CHAPTER VIII. 



would be interesting to ascertain whether this captain 

 (or captainess ?) differs in sex from the rank and file. 

 A caterpillar, when full-fed, though in one sense 

 epicene, is already male or female. 



The scientific name of this insect is Cnethocampa 

 Pityocampa. The brownish hairy larvrebury themselves 

 in the earth when they have found a suitable spot. 

 They pupate under ground, and lie dormant through 

 the Summer. From those which my son kept, the 

 imagines emerged in the middle of September. The 

 moth is grey. 



It is better to avoid touching these caterpillars 

 with the naked hand ; the hairs may produce a rash 

 which is very irritating, and sometimes even danger- 

 ous. Writers on Entomology warn us against this 

 caterpillar, and against another, Forth esia Chrysor- 

 rhcua. This latter turns to a moth with white satin 

 wings. We have found it in the Esterels. The 

 procession larvse on the Mt. Gros creep along in Indian 

 file, but there are other species which march eight 

 abreast. 



The " fir tree " of the Old Testament is thought 

 to be either the Pinus Halepensis, or the P. maritima. 

 Perhaps the " ash " wood, used for making idols, in 

 Isaiah xliv. 14, is no other than the Aleppo. 



The Pinaster, or Maritime Pine, or Cluster Pine 

 (Pinus maritima), abundant on some parts of our south 

 coast, is also very common on the Riviera : the French 

 call it " Pin des Landes." As these two trees are often 

 found growing together, I will mention a few points of 

 distinction between them. The Pinaster is more erect 

 and regular, and its branches are less contorted than 

 those of the Aleppo : also its shoots are thicker and 



