GEO ME TRIDA'l—PHi )RODESMA . 299- 



brown papilla\ each placed outside the snl)dorsal line, and 

 having a dark spot on the apex, furnished with a siim;le 

 hooked bristle, to which the gnawings are attaclied with silk. 

 lieing very curious to know how this was done, I put a half- 

 undressed individual into a glass-covered box, together with 

 an oak bud just bursting into leaf. Before eating, it firmly 

 fixed itself by its anal prolegs to the bottom of the bud, took 

 hold of one of the brown scales which incase the Inid by the 

 top with its jaws, and drew it with some force, with the 

 intention of pulling it off if loose ; but as it was still firmly 

 fixed at its base, the larva, after two or three strong pulls, 

 began to gnaw it oft' at the base ; afterwards holding the 

 scale with its legs it covered the curved side with silk, and 

 fixed it to one of the naked papilla?, winding silk about it at 

 the point of connection. In the same manner every other 

 naked pa])illa was clothed with a bit of bud-scale with little 

 regard to its shape, and sometimes a second piece was aflfixed 

 to a papilla which already had one. This was not rapidly 

 accomplished, some hours being occupied in the operation of 

 dressing. The infant larva, as soon as hatched, fixed a bunch 

 of minute gnawings of oak, green and white in colour, to 

 each of the minute papilla) ; and one. which was furnished 

 only with a rose-petal, furnished its back with "rosy 

 favours.'" (Rev. E. Horton.) At each change of skin the 

 same process is gone through, and it does not appear that 

 the fragments are removed from the old skin to the new. 

 As it rests, its body is so hunched as to give its covering 

 (juite the appearance of an accidental heap of bud-scales or 

 fragments of dead leaf. 



July to May or June upon oak. hybernating while still 

 small. Abroad it is said to feed also upon alder and plum. 



1*UPA short and thick, the abdomen rapidly tapering; 

 edges of the wing-covers raised into ridges ; antenna and 

 limb-cases compact, rough, the wing-covers also rough, brown ; 

 the nervures, and the edges of the limb-cases, defined bv dull 



