192 PUSS-MOTH. 



following, so this caterpillar then turns to be a 

 painted butterfly*." (PL xvi. fig^.) The two- 

 forked tail alluded to, which is peculiar to the Puss 

 caterpillar and two or three others, is thus described 

 by Kirby and Spence : " This horn-like appendage 

 is composed of two distinct cylindrical diverging 

 branches, each about four lines long, not united at 

 the base. Each of these is hollow, and includes a 

 smaller cylindrical piece, which can be protruded at 

 pleasure, and withdrawn again, as a pencil within 

 its case ; or, rather, as the horns of a snail. The 

 two outer horns are tolerably firm, moveable at 

 their base, and beset with black spines ; the interior 

 tentacula are fleshy, moveable in every direction, 

 and in full-grown larvae of a rose-colour. The 

 animal seldom protrudes them, unless in some way 

 disturbed ; and frequently it approximates the outer 

 cases so closely that they resemble a single horn. 

 It appears to use these inner horns, when protruded, 

 as a kind of whip to drive away the flies, especially 

 the Ichneumons, that alight upon its body. When 

 touched in any place, it will unsheath one of them, 

 and sometimes both, and with them strike the place 

 where it is incommoded t." The cocoon constructed 

 by this caterpillar is remarkable for its strength and 

 solidity, being composed of particles of wood united 

 by a very adhesive kind of gum. To enable the 

 moth to pierce the walls of this indurated case, it 

 is said to be furnished with a bag of acid, the con- 



* Walton's Angler, chap. v. 



f Introd. to Entom. iii. page 150. 



