TENT-CATERPILLARS. 121 



blue, spots are very distinct. This dorsal row is flauked on each side by two large 

 distinct irregular spots of the same pale bine color, the space between them being 

 conspicuously deep black. In this specimen also the numerous close, broken, fine 

 dorsal alternating black and ocherous lines so characteristic of C. calif ornica are 

 present. 



Whether the larva received from Professor Rivers, and referred by him with doubt 

 to C. fragilis Stretch, is that species is quite another question. I have not seen either 

 the larva or imago of Stretch's fragilis. 



165. The Pacific oak tent-caterpillar. 

 Clisiocampa constricta Stretch. 



Feeding on the leaves of the Sonoma oak of California, a tent-caterpillar, with a 

 broken dorsal row of large rust-red spots, and transforming at the end of May, the 

 moth appearing late in June. 



Prof. J. J. Rivers writes me regarding this species: "I have uever 

 fouud G. constricta but upon oak. This species can not be confused 

 with any of the others that I ara acquainted with, because the male is 

 always pale and the female always dark, the male being a cream color 

 and the female a little like red cedar color with a warm tone." 



From an excellent blown larva kindly loaned me by Professor Rivers 

 1 find that it differs from all the other Oalifornian species in the large, 

 conspicuous ocherous-red dorsal patches which give rise to peculiar 

 wedge-shaped ocherous tufts of short hairs ; also by the lateral row of 

 short white tufts, while the body in general is much more hairy than in 

 the other species. No eastern species has such a characteristic and 

 peculiar arrangement of spots and hairs. 



The following descriptions of larva, chrysalis, and cocoon of this moth 

 are copied from Mr. Henry Edwards's account in the Proceedings of the 

 California Academy of Sciences, vol. v, 1874, p. 368: 



Larva. — Head slate-gray, with black spots; mouth parts black, tipped with dull 

 yellow. Body slate-gray, covered laterally with fine black speckles. Along the middle 

 of the dorsal region is an irregular black strip e, marked on its sides with waved orange 

 lines, and surmounted at the union of the segments by a double tuft of chestnut- 

 brown hairs. On the second and third segments, in the middle of the notched black 

 line, is a stripe of dull white. From the base of the orange-brown tufts spring a few 

 scattered black hairs, longest anteriorly, and from the forepart of each segment arise 

 lateral tufts of white hairs. The stigmata are orange, with black central points. 

 Above the base of the feet is a black interrupted line, out of which spring other white 

 hairs, irregularly disposed. Under side dull velvety black, with the anterior portion 

 of each segment whitish. Feet and prologs black, yellow at their tips. Length 1.8.5 

 inches. Food-plant, Quercus sonomensis Benth. 



The larva is frequently attacked by a species of ichneumon, the eggs of which are 

 visible on the head and anterior segments. 



Chrysalis. — Chestnut brown, with few hairs along the base of each segment. 



Cocoon. — Ovo-lanceolate, very silky, yellowish white, with some portions glued in 

 compact mass and whiter than the remainder. Chrysalis only imperfectly seen 

 through the web. Larva May 22, changed to chrysalis May 29. Imago, June 16. 



Moth. — Of the size and general appearance of C. americana, but the outer line, in- 

 stead of being directed outward on the costa, is more sinuous than iu the eastern 

 species, and decidedly curved inwards upon the costa. 



