the oblique 

 white and creamy stripes along the sides. It is 

 colo-ured green, paling to a whitish tint on each 

 side of the central dark-green line. It attains a 

 length of about two inches, and in appro[)riate 

 localities it may be found feeding on birch from the 

 end of May to July. When newly hatched the\- are 

 black, but after casting their skins the black becomes greenish, sprinkled with minute 

 black dots ; later they become distinctly green, and the black dots are restricted to 

 the lower surface. In the young condition a number of the caterpillars will cluster 



together on the twigs of the birch, presenting a 

 peculiar appearance with their fore-parts raised 

 from the twig. As they get larger the\' separate, 

 apparentlv to avoid becoming too noticeable. 

 \Mien full grown they construct a rough dark- 

 brcjwn cocoon on or just under the surface of the 

 ground, and spin up moss and vegetable debris 

 into the structure. Here they change into blackish 

 chrysalids, with rough points on the segments, 

 which enable them to wriggle out of the cocoon 

 a few days before the moth emerges in the follow- 

 ing spring. 



About April the small, tawny-brown males fly 

 in sunshine seeking the larger, paler-coIourc>d 

 females, who sit a]:)out on birch or hratlier until 

 after dark. It is a forest and moorland si)ecies, 

 ill the former fre(pu'nting the oj)en ]:)laces wIum'c 

 there is surficient light for the birch to tlourisli. 

 Its old name of Kentish glory ^ was pi'obably given 

 to it from its occurrence in Darenth \A'ood, near 

 Dartford, that fonnei" paradise ol the London 

 1 I'lndroniis versicolor. 



I'liolo hyl [II, Main, F.E.S. 



Newly Emerged. 



The Kentish glory has just escaped from the 

 chrysalis and cocoon at the base of the tree, and 

 has climbed u]> a twig, there to liang until tlic 

 wings have cxpaudcd fullv. 



