204 



BEITISH MOTHS. 



T II E NEX T PRINCIPAL DIVISION OR TRIBE of Moths 



is called Cuspidates (in science Cuspidate) from 

 the singular form of the caterpillars, which 

 frequently end in a sharp point ; but in this, 

 as in many other instances, the name of the 

 division does not strictly apply to all of the 

 contents of the division ; thus the Hook-tips 

 terminate in a single point (figure 1), the 

 Puss-moths in two points (figure 6), and the 

 Prominents are not pointed at all (figure 13). 

 In order to be perfectly understood, I must 

 here introduce, in as few words as possible, a 

 few general remarks on the structure of cater- 

 pillars, although I am fully aware that in 

 doing so some little repetition is unavoidable. 



The caterpillars of moths and butterflies 

 invariably have the body divided into thir- 

 teen segments or rings ; the first of these is 

 the head, the second bears a pair of legs, the 

 third a pair of legs, and the fourth a pair of 

 legs, so that every caterpillar, like all other 

 insects, has six legs, and six only ; these are 

 hard, homy and pointed at the tip, and are 

 constantly used by the caterpillar for hold- 

 ing its food firmly ; while it is eating the 

 edge of the leaf is brought to the mouth, and 

 is devoured by a series of mouthfuls, the first 

 taken as far as it can reach (as represented in 

 figure 10), the next a little nearer, and the 

 next still nearer, until at last the head is 

 brought quite up to the legs (as represented 

 in figure 4), and the leaf shows by a semi- 

 circular notch how much is gone. No sooner 

 has the mouth been brought up to the legs 

 than it is stretched out again, and the same 

 operation is repeated. The legs are also used 

 in walking, but the principal use seems to be 

 holdingthe food steadily while it is being eaten. 

 In what are considered very scientific entomo- 

 logical writings, the legs are often called pro- 

 legs or fore-legs ; this term, however, could 

 only be strictly applied to the first pair, and 

 is moreover objectionable, because it has been 

 transferred by Messrs. Kirby and Spence to 

 the clampers, and it creates confusion if we 

 apply the same name to two parts which are 

 decidedly different. The fifth and sixth seg- 

 ments have neither legs nor claspers ; the 

 seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth segments 



have each a pair of claspers ; these are cir- 

 cular or oval disks furnished with a fringe of 

 incurved prehensile hooks, which enable the 

 caterpillar to adhere tightly to any object on 

 which it may be resting so tightly, indeed, 

 that rain and wind in moderation cannot 

 remove it. These claspers, as I have said, 

 have also been called ^ro-legs, and as Messrs. 

 Kirby and Spence are the greatest and best 

 entomological teachers this country has ever 

 produced, the error has been repeated by 

 others up to the present day. This is one 

 of the very numerous proofs how dangerous 

 it is for those who have established a reputa- 

 tion to make the slightest mistake ; the mis- 

 take generally proves more attractive than the 

 entire mass of truthful teaching which tlu 

 same authors may have diffused. 



lu the Geometers we have seen that the 

 claspers are usually absent from the seventh, 

 eighth, and ninth segments ; in Cuspidate 

 they are present on these as well as on the 

 tenth segment, but are often absent from the 

 thirteenth, and if present are almost invariably 

 useless ; sometimes, indeed, they appear to be 

 converted into hornlike appendages, which 

 stand nearly erect (see figure 8). Many of 

 these curious caterpillars spin a sort of filmy 

 surface-web, or coating of silk, on the upper 

 side of a poplar or willow leaf, in order to 

 insure a safer holding for their claspers ; this 

 is more particularly the case when they are 

 about to undergo a change of skin ; on such 

 occasions it is not uncommon for the Puss- 

 moth or Kittens to remain perfectly motion- 

 less for two or three days. And not only at 

 such periods, but also daily, may these curious 

 caterpillars be found in such situations exposed 

 to the full light of sunshine, and scareely 

 moving or eating whilst daylight lasts. Their 

 voracity by night makes ample amends lor 

 their abstinence by day. Many of these 

 caterpillars have humps on the back, giving 

 them a very singular appearance (see figui 

 12, and 13). No Cuspidate caterpillar has 

 the power of rolling itself in a ring, and in 

 this form, of falling to the ground in order to 

 escape observation : it would seem that their 

 general resemblance in colour to the leaves on 



