BRAZILIAN LEPTDOPTF.RA. 39 



last stages. In the former stage it is black, and is covered 

 with spines, and has two curious horns on the head. In the 

 last stage the colour changes, the central segments (fourth to 

 ninth inclusive) becoming a light brown colour, beautifully 

 marked with an intricate black pattern. The spines on these 

 segments are of the same colour, only tipped with black ; the 

 rest of the segments remain black, and the horns on the 

 head are much larger than in the former stage. The food 

 plant is a climber that is plentiful in the woods and copses 

 round San Paulo. The caterpillar is remarkably active in 

 its habits, and gives one the idea of being in a hurry all his 

 life. He never seems to walk, but is always on the run. In 

 eating the same hurry is observed, as if he was afraid he 

 would not get enough before he had to pupate. The slight- 

 est shake of the leaf or stem of the plant makes the cater- 

 pillars fall to the ground. The spines are venomous, but 

 the poison seems weak in its effects. 



( a, Full-fed, Feb. 21, 1878. Imago, March 4 = 

 Pupa. \ 12 days. 



i h, San Paulo, March, 1880. 



Specimens of the caterpillar in my possession were full-fed 

 on Feb. 21st, 1878, and they suspended themselves by the 

 **tail." On Feb. 22nd they changed into the remarkable 

 chrysalis with the two horn-like processes on the head. 

 These processes do not form till the pupa has emerged com- 

 pletely from the skin of the larva, and securely hooked itself 

 to the silk that the larva has spun for this purpose. As 

 soon as this is done the pupa remains perfectly still, and the 

 horns begin to grow. They grow in the manner of a stock- 

 ing being turned inside out ; when half-grown the end can be 

 distinctly observed moving up the inside. The whole opera- 

 tion takes place in about two minutes. The pupa is remark- 

 able for the great difference in the colouring of individuals. 



