DEILEPHILA LINEATA 



GENUS, DEILEPHILA (" evening lover ")• 

 SPECIES, linea'ta ("lined"). 



" Here 's a bug for you. Take it quick ; I 'm afraid it 

 will die ! I shut it up tight in this box to keep it safe, 

 and it may smother, though I came as fast as I could," 

 said "the old doctor" one morning. Of course we 

 knew that there was no danger of smothering the 

 caterpillar, but we were eager to see what kind could 

 have induced the doctor to box it, for he was one of 

 those unfortunate persons who shiver and "feel 

 creepy" at sight of any crawling thiug, and we fully 

 appreciated his kindness in overcoming his feeling so 

 far as to bring the creature even in a closed box. We 

 opened the box, and a very lively caterpillar crawled 

 quickly over the edge, while the doctor jumped back, 

 and the family cried, "What a monster!" It was 

 three and a half inches long and as large as most 

 third fingers of medium-sized persons. It was bright 

 green, with orange sj^ots on each side, and a caudal 

 horn. 



We asked where it was found. 



"In my melon-patch, on the ground," replied the 

 doctor. 



" Has the melon- patch any purslane in it f " asked 



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