422 MEANS OF DEFENCE OF INSECTS. 



from the tree on which it feeds, though supplied with its leaves, loses this 

 faculty, with which it is probably endowed to drive off the ichneumons that 

 infest it. 1 And, to name no more, the great tiger-moth (Euprepia Caja\ 

 when in its last or perfect state, has near its head a remarkable tuft of 

 the most brilliant carmine, from amongst the hairs of which, if the thorax be 

 touched, some minute drops of transparent water issue, doubtless for some 

 similar purpose. 2 



The next active means of defence with which Creative "Wisdom has en- 

 dowed these busy tribes, are those limbs or weapons with which they are 

 furnished. The insect lately mentioned, the puss-moth, besides the 

 syringes just described, is remarkable for its singular forked tail, entirely dis- 

 similar to the anal termination of the abdomen of most other caterpillars. 

 This tail is composed of two long cylindrical tubes movable at their base, 

 and beset with a great number of short stiff spines. When the animal 

 walks, the two branches of the tail are separated from each other, and at 

 every step are lowered so as to touch the plane of position ; hence we may 

 conclude that they assist it in this motion, and supply the place of hind 

 legs. If you touch or otherwise incommode it, from each of the above 

 branches there issues a long, cylindrical, slender, fleshy, and very flexible 

 organ of a rose colour, to which the caterpillar can give every imaginable 

 curve or inflection, causing it sometimes to assume even a spiral form. It 

 enters the tube, or issues from it, in the same manner as the horns of 

 snails or slugs. These tails form a kind of double whip, the tubes repre- 

 senting the handle, and the horns the thong or lash with which the animal 

 drives away the ichneumons and flies that attempt to settle upon it. Touch 

 any part of the body, and immediately one or both the horns will appear 

 and be extended, and the animal will, as it were, lash the spot where it 

 feels that you incommode it. De Geer, from whom this account is taken, 

 says that this caterpillar will bite very sharply. 3 Several larvae of butter- 

 flies, distinguished at their head by a semi-coronet of strong spines, figured 

 by Madame Merian, are armed with singular anal organs 4 , which may have 

 a similar use. Rosel, when he first saw the caterpillar of the puss-moth, 

 stretched out his hand with great eagerness, so he tells us, to take the 

 prize ; but when in addition to its grim attitude he beheld it dart forth these 

 menacing catapults, apprehending they might be poisonous organs, his 

 courage failed him. At length, without touching the monster, he ventured 

 to cut off the twig on which it was, and let it drop into a box ! 5 The 

 caterpillar of the gold-tail moth (Porthcsia chrysorhcea) has a remarkable 

 aperture, which it can open and shut, surrounded by a rim on the upper 

 part of each segment. This aperture includes a little cavity, from which it 

 has the power of darting forth small flocks of a cottony matter that fills it. 6 

 This manoeuvre is probably connected with our present subject, and em- 

 ployed to defend it from its enemies. It also ejects a fluid from its anus. 



There is a moth in New Holland, the larva of which annoys its foes 

 in a different way : from eight tubercles in its back it darts forth, when 

 alarmed, as many bunches of little stings, by which it inflicts very painful 

 and venomous wounds. 7 

 



i De Geer, i. 324. a Ibid. i. 208. 



3 Ibid. i. 322. * 7ns. Surinam, t. viii. xxiii. xxxiii. 



. 5 1. iv. 122. 6 Reaum. ii. 155. t. vii. f. 47. 

 7 Le win's Prodromus. 



