16 BETTISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS 



larva state within the tree. The growing larvae are 

 rarely seen, but occasionally, when a tree is cut down, 

 it is found to be infested with these larvae of various 

 sizes. About twenty- six or twenty-seven months after 

 the eggs were deposited, the larvae are full fed, and 

 many of them at that time quit the trees where they 

 have fed, and may be seen crawling on the ground, 

 disagreeable -looking objects, with a very unpleasant 

 odour. The larva is then three inches long, flesh- 

 coloured at the sides, dark, dingy red on the back, with 

 the head black. Those which are thus at large enter 

 the earth, to pass there their last winter in the larval 

 state ; but many do not quit the trees, and change in 

 their burrows to the chrysalis state. When the 

 chrysalis is ready for its change, it forces itself along 

 the burrow to the surface of the tree, and projects its 

 anterior portion, then the chrysalis skin cracks, and the 

 imprisoned moth creeps out, ascends the trunk of the 

 tree a few inches, and there expands and dries its wings. 

 It is rather a sluggish insect, but may be found at rest 

 on the trunks of the trees which it has inhabited when 

 in the larva state. 



Let us next consider the transformations of the Puss 

 Moth (Cerura vinula). The egg is deposited by the 

 parent moth in May, on the leaves of willows and 

 poplars. The larvae hatch from these eggs in a few 

 weeks, and feed on the leaves of the willows and poplars. 

 They are comical-looking creatures, with two tails stick- 

 ing out behind, and with little protuberances on each 

 side of the head, like ears ; and, as when annoyed they 

 raise up the head and also the hinder segments, holding 

 on only by the ventral prolegs, they have a very gro- 

 tesque appearance. From each of the two tails they 



