45 



wings is a ligiit band, above it a dark, and a similar though nar- 

 rower band crosses the front wings parallel to the outer edge. The 

 whole moth presents a downy appearance, and the colors are beau- 

 tifully soft. Besides the ehii, the larva feeds on maple, hickory, 

 pear, plum, etc., etc. 



Our largest and in some respects most elegant moth is the 

 Cecropia. 



Platysa/iiia ('ccropi'a^ L. 



This magnificent insect in soft l)lending o( colors is hardly 

 equalled even among its kindred. The moth is five or six or some- 

 times seven inches across tlie wings which are of various shades of 

 grey, brown, red and white. A white l)and extends across both 

 wings parallel witli the the outer border, and in place of the eye- 

 spots of polyphennis there is a little inside of the miildlc of each 

 wing a large whitish, bean-shaped spot, shaded on the outer mar- 

 gin with dull red, and bordered with black. The margins of the 

 wings are lighter than nearer the body. In Harris' Insects Injur- 

 ious to Vegetation, may be found a superb engraving of this 

 superb moth. The caterpillar is three or four inches long, of a 

 very pretty shade ot green. Each segment of the body bears tu- 

 bercles from which arise short black hairs or bristles. On top of 

 the second ring these tubercles are bright red, as are those on the 

 third ring ; on the seven following rings the tuliercles are yellow, 

 and on the eleventli, one large tubercle. Along each side are two 

 rows of light blue tubercles. This is nut luicommon in this region, 

 and in the fall its large brown cocoons may be seen hanging to a 

 great variety of trees and buslies. I have taken them often from 

 currant bushes, though they are usually found on larger shrubs or 

 trees. 



A much smaller moth, though large as compared with most 

 moths, is what is known as 



Hypcrchirla io^ Falir. 



The larva of this moth is quite a general feeder, eating the leaves 

 of numerous forest trees, as well as a few herbaceous plants. It 

 has stinging spines, which make themselves felt when the insect is 

 roughly handled. Figure 34 gives the general appearance of this 

 caterpillar. 7\s the figure shows, the short stiff spines are in clus- 

 ters, the clusters being in rows, one about each segment. The 



