14,0 Twenty-third Report on the ^State Cabinet. 



pose of eluding observation. Ocneria salads (Linn.) employs for a 

 protection a thick covering of a wool-like substance. Dicranura ver- 

 hasci (Godt.) and D. furcula (Linn.) which place their eggs singly or 

 in two's and three's, also cover them with hairs from their body. Lozo- 

 toinia rosana (Stephens) whose eggs occur in oval clusters on trees or 

 neighboring objects, guards them with a yellowish cement. 



Of our moths, we have, unfortunately, but a very limited knowledge 

 of their early history. Of two species, their hybernating clusters are 

 familiar to us, viz., those of Orgyia leucostigma Harris, a moth which 

 has abounded in Albany during the last and several preceding years to 

 such an extent as to prove a serious nuisance, even defoliating some of 

 our shade trees; and those of Clisiocampa decijpiens Walker, the 

 imago of the common apple-tree caterpillar, allied to the European 

 G. neiistria. Both of these seem admirably protected from cold and other 

 exposure; the former — an oblong mass — by a bedding upon the 

 cocoon from which the female emerged, and a thick covering of a tough, 

 white, frothy secretion, as may be seen in numerous specimens on the 

 trunks of the trees along our streets ; the latter by a thick, compact, 

 gummy substance entirely coating the belt and binding it to the twig 

 of wild cherry or apple. We may venture to ascribe the same method 

 of oviposition and protection to Clisiocampa sylvatica Ilari-is, the eggs 

 of which have never been observed by me, nor am I able to iind any 

 record of their observation.* 



The eggs of the Catocalas also hybernate, as observed in Europe by 



* Since the above was written the egg-belt of this moth has been described and 

 figured in the American Entomologist, vol. ii, p. 261. Mr. Riley states that " with 

 each egg is secreted a brown varnish which firmly fastens it to the twig and to its 

 neighbor, and which, upon becoming dry, forms a carinated net-work of brown 

 over the pale egg-shell." In this thin covering of varnish over the eggs of this 

 species, we may note a very near approach to the naked eggs of C ncustria, to 

 which species our American moth is so closely allied in appearance, that were it 

 not for marked larval difference, we might believe the two identical. 



Mr. Riley has also communicated to me the interesting fact, that the egg-belts of 

 C. decipiens occurring in Missouri, are covered with a coating of gum mucli thinner 

 than are those which occur in New York, specimens of which were shown him. 

 In this State, the eggs are entirely hidden beneath their smooth, thick coating, while 

 in those of Missouri they are distinctly visible. A figure of one of these belts, 

 from Missouri, is given in the American Entomologist, vol. i, p. 208, where the moth 

 is referred to under its familiar synonymical name of C Americana Harris. The 

 ec-gs are represented as so entirely destitute of any coating, that it may be q.ies- 

 tionod whetlier they were not figured from the shells after the larvre had emerired 

 and consumed most of the gummy matter, as they are accustomed to do, before 

 commencing to feed upon tlie leaves. 



This variation in the covering of these egg-belts presents the interesting subject 

 of inquiry, whether it may not be the result of climatic causes, and an adaptation 

 to the degree of protection required. If it be so, we shall find the covering dimiui^ 

 ing in thickness as we follow the moth southward in its range from Maine to Georgia 



