138 CATERPILLARS AND THEIR MOTHS 



week, — and were one and three quarters inches long, 

 neither stout nor slender, and of a deep wine-color, 

 lighter between the segments and around the wing- 

 covers. They had short tongue-cases, whose slightly 

 bulbous tips just touched the thorax. Out of doors 

 these caterpillars burrow in the earth to pupate, but 

 ours transformed perfectly on the bottom of their tins 

 without any earth. 



The moths are in shades of brown, white, and black, 

 the general effect being brown. The head, thorax, and 

 abdomen are chestnut-brown above, lighter beneath. 

 The patagia are edged with black. The abdomen has 

 a narrow black dorsal line, and black sides with a row 

 of large whitish spots on each. The fore wings are 

 light chestnut-brown, with dark and lighter marks and 

 white and black cross-lines. The hind wings are 

 brownish white, with a black band across the middle 

 and one across the outer margin of each. 



We have seen the moths ovii^ositing in the dusk, 

 flying from one lilac-twig to another and fastening a 

 shining green egg to the under side of a leaf here and 

 there, never laying many eggs on one bush, but dart- 

 ing away to the nearest lilac, laying a few eggs on its 

 leaves, then leaving it for another bush. 



If eggs or larvae are found on a bush or tree, it is a 

 good plan to examine the nearest trees or bushes of 

 the same kind, as more eggs may be found in this way. 

 It is much more satisfactory to have eggs or very 

 young caterpillars, for older kalmkc are often stung by 

 parasitic flies. 



The moths may be taken at light or bait, but are 

 not common. 



