460 LEPIDOPTERA. 



net- work, through which the insects may be seen. A very 



few of the span-worms fasten 



Fig. 226. 



themselves to the stems or 

 plants, and are changed to 

 chrysalids, which hang sus- 

 pended, without the protection 

 of any outer covering. 



In their perfected state, 

 these insects are mostly slen- 

 der-bodied moths, with taper- 

 ing antennae, which are often 

 feathered in the males. Their 

 feelers are short and slender ; the tongue is short and weak ; 

 the thorax is not crested; the wings are large, thin, and 

 delicate, sometimes angular, and often marked with one or 

 two dark-colored oblique bands. They generally rest with 

 the wings slightly inclined, and almost horizontal ; some with 

 them extended, and others with the hind wings covered 

 by the upper pair. A very few carry their wings like the 

 Skippers. Some of the females are without wings, and are 

 distinguished also by the oval and robust form of their bodies* 

 These moths are most active in the night ; but some of them 

 may be seen flying in thickets during the day-time. They 

 are very short-lived, and die soon after their eggs are laid. 



Those kinds, whereof the females are wingless, or have 

 only very short, scale-like wings, and naked antenna?, while 

 the jnales have large, entire wings, and feathered or downy 

 antennas, seem to form a distinct group, which may be 

 named Hybernians (HYBERXIAD.E), from the principal genus 

 included therein. The caterpillars have only ten legs, six 

 before and four behind ; and they undergo their transforma- 

 tions in the ground. The insects called canker-worms in 

 this country, are of this kind. The moths from which they 

 are produced belong to the genus Anisopteryx* so named 

 because in some species the wings in the two sexes are very 



* Literally unequal wing. 



