1820 ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. PART III. 
the mafority of authors mistaken for individuals of the opposite sex ; but Dr. 
Horsfield (Lepid. Javanica) detected the error, by carefully investigating the 
structure of the insects. In the sixth volume of the Magazine of Natural 
History, p. 227., are several notices of this insect. Mr. Conway observes that, 
in Monmouthshire, individuals of this species present a very beautiful sight, 
while sporting about the tops of the oaks just at sunset, the brilliant blue of 
their, beautiful wings catching the light as they fly, and then the whole 
disappearing among the foliage. These insects are very pugnacious, and 
frequently destroy their beauty by pursuing each other through the trees. 
They are, however, easy of capture; for, when once they alight on the 
foliage, they may be approached closely without being disturbed. (Jdid., 
p. 544.) Before appearing in their pupa state, they are said to retire into the 
earth. (Jbid., p. 189.) A correspondent of the same magazine (vol. v. p. 67.), 
speaking on the planting of certain trees, as a means of attracting the insects 
and birds which feed on them, mentions that, having made some oak plant- 
ations near his dwelling, he was agreeably surprised to find near them Thécla 
quércus, and Melitz‘a Euphrdésyne, pearl-bordered fritillary; insects which 
he had previously never seen within some miles of the spot. 
In the following list, the lepidopterous insects marked thus* feed on 
other trees as well as upon the oak; and the lepidopterous insects marked 
thus + feed exclusively on the oak. 
Amongst the Sphingide, the caterpillar of *Smerinthus tfliz Linn., or lime 
hawk-moth occasionally feeds upon the oak; but amongst the Linnzan 
Bémbyces, the number of oak-leaf feeding species is very considerable, in- 
cluding *Pyge‘ra bucéphala (the buff-tip moth), *Statropus fagi (which, 
from the singular form of its caterpillar, has been named the lJobster-moth), 
*Lophépteryx camelina, the species of Chaonia Steph., including +C. réboris, 
+dodonéa, and +quérnea, all of which feed exclusively upon the oak; 
*Petasia cassinea (the sprawler), -Peridea serrata, *Satarnia Pavonia (the 
emperor moth), and *S. tai (the tau emperor), *Lasiocéampa quércus, and 
*rdboris. +Cnethocampa processionea (or processionary moth) is a very 
interesting species, common in France and Germany, but not yet ascer- 
tained to be an inhabitant of this country. The larve construct a common 
temporary nest upon the branches of the oak, the situation of which they 
change from time to time, until they are about two thirds grown. They are 
hairy, and varied with grey and ashy brown stripes, and yellow spots on the 
back, and are nearly allied to the caterpillar so common upon fruit trees, 
the moths of which, from the striped appearance of the caterpillars, have been 
called lackey moths; some time before they attain their full size, they unite, 
and construct a general nest upon the trunk. “ This nest, when completed, is 
about 1 ft. 6 in. long, 6 in. broad, and composed of a grey silk, resembling 
the surface of the tree; but the most curious fact in their history is, the extra- 
ordinary regularity with which the larve proceed, towards sunset, in search of 
food. At their head is a chief, by whose movemenés the procession appears 
regulated ; and he is followed by three or four in a single line, tlie head of the 
second touching the.tail of the first, &c. Then comes an equal series of pairs, 
next of threes, and so on as far as fifteen or twenty, forming a band several feet 
in length. Sometimes the order is rather different, the leader being followed 
by two, then three, and so on; but at all times the Yates moves on with 
an even pace, each file treading upon the steps of those which precede it, 
through all the sinuosities made by the chief. They do not invariably return 
to their nest before morning, but may sometimes be found during the day 
assembled in irregular masses, heaped upon each other.” (Steph. Iilust. 
Haust., ii. p. 47. note; Réaumur Mémoires, tom. ii. mém, 4., with 2 plates; 
Nicholai Die Wander oder Prozessions Raupe, &c. Berlin, 1833, 8vo.) Accord- 
ing to Réaumur, it is dangerous to approach the nests of this insect, especially 
at the period of the moulting of the caterpillars, on account of the irritating 
effects of the hairs, which at that time float about in the atmosphere. Some 
ladies who accompanied Réaumur in his observations were much affected, 
