THE GOLDEN SPOT MOTH. 165 



arranged in a row, and when they are all fixed 

 the caterpillar goes over them again, pulling them 

 alternately \vith its feet so as to shorten them, and 

 fixing the shortened portion down by new thread- 

 matter from its spinneret. Slowly, almost im- 

 perceptibly, but surely, the leaf is brought to the 

 required shape by the accumulated action of these 

 threads ; and when the cylinder is completed, 

 the caterpillar creeps into it, and there remains 

 secure. 



A much magnified example of another species 

 of the same genus is given in Plate XII. fig. 3. 

 Its name is the GOLDEN SPOT (Gracillaria 

 auroguttella). 



The very conspicuous spots on the upper wings 

 are golden yellow, and the ground hue of the 

 wings is dark shining grey. The hind-wings 

 are brownish grey, with a very long pale fringe. 

 There is another species which closely resembles 

 this insect It is called the FOUR SPOT (Gracillaria 

 quadrisignella), and has four spots on a dark grey 

 ground. But in the latter species the spots are 

 pale sulphur, and they are arranged almost per- 

 pendicularly on the margin. 



The larva of this Moth is whitish green, and 

 feeds on one or two species of St. John's-wort 

 (Hypencum). 



