EXTERMINATING NOXIOUS INSECTS. 263 



docked-off squarely at each end. In each of these masses 

 there are about four hundred eggs. Hence, as every egg 

 will produce a caterpillar, as certainly as a kernel of Indian 

 corn will produce a stalk, by cutting off every cluster of 

 eggs at any time before they hatch, about four hundred 

 hungry caterpillars will be destroyed at one stroke. 



The eggs are deposited, in some localities, during the lat- 

 ter part of June. The embryo develops during the hot 

 summer weather ; and the yet unborn larva is fully formed 

 by the time winter comes on. The caterpillars hatch with 

 the first warm weather in spring generally from the mid- 

 dle to the last of March, and in April and though the 

 buds of their food-plant may not have opened at the time, 

 and though it may freeze severely afterwards, yet these lit- 

 tle creatures are wonderfully hardy, and can fast for three 

 whole weeks, if need be, and withstand any amount of in- 

 clement weather. The very moment these little larvae are 

 born, they commence spinning a web wherever they go. 

 At this time they are black, with pale hairs, and are always 

 found' either huddled together or travelling in file along 

 the silken paths which they form when in search of food. 

 In about two weeks from the time they commence feeding, 

 they go through their first moult, having first grown paler, 

 or of a light yellowish-brown, with the extremities rather 

 darker than the middle of the body, with the little warts 

 which give rise to the hairs quite distinct, and a conspicu- 

 ous dark interrupted line each side of the back. After the 

 first moult, they are characterized principally by two pale 

 yellowish subdorsal lines. After the second moult, which 

 takes place in about a week from the first, the characteris- 

 tic pale spots on the back appear, the upper pale line be- 

 comes yellow, the lower one white, and the space between 

 them bluish. Very soon they undergo a third moult, after 

 which the colors all become more distinct and fresh ; the 



