482 HISPA QUADRATA. 



movable case. The leaves exhibited large brown 

 patches where they had been attacked. The case of 

 this caterpillar is about half an inch long, enclosing 

 the body of the insect, and both ends are open. 

 Through the lower the animal can protrude its head 

 and fore segments, and from the upper it discharges 

 its excrement. On alarm it withdraws to its case. 

 This stands erect at right angles to the leaf with which 

 its mouth comes in contact. Its general position in 

 walking is oblique. When it is fixed upon a spot 

 to feed, it carefully forms a circular orifice in the 

 cuticle of the leaf It then attaches the mouth of 

 the case to the edges of the orifice, and feeds upon 

 the cellular matter. It soon introduces its head 

 and the fore segments of its body to the cavity be- 

 tween the two surfaces of the leaf, and then adopts 

 the habits of the ordinary leaf-mining caterpillars. 

 When it has consumed this patch, it withdraws 

 to its case, and fixes upon another spot." This in- 

 sect is generally found not in sufficient numbers to 

 do particular injury ; but, when it abounds, the only 

 method of destroying it is to pick it by hand ( West- 

 ivood). 



(6) Hispa quadrata: Fabr. H. Mavfjinata : Say. 

 H. rosea : Weber. This little insect, whose grub is 

 about one-fifth of an inch in length, deposits its 

 eggs in numbers of from one to four on the surface 

 of the leaf The larva bores through the epider- 

 mis, and feeds upon the soft pnlpy matter of the 



