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THE WOOD LEOPAED MOTH. 



euce extends to a considerable distance, and a practised entomologist 

 will often detect the presence of a Goat-moth caterpillar simply by the 

 aid of the nostrils. 



The caterpillar passes three years in the larval stage of existence, 

 and when the time approaches for its change, it ceases to burrow and 

 scoops out a convenient cell in the tree, lining it with a fabric of mixed 



The Goat Moth {Cossus ligniperda). 



wood-scrapings and silken threads. Before it emerges from this retreat 

 it pushes itself through its burrow like a sweep ascending a chimney, 

 protrudes about half of the body, and then issues from the chrysalis 

 shell, which it leaves within the burrow. 



The Wood Leopard Moth is a very prettily-marked insect, though 

 without the least brilliancy of color. The caterpillar of this insect feeds 

 upon the interior of many trees, seeming to prefer the wood of the apple, 

 pear, and other fruit trees. It is a naked, fleshy-looking larva, of a light 

 yellow color, and having a double row of black spots upon each segment. 

 Like the goat moth, it prepares a cocoon-like cell when it is about to 

 take the pupal form, but the lining is of stronger materials, cemented 

 firmly together with a glutinous substance secreted by the insect. The 

 moth is seldom seen until July, and is tolerably plentiful in some places, 

 appearing to be decidedly local and rather intermittent in its visits. 



The family of the Bombycidse includes several insects of inestimable 

 value to mankind, the various silk-producing moths being included in 

 its ranks. The common Silk-worm is too familiar to need any notice, 

 but, as it is not generally known that upward of forty silk-producing 

 moths exist in different parts of the world, a short history will be given 

 of some of them, together with a brief description of one of the finest 

 species. All these insects secrete the silk in two large intestine-like 



