LEPIDOPTERA : TRANSFORMATIONS. 



399 



small twigs a resemblance greatly increased by the colour 

 and warty appearance of many of these animals. These 

 species have only ten or twelve legs, including their six fore- 

 legs, and have obtained their name of loopers from the curi- 

 ous manner of their progression : seizing hold of the twig 

 with the fore-legs, they elevate the intermediate rings of the 

 body until it almost assumes the appearance of a ring, by 

 bringing the hind legs almost in contact with the fore ones, 



Caterpillar and chrysalis of the Magpie Moth. 



so as exactly to resemble the Greek omega, as represented in 

 the above figure of Abraxas grossulariata. They then leave go 



with their fore-legs, 

 and extend the body 

 in a straight line, re- 

 taining at the same 

 time, with their hind 

 legs,the hold of their 

 advanced position, 

 so as to enable them 

 again to effect the 

 same manoeuvre. 

 They are enabled to effect these m otions, as well as to retain 



