1820 ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. PART III. 



the majority of authors mistaken for individuals of the opposite sex ; but Dr. 

 Ilorsficld {Lipid. Javanlca) detected the error, by carefully investif,'ating the 

 structure of the insects. In the sixth volume of the ATagazinc of Natural 

 Ilislori/, p, 227., are several notices of this insect. Mr, Conway observes that, 

 in Moiunouthshire, individuals of this s[)ecies 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. {Ilnd., 

 p. Si-t.) Before appearing in their pupa state, they are said to retire into the 

 earth. {Ibid., 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 ii^cA on them, mentions that, having made some oak plant- 

 ations near his dwelling, he was agreeably surprised to find near them Thecla 

 quercus, and MelitacV/ Euphrosync, 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 

 thusf feed exclusively on the oak. 



Amongst the '6phingK\s£, the caterpillar of *SmerInthus tOiae Limi., or lime 

 hawk-moth occasionally feeds upon the oak; but amongst the Linnaean 

 liombyccs, the number of oak-leaf feeding species is very considerable, in- 

 cluding *PygaB'ra bucephala (the buff-tip moth), *Stauropus fagi (which, 

 from the singular form of its caterpillar, has been named the lobster-moth), 

 *Loph6pteryx camelina, the species of Chaonia Stcp/i., including f C. roboris, 

 f dodonea, and f quernea, all of which feed exclusively upon the oak; 

 *Petasia casslnea (the sprawler), f Peridea serrjita, *Saturnia Pav6nia(the 

 emperor moth), and *S. taii (the tau emperor), *Lasiocampa quercus, and 

 *r6boris. f 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 larvag 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 truuk. " This nest, when completed, is 

 about I ft. G 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- 

 onlinary regularity with which the larvae proceed, towards sunset, in search of 

 food. At their head is a chief, by whose movements the procession appears 

 regulated; and he is followed by three or four in a single line, the head of the 

 second touching the tail of the first, &c. Then comes an equal series of j)airs, 

 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 procession moves on with 

 an even pace, each file treading upon the steps of those which precede it, 

 through all the sinuosities made by tlie chief. They do not invariably return 

 to their nest before morning, but may sometimes be found during the day 

 assembleil in irregular masses, heai)ed uj)on each other." {Slcj}/i. Illust. 

 lliiitat., ii. p. 47. note; lirriumur Alcnioircs, tom. ii. mem. 4., with 2 plates; 

 Nicliolai Die Wander ader Prozexsions liaiipc, &c. Berlin, 1833, 8vo.) Accord- 

 ing to Reaumur, it is dangerous to approach the nests of this insect, especially 

 at the j)eriod of the moulting of the caterpillars, on account of the irritatin<' 

 effects of the hairs, whicli at that time float about in the atmosphere. Some 

 ladies wlio acconipauitd Ktaunuir in his observations were much affected, 



