ii.] DARK CATERPILLARS. 49 



which look like buds. Some, however, even of these 

 caterpillars, when very young, are green. Again, some 

 caterpillars are white. These either feed on and 

 burrow in wood ; such are, for instance, the species of 

 Sphecia, Trochilium, and Zeuzera; or on roots, as the 

 ghost-moth (Hepialus hiimuli). Hipparchia hyperan- 

 thus (the ringlet butterfly) also has whitish caterpillars, 

 and this may at first sight appear to contradict the rule, 

 since it feeds on grass. Its habit is, however, to keep 

 at the roots by day, and feed only at night. 



In various genera we find black caterpillars, which 

 are of course very conspicuous, and, so far as I know, 

 not distasteful to birds. In such cases, however, it will 

 be found that they are covered with hairs or spines, 

 which protect them from most birds. In these species, 

 the bold dark color may be an advantage, by rendering 

 the hair more conspicuous. As instances of caterpillars 

 which are black and hairy, I may quote, among our 

 English butterflies, Melitcea cinxia, M. artemis, M. 

 athcdia, M. selene, M. dia, M. Euphrosyne, Argynnis 

 aglaia, Vanessa polychloros, V. io, and V. antiope ; 

 while among moths, there are Arctia villica, A. caja, 

 and Heraclea dominula. I do not know any large 

 caterpillar which is black and smooth. 



Brown caterpillars, also, are frequently protected by 

 hairs or spines in the same way. As instances may be 

 mentioned Cynthia cardui, Argynnis lathonia, Erio- 

 gaster lanestris, Odonestis potatoria, Lasiocampa rubi, 

 L. trifolii, and L. roboris. Brown caterpillars, however, 

 unlike black ones, are frequently naked. These fall into 

 two principal categories : firstly, those which, like the 

 Geometridce, put themselves into peculiar and stiff 



s. E. 



