THE COLEOPHORA PALIJATELLA. 521 



segment has four black spots, and the last segment has one 

 similar spot. A figure of the caterpillar is given on Woodcut 

 LX. Fig. c. Like many of the Tinese larvae, it does not live in 

 the open air, but makes for itself a kind of case, sliaped very 

 much like a pistol. This case is very dark brown, sometimes 

 black, and stands on its end, the muzzle on the leaf and the 

 but in the air. The caterpillar only protrudes its head from the 

 case, and when alarmed it shrinks entirely within its home, and 

 draws the opening closely against the surface of the leaf. It 

 feeds mostly on the birch, and is quite common in most parts of 

 England. The generic name Coleophora is formed from two 

 Greek words, signifying Sheath-bearer, and alludes to the habit 

 of living within a portable case or sheath. 



There is, for example, the Coleophora palliatella, a Moth 

 much resembling the preceding species, but larger, its spread of 

 wings being nearly half an inch. 



This larva makes a case very much resembling a paper bag- 

 tied so as to form a sort of narrow neck and a laroe irreaular 

 bulb. I have bred many of these Moths, and have been 

 extremely interested in the structure of their movable 

 dwelling. To the unassisted eye, it looks merely like a rather 

 irregular piece of blackish membrane, but when the magnifying 

 glass is brought to bear on it, a very remarkable structure is 

 disclosed. If it be examined by means of an ordinary lens, 

 it looks as if made of a vast number of small black scallop 

 shells fastened together at their edges. 



If a portion of this case be removed, and placed under a 

 tolerably powerful microscope, the real formation of the case is 

 revealed. It is made entirely of silk, each scallop being- 

 formed separately, and joined to its neighbours. In some 

 cases the junctions have given way, and the scallops have 

 become partially separated. I have seen a knitted counter- 

 pane formed on exactly the same principle technically called the 

 'shell-pattern,' the scallops having been knitted separately, and 

 then sewn together at their edges. It is quite easy to trace the 

 dates of these little scallops, for those of oldest date are dark 

 and discoloured, while those that are last made are pure white. 



On opening this case with a pair of very fine scissors, a 

 second case is found within it, firmly attached to the outer 



