420 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. 



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the back with every step they take ; seeming, in this way, to 

 span or measure over their course, inch by inch, as they move 

 along. The scientific name Geometra^ signifying ground- 

 measurer, was appUed in allusion to the peculiar gait of the 

 insects ; and the popular name, measure-worm, given in New 

 York to the insect under consideration, as well as span-worm 

 and inch-worm bestowed upon other species, doubtless had a 

 similar origin. 



Most Geometers have only ten legs, whereof six are horny, 

 jointed, and tapering, and are situated in pairs beneath the 

 first three rings immediately behind the head ; and four are 

 fleshy, jointless, and thick proplegs or holders, placed beneath 

 the hinder extremity. Many Geometers, when at rest, are 

 enabled to support their bodies in a more or less erect position 

 by means of their four posterior legs alone : others rest, 

 stretched out at full length, in a recumbent position upon the 

 leaves or stems of plants. From an examination of some 

 dried remains of the measure-worm, I find that it had ten 

 legs, situated as above described ; but have yet to learn what 

 is the posture of the living insect when at rest. The head 

 of the measure-worm, as appears from the remains, is round- 

 ish, very slightly furrowed above, and of a pale red color. 

 Dr. Gardner describes the worm from recollection as being 

 " of a dark brown or slate color, approaching to black, occa- 

 sionally greenish," with "the head of a salmon color," and 

 the whole body, " when fully grown, from an inch to nearly 

 two inches in length." I regret not having had an opportu- 

 nity to obtain living specimens, from which to make up a 

 more complete description of the measure-worm. 



In a set of unpublished colored drawings of insects of 

 Georgia, by Mr. John Abbot, now before me, there are figures 

 evidently intended to represent this species in its various 

 stages. The larva or worm is drawn in a half erect or an 

 oblique posture, supported by its four hindmost legs. It is 

 two inches long, of a greenish color, with a smooth cylindri- 

 cal body, and two very slight tubercles on the top of the last 

 ring. It is figured upon the American olive. I have not 

 much confidence in the authenticity of this figure, having 



