Cypress-Spurge Caterpillar. 197 



fixed serves as a model for cutting out a similar piece in the 

 other leaf. The caterpillar puts them accurately together, 

 except at one end of the oval, where an opening is left for 

 the insect to project its head through. When the caterpillar 

 is inclined to change its situation, it draws itself forward by 

 means of its scaly limbs, riveted upon the leaf. The mem- 

 braneous limbs, which are riveted against the inner sides of 

 the tents, oblige it to follow the anterior part of the body, 

 as it advances. The caterpillar, also, puts its head out of the 

 tent every time it desires to eat. 



There is found on the common chickweed (Stellaria media), 

 towards the end of July, a middle-sized smooth green cater- 

 pillar, having three brown spots bordered with white on the 

 back, and six legs and ten pro-legs, whose architecture is 

 worthy of observation. When it is about to go into chrysalis, 

 towards the beginning of August, it gnaws off, one by one, 

 a number of the leaves and smaller twigs of the chickweed, 

 and adjusts them into an oval cocoon, somewhat rough and un- 

 finished externally, but smooth, uniform, and finely tapestried 

 with white silk within. Here it undergoes its transform- 

 ation securely, and, when the period of its pupa trance has 

 expired in the following July, it makes its exit in the form 

 of a yellowish moth, with several brown spots above, and a 

 brown baud on each of its four wings below. It is also fur- 

 nished with a sort of tail. 



On the cypress-spurge (Euphorbia cyparissias), a native 

 woodland plant, but not of very common occurrence, may 

 be found, towards the end of October, a caterpillar of a 

 middle size, sparely tufted with hair, and striped with black, 

 white, red, and brown. The leaves of the plant, which are in 

 the form of short narrow blades of grass, are made choice of 

 by the caterpillar to construct its cocoon, which it does with 

 great neatness and regularity, the end of each leaf, after it 

 has been detached from the plant, being fixed to the stem, 

 and the other leaves placed parallel, as they are successively 

 added. The other ends of all these are bent inwards, so as 

 to form a uniformly rounded oblong figure, somewhat larger 

 at- one end than at the other. 



