HUNTING 47 



low pines, where may be found choice sphingid larvae, 

 the big brown or green Eacles impcriaJls and the 

 smaller brown Platycerura furcUla caterpillars. In the 

 pastures by the sea the beach-plum, andromeda, bay- 

 berry, azalea, laurel, tupelo, all have their treasures, 

 while willows everywhere should be examined care- 

 fully, especially low-growing bushes and sapling 

 shoots. 



Near Boston May is the earliest month for profitable 

 caterpillar-hunting or moth-hunting, unless the last of 

 April is very warm. Farther south the season opens 

 earlier, but from the time it begins until cold weather 

 ends it the procession of species never stops, though it 

 is a bigger procession in June, July, and September, in 

 New England, than at other times. 



Many species are double-brooded, one set of eggs 

 being laid in May or June, and the moths from these 

 mating and ovipositing in August or September ; but 

 even of these species there are stragglers all the way 

 between those broods. There are few species of which 

 we should be willing to state that they appear at 

 a certain time only. Cllsiocampa americana and C. 

 (Vtsstria we have never found as caterpillars or moths 

 later than the middle of July, and their eggs, laid 

 then, remain on the trees all winter, unless the creep- 

 ers, woodpeckers, chickadees, nuthatches, or thrifty 

 human beings remove them. 



Caterpillars full grown and crawling on the walks or 

 ground are usually in search of a place for pupation, 

 so no food need be provided for them ; but with those 

 found on plants, twigs of the plant should be put into 

 the collecting-box, that the hunter may know what 



