SMALL AND OAK EGGARS 



the Southern Counties, but becomes much rarer further 

 North. Blackthorn and hawthorn are the favourite 

 food-plants, and upon the branches of these the groups 

 of green eggs are laid early in the year. The eggs are 

 protected with hairs which the female moth secures 

 from the extremity of her own body, she being provided 

 with a tuft of these which is absent in the male. The 

 gregarious larvas are contained within a silky web sus- 

 pended from the food-plant, and unless coming out to 

 feed, they keep closely to the inside of their habitation. 

 The dark, almost black, larva is adorned with tufts of 

 reddish-brown hairs, and on either side there are blotches 

 of yellowish, or reddish-brown with edges of black. 

 The brown pupa is contained within a light-coloured 

 cocoon, and it sometimes happens that several years are 

 passed in the pupal state before emergence of the perfect 

 insect takes place. The male is the smaller of the two 

 sexes, and is of brownish colour with fairly conspicuous 

 veining, with a white spot on the forewings, and a trans- 

 verse band of the same upon both pairs. The female 

 may be known by her larger size, and the possession of a 

 greyish tuft of hairs on the end of the abdomen as 

 already referred to. 



Oak Eggar. — {Lasiocampa quercus.) This much larger 

 species has a wider distribution in Britain, and there is a 

 Northern form (Calunce), occurring in England and 

 Scotland, the larvse of which I have found in abundance 

 feeding on heather in Glen Douglas, Loch Lomondside. 

 L. quercus is on the wing in July and August, haunting 

 commons, heaths, hedges, the margins of woods, and 



sea coast. The larva is a handsome furry creature, and 



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