LEPIDOPTERA. LARVJ5. 283 



here, that though some vegetarian Caterpillars will eat 

 almost any plants, yet in most cases individual species 

 of larva? are confined to -single species of plants, while 

 it is noticed that nearly-related genera of insects will 

 be apportioned to nearly-related genera of plants. 

 Nevertheless, there are instances of larv, deprived of 

 their natural food, taking with perfect content to 

 another kind. Thus the Silkworm, properly feeding on 

 mulberry leaves, may be kept on lettuce; and another 

 larva, supposed to be in its natural state an eater of 

 fungi, has so prospered and multiplied in London wine- 

 cellars, while feeding on the corks, as to be the cause of 

 serious injury to the stock. In this case the change of 

 food is argued from the impossibility that eggs or larvae, 

 if imported in the corks, could survive the various ope- 

 rations which these undergo. 



And now, after this most unmethodical beginning, it 

 is necessary to turn to details which may give the reader 

 a clue to determining the tribe, group, or family to 

 which belong some of the larvae and pupae with which he 

 may meet. 



The first thing to be done is to divide the larvae and 

 pupae of Butterflies from those of Moths. 



Mr. Stainton, in his " Manual of Butterflies and 

 Moths," says : " The Caterpillars of Butterflies may in 

 most instances be distinguished (i.e., from those of 

 Moths) at first sight ; for, excepting the Caterpillars of 

 the first family, all the others are of peculiar forms, 

 either spiny or with two projecting horns at the head, 

 one on each side, or with two short tails, or fat and 

 short, like a Wood-Louse, or with the head much larger 

 than the segments behind." 



