CHAPTEE III. 



CUSPIDATES. 



We have now completed our survey of the 

 great tribe of Geometer IMoths, and proceed to 

 the next tribe, that of the Cuspidates, so called 

 because in very many species the shape of 

 the larva, instead of being rounded, is scooped 

 and grooved so as to produce several projecting 

 points or "cusps." AVe shall see some examples 

 of such larvae in the course of the following 

 pages. 



As a rule, the Cuspidates are very much 

 larger than the Geometers, and indeed many of 

 them rank among our largest Moths. The larvae 

 are, therefore, very large ; but in spite of their 

 size are not conspicuous, their tints harmonizing 

 so well with those of the plants on which they 

 live, that it is almost impossible to detect them. 

 Moreover, they have an odd habit of remaining 



