THE TRIBE OF THE EMPERORS 211 



one in a place but sometimes several side by side. A few 

 days later these eggs hatch into little yellow caterpillars 

 that feed upon the leaves for about a month when they 

 become full grown. They are then a little more than an 

 inch long, of a general hght green color with yellow spots 

 along the middle of the back and three yellow lines along 

 each side. The head has a pair of curious antlers much 

 like those of the caterpillar of the Tawny Emperor. 

 These caterpillars now spin a bit of silken web on the 

 under side of the leaf or twig. They attach their hind legs 

 into this web and hang downward for a day or two, before 

 casting the last larval skin and changing to chrysalids. 

 They change again to butterflies which are seen upon the 

 wing early in August. These butterflies lay eggs in turn 

 on the hackberry leaves, the eggs soon hatching into small 

 caterpillars which according to Riley ^s observations are 

 less active than those of the earlier brood. These cater- 

 pillars feed for a few weeks until they become nearly half 

 grown and have passed their second or possibly their 

 third moult. They now stop eating and get ready for a 

 long fast through the v^anter. Apparently some of them 

 at least attach themselves to the under side of the hack- 

 berry leaves and turn to a brownish color, remauiing upon 

 the leaves until the latter fall to the ground and presum- 

 ably hibernating in the shelter thus provided. Whether 

 or not all of the caterpillars have this rather curious habit 

 seems to be doubtful. It has been suggested that some 

 of them find shelter within the crevices in the rough bark 

 of the tree. At any rate, the caterpillars remain in a sort 

 of stupor until the following spring. Then they awaken, 

 climb up the trees or bushes, and begin feeding upon the 

 young leaves. They continue this until they become full 



