ALLIED FAMILIES 3067 



the extremities of the wing covers is provided with a transverse serrated horny 

 ridge near the front margin; the seventh to the tenth segments bearing similar 

 but less prominent ridges; while the hinder extremity is armed with small sharp 

 spines. 



Usually the caterpillar makes its burrows in the wood of the gray gum tree; 

 but there is some doubt as to whether it does not occasionally resort to another 

 species of gum. Regarding the habits of the larva and pupa, Mr. Froggart writes 

 that the former ' ' changes into the chrysalis in December, after having eaten off 

 the web in front of the bore, and placed a thick felty wad, or button, just inside 

 the opening of the bore; but as soon as the chrysalis skin has become hard and 

 firm, it pushes the wad away, and moves freely up and down the bore, which varies 

 in depth from ten to twelve inches. It can move up and down the passage very 

 rapidly, the curious file-like rings on the lower edge of the abdominal segments 

 being evidently adapted to helping its locomotion. When nearly mature it has the 

 habit, particularly in the afternoons, of resting in the bore, with the top of its head 

 just level with the floor of the cross bore, and plainly visible from the outside. The 

 moths appear early in March. It has been found that the} 7 never come out after 

 three o'clock in the afternoon; and chrysalids under observation, if not out at that 

 hour, can be safely left until the next day." The next family (Callidulidtz') must 

 also be omitted; while the Drepanulidce may be referred to as containing the British 

 species Cilix spinula, and the common hook tip (Drepana falcataria} , and allied 

 forms. Of the Thyrididcz there is but one European genus ( Thyris) and no British 

 species of this; while the next family (the Limacodidcz) is not of sufficient impor- 

 tance to detain us. 



Family LASIOCAMPID^E 



The lappets, drinkers, and eggars, are well-known species included in this 

 large family. These moths are large, for the most part, two inches to two and one- 

 half across the expanded fore-wings, others being smaller, about one inch only in 

 expanse of wing, with stout hairy bodies and strong wings. They fly rapidly in 

 broad daylight or at night. The larvae are clothed with soft hair, that on the sides 

 being often directed downward in a tufted form. To the genus Gastropacha belong 

 the lappet (G. quercifolia) and the oak eggar (G. quercus}; the common drinker per- 

 taining to another genus {Odonestis}, with the specific name potatoria. As exam- 

 ples of the former genus we select for description the pine lappet and the procession 

 moth, both abundant on the Continent, but not occurring in England. The larvae 

 of both these moths spin silken cocoons. Having the front wings gray, tinted with 

 different shades of brown, the pine lappet (Gastropacha pint) is a large moth measur- 

 ing about two and one-half inches across the wings. The larvae are ashen gray, 

 with a dorsal row of dark blotches, a lateral brown stripe, and a pair of blue 

 transverse bands on the third and fourth segments. This handsome larva is often 

 very destructive to the pine forests, where it feeds upon the needles of the trees, and 

 sometimes appears in overwhelming numbers. In coping with the enormous quan- 



