236 



8 10. PHAL^NA. Spec. 1571. 



Remarks. This is the most extensive genus 

 among insects. The larva are mostly hairy, and 

 in many other particulars resemble those of the 

 butterfly. They generally occupy a silky bag, 

 when in the crysalis state, which they previously 

 prepare from a tenaceous fluid contained in two 

 pouches, placed along the back, beneath the stom- 

 ach. This fluid they spin into very fine threads, 

 by means of a tube placed behind the mouth. 

 These constructions are remarkable in some in- 

 stances, for their apparent artificial formation, and 

 in some, (as the silk worm,) for their great utility. 

 See Gore's Blumenbach, p. 207. The larva of 

 this genus prey voraciously on the leaves of plants, 

 and are thus more injurious to fruit trees, than any 

 other genus* All the species fly in the evening 

 or night only. 



The following are the divisions into which the 

 species of this genus are distributed. Some altera- 

 tions of the Linean divisions are here adopted 

 from the improvements of Gmelin, Fabricius, &c. 



1. Div. BOMBYX, antennae filiform ; feelers two, 

 compressed, reflected ; tongue short, membrana- 

 ceous, obtuse, bifid; larva 16- footed, often hairy; 

 chrysalis pointed at the tip. Wings either, 1. ex- 

 panded ; 2. reversed ; 3. deflected ; 4. incumbent ;. 

 OT 5. convolute. A distinct genus, Bombyx, is 

 made of this section. It includes about 280 spe- 

 cies. 



See MS. P. 



2. Div. GEOMETRA, antennae filiform ; feelers 

 cylindrical ; tongue projected, inembranaceous, 

 setaceous, bifid ; larva 8 to 10-footed, 6 of which 



