578 



ARTICULATA. 



coloivd, and extend iVoin six ti) six and a half inches. The caterpillar is four or five inches long, 

 of a green color handed w ilh pale hluc, and feeding on the walnut. 



.\niong the great variety of other insects of this kind, common in our country, wc must not omit 

 to mention the dcstrnctive TkntCatkkpillar, Ciisiocampa yl mer/cana, of whicli the mothisa small 

 redilish-hrown insect, flying in at the windows, and burning its wings in the lamp, at night; it 

 rornes to maturity in June, at which time it breaks up its encampment and seeks some crevice 

 in which to make its cocoon. The eggs deposited in rays around the twigs of the trees, are 

 hatched in Ajiril or May, when the insects spin from their mouths a large tent-like or spider-like 

 wel), into which they retire at midday and at night. They are among the most destructive of 

 insects to the fruit-trees, and though the birds destroy great numbers of them, they need the 

 extirpating exertions of farmers and gardeners. The Forest Tent-Caterpillar, C. sylvatica, 

 inlwibits the oak and walnut and some other trees, and often does extensive damage. 



Among the European species one of the most remarkable is the Oak-lappet Moth, Gastropacha 

 qncrcifoVia, in which the under wings project on each side of the upper ones when the insect is 

 at rest, giving it a very singular aspect, not unlike a bunch of dead leaves, the insect itself being 

 of a browu color. It is sometimes called the Dead-Leaf Insect. Its mode of life in the larva state 



is not less curious. The larva3 live in a 

 large community within a silken nest, whicli 

 they weave for themselves ; and on leaving 

 it in search of food, they form a regular 

 procession, one taking tlie lead, followed by 

 i-\^*3>^''^^^^^^2i. "^ ^ ^ certain number; then come two abreast, 



then three, and so on, until they sometimes 

 march in ranks of ten or more. 



Tlie following precise account of the pro- 

 ceedings of these insects is very curious : 

 "If you walk through the woods toward 

 the close of a fine day in June, you will be 

 ^^\^ '^^ififftij^svi- -' able to see the curious spectacle of the evo- 



lutions made by caterpillars after sunset. 

 Look closely upon the opening at the upj^er 

 part of the nest, and you will see one cater- 

 pillar come out alone and explore the ground with care ; a second immediately follows, a third 



following the second, and after 

 these come two which touch each 

 other and the one that precedes 

 them ; these are followed by three ; 

 then comes a row of four, then a 

 row of five, then a row of six, all 

 of these following -with precision 

 the movements of the leader- 

 From this circumstance is de- 

 rived their name of Processionary 

 Caterpillars. If the guide stops a 

 moment all the followers halt ; if 

 he continues the route, they all 

 hasten after him ; if he makes a 

 circuit, they all make the circuit 

 also. Should they find a branch 

 of fresh green leaves, they imme- 

 diately prepare to feast upon it; 

 the ranks spread themselves upon 

 it, each one touching his neighbor, so that not a part of the branch escapes their depredations. 



TUE I'ROCESSIONARY CATERPILLARS. 



THE ZTGZAG. 



