THE BUFF-TIP MOTH. 4(39 



consequence of the peculiar aspect of the quiescent attitude, 

 the Buff-tip Moth often escapes observation, as most persons 

 would mistake it for a piece of dried stick. 



The caterpillar feeds upon the lime, the elm, the hazel, and 

 one or two other trees, and often does considerable damage. It 

 is semi-social in its habits, and, though plentiful, is not often 

 seen until full-fed, in consequence of its peculiar idiosyncrasies. 

 The eggs are laid in batches, sometimes as many as sixty in 

 number, on the upper part of a leaf, and when hatched, the 

 little caterpillars belonging to each brood remain together, and 

 feed on the upper surface of the leaf. After their first change 

 of skin, they break up into six or seven small companies, and 

 each company remains together until the change into the 

 pupal state is at hand. As they become larger they make 

 their way to the topmost branches, where they work great 

 havoc among the leaves, often leaving bough after bough 

 completely denuded of foliage. 



When full-fed they separate, and each caterpillar makes its 

 way down the tree, and starts off on its travels in search of a 

 resting-place in which it can pass its pupal state of existence. 

 Being very numerous and very conspicuous, these caterpillars 

 are familiar to most residents in the country. They go reso- 

 lutely in their search, making their way over everything in 

 their path, utterly careless of observation. In some places 

 they are so numerous that they become a positive nuisance, 

 and, indeed, I do not know any creature which has a greater 

 talent for getting in the way. 



Towards the beginning of August these caterpillars begin to 

 show themselves, and anyone who wishes to rear the Moth from 

 the caterpillar may procure as many as he likes. Last year 

 (1870) they grievously offended tidy housekeepers by their 

 intrusion. It was hardly possible to set foot outside the door 

 without crushing one or two of them on the white door-step, 

 and, not content with infesting the steps and paths, they 

 crawled into the houses, and travelled over L.,.j^jets and oil- 

 cloths as determinately as if they had been traversing the 

 fields. When at last they have suited themselves with a spot 

 which seems to them a favourable one, they throw off tlie last 

 caterpillar skin, and change into smooth brown pupae. These 

 pupas are wonderfully hardy, enduring the frost of winter 



