46 OAK-EGGAR. 



shading off again into chocolate at the margin. 

 A distinctly marked white " comma" is observable 

 about the centre of the fore-wings. The thorax 

 is dark chocolate, slightly tinged here and there 

 with pale ochre. The abdomen is of the same 

 pale ochre, with transverse chocolate markings at 

 the joints. 



The female is much larger than the male, and 

 the markings, though similar, are much paler. 

 There is much variety noticeable in various speci- 

 mens as to the depth of colouring in this species ; 

 the colours are peculiarly fugitive when exposed 

 to light. They are also destroyed by the fumes 

 of sulphur, as I found in my early entomologizing 

 days, when I killed some of these insects with 

 sulphur. 



The larva grows to a considerable size, and is 

 thickly covered with hairs. This peculiarity is 

 referred to in the generic name, Lasiocampa, which 

 signifies hairy caterpillars. The junctions of the 

 segments are marked by belts of velvet black? 

 which are very conspicuous as the caterpillar 

 bends its body in the act of crawling. It feeds 

 upon various plants, and is very easy to rear. 



When it is full-fed, it spins a remarkable 

 cocoon, just like a brown egg. This cocoon, 

 which is about as large as a sparrow's egg, though 



