31 



in rare cases, and usually it is less. The body is usuallv al)out an 

 inch long. I do not think tliat usually very much damage is done 

 by these horn-tails, nor are they very often found in large num- 

 bers. 



LEPIDOPTEKA. 



In the next group, the Lepidoptera^ there are numerous species 

 injurious to our elms, and many of them also injure other trees. 

 It may be well to remind the farmer that the cater])illars, worms, 

 grubs, or whatever they are called, are the first stage after leaving 

 the. egg of moths and butterflies, and tliat by moth is meant not the 

 insect which is such a trouble to housekeepers, though that is 

 a true moth, but the whole great subdivision of Lepidoptera. 

 The moths can ordinarily be distinguished from the butterflies by 

 their loving darkness rather than light ; whether because their 

 deeds are evil, as they usually are, or from a natural aversion to 

 the sunshine which the butterflies are so fond of, I cannot explain. 

 They al§o hold the wings when at rest down over the back, sloping 

 from tJie middle, showing thus the upper side, while buttei flies 

 almosl always hold the wings vertically, the upper sides inward, 

 thus showing the outside. The antennje of moths are usually 

 much more complex and feather-like than those of butterflies. In 

 giving the names of the difterent species discussed, whenever there 

 is a common name by which the species is known, this will be 

 made prominent, but in many cases there is no other than the sci- 

 entific name, and of course no other can be given. In most cases 

 the larvai of the moths do more damage than those of the butterflies, 

 but these latter deserve consideration, and all should have some 

 knowledge of their structure and habits. Several species of butter- 

 fly attack the elm, though none of lliem I believe confines itself 

 exclusively to this diet. Inhere are several quite similar species of 

 butterflies quite common in upland fields and the lower portions 

 of mountains, though found everywhere. They all have the upper 

 surface of the wings of a dark, reddish hue, and the imderside 

 mottled and dotted with a mixture of while, black, brown, and 

 gray, whicli reminds one of a cinder. The edges of the wings are 

 variously scalloped and angled. The largest of these is known 

 as Grapta (^Polygo)iia^ interrogdtio)iis^ Fabr., oi^ ScDiicoloii 

 BjitterJJy. The' larva of this butterfly is a little more than an inch 

 long, a cylindrical worm striped with red and black. It is covered 

 with black spines. The head is dark red, two lobed. The butter- 



