-372 INSECTS. LEPIDOPTERA. 



and on the backs of many are eminences or warts resembling the knots or buds of a 

 small branch. They live solitarily and feed on vegetables. Some eat only the leaves 

 of certain trees, while others feed indifferently on many. They walk by approxi- 

 mating the feet of both extremities and raising the intermediate portion of their body 

 into a ring or arch. Their progression is accomplished by measured projections of 

 their anterior feet, the posterior ones being brought close up to the others at every 

 step, the body rising at same time into an arch. This mode of walking has given 

 rise to the application of the term Geometrce or measurers of land, by which the genus 

 has been characterized. These caterpillars are further remarkable for the manner in 

 which many of them attach themselves to the branches of trees, and which proves them 

 to be possessed of muscular strength in a great degree. Some fix their posterior feet 

 on a small branch with the body placed vertically, ar?d remain imnjoveable in this 

 position for hours, and others appear in attitudes which require the exertion of still 

 greater muscular power. When the leaf is touched upon which one of these cater- 

 pillars is placed, it drops of, but falls not to the ground, having always a silken thread 

 of extreme tenuity, and which it has the power of lengthening at will, by which it swings 

 itself to the ground, and ascends at pleasure. The species destitute of posterior feet 

 suspend themselves by the extremity of the body like the caterpillars of some butter- 

 flies. The Phalaena? remain for a longer or shorter time in the chrysalis form. A 

 great number become perfect insects towards the end of summer. These all perish 

 after having fulfilled their destination in the reproduction of ova for succeeding races ; 

 but those which do not undergo their metamorphosis till autumn remain during 

 winter in the pupa state, and the perfect insect appears in the following spring. 



P. betularm, Lat. Fab. Body thick ; antennae pectinated and ter- 

 minated in a simple filament ; wings white, with numerous black 

 points ; thorax with a black band. Caterpillar blackish, tuber- 

 culated, with the head cleft, and ten feet. Inhabits Europe, on 

 the birch, willow, &c. Fab. Spec. ii. 252. 



P. sambucaria, Lin. Sulphur yellow, with the antennae pectinated ; 

 two transverse obscure lines and the commencement of a third 

 between those on the upper wings ; the lower ones with a pro- 

 longation in form of a tail, and two small reddish brown spots on 

 the posterior margin. The caterpillar is long and slender, with 

 many elongated tubercles on its body, and when in repose resem- 

 bles a small piece of dried wood. It feeds on the rose and alder. 

 Inhabits Europe Fab. Spec. ii. 243. 



P. gro&sulariata, Lin. Antennae filiform, black ; body yellow, with 

 black spots ; wings white, with irregular black spots, the upper 

 ones with two transverse yellow lines. Caterpillar white, with 

 reddish yellow and black spots. Inhabits Europe, on currant 

 bushes. Very common in Sweden Shaw, vi. pi. 79- 



TRIBE VII. CRAMBITES, Lat. 



I. Wings in a flattened slope, and forming a triangle with the body. 



Gen. BOTYS, HYDROCAMPUS, (Phalcena potamogeta) ; AGLOSSA, ILITHYA, 

 (Crambus colonum.) 



II. Wings hanging almost vertically on each side of the body, and ascending poste- 

 riorly, or rolled around it ; the upper ones long, narrow, and the lower broad. 



Gen. GALLERIA, CRAMBUS, ALUCITA. 



Gen. CRAMBUS, Lat. 

 Four palpi, the lower ones large and projecting ; wings rolled 



around the body in a cylindrical form ; antennae setaceous. 



C. pineti, Lat. Wings reddish yellow, with two very white spots, 



the upper oblong, and the lower ovate Nouv. Diet. viii. 364. 



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