96 Lloyd's natural history 



which is firmly suspended by the silk which once covered the 

 foot-stalk of the leaf. The instinct of the caterpillar, in thus 

 providing for the permanent attachment of its future habita- 

 tion, appears to be superior to that shown by many other 

 species. 



" The caterpillar is of a delicate green colour, with yellow 

 feet ; each segment of the body, except the posterior, is 

 marked with six blue spots, from which arise small black 

 tubercles ; in the second and third segments, however, the 

 two centre tubercles are replaced by club-like projections of a 

 third of an inch in length, and of a bright coral-red colour. 

 The last segment is furnished with but five tubercles, the 

 central one of which is of the same clavate form as those on 

 the anterior segments, but is of a fine yellow colour. As 

 before stated, they feed on the leaves of the Sassafras, Spice- 

 wood, and Swamp Button-wood, and are to be found during 

 most of the autumn months. 



" The silk spun by this species is as fine, and is produced 

 in as great abundance, as that furnished by the Bombyx fuori 

 (or the silkworm usually reared for manufacturing purposes, 

 which was originally a native of Asia), but is of a darker 

 colour, and will, it is feared, always present difficulties in 

 reeling, from the manner in which part of it is attached to the 

 branch." 



GENUS BUN7EA. 



Emma, Hiibner, Verz. bek. Schmctt., p. 154 (1822?); 

 Walker, List Lepid. Ins. Brit. Mus., v., p. 1226 (1855). 



The genus Buncra and its allies include a number of large 

 and handsome African moths, measuring seven or eight 

 inches across the wings, and varying from brown or fawn- 

 colour to nearly black. There is usually a large ocellus of 



