BOMBYCES 



235 



FIG. 132. THE Puss MOTH. 



The Puss (Dicranura vinula) 



No written description is necessary in this case, the illustration 

 easily serving for identification. This beautiful moth flies in May 

 and June, and is common everywhere. 



The caterpillar is a very interesting creature. It is green, with 

 a hump on the fourth 

 segment, and a patch 

 of brown from the 

 fourth segment to the 

 tail. This patch is 

 very wide on the 

 eighth segment, but 

 tapers to a point on 

 the thirteenth. The 

 two horns are rather 

 long and rough, and 

 from each of them a 

 very slender pink fila- 

 ment is protruded when the caterpillar is irritated. 



It constructs a cocoon very similar to that of Bifida, though of 

 course larger, on the bark of the tree on which it fed, generally 

 three or four feet from the ground. It feeds on sallows, willows, 

 and poplars, and may be found during July and August. 



Family NOTODONTID^ 

 The Coxcomb Prominent (Lophopteryx cameling 



The family Notodontidce contains several moths of somewhat 

 varied appearance, but foremost among them are the ' Prominents,' 

 distinguished by a conspicuous pro- 

 jection on the inner margin of the 

 fore wings. 



Our example of this group is the 

 Coxcomb Prominent. 



Its fore wings are brown, with 

 darker markings arranged as shown 

 in the illustration; and the hind 

 margins are scalloped. The hind 

 wings are much paler, with a dark brown patch in the anal angle. 



The caterpillar is green, with a yellowish line on each side. 

 The spiracles are black, and there are two small humps on the 



FIG. 133. THE COXCOMB 

 PROMINENT. 



