﻿vi HETEROCERA — NOTODONTIDAE 385 



push through in safety, and at the same time protects the head 

 from the emitted fluid. Figure 192 shows the great change that 

 occurs in the period of a few hours in the size of the head of the 

 larva, as well as in that of the spiracles : in A the old spiracles 

 are seen surrounded by the much larger new orifices, which are 

 at the moment of moulting quite visible through the skin that is 

 about to be cast off. 



The caterpillar of the Lobster-moth, Stauropus fagi, is more 

 remarkable than that of the Puss-moth, but is unfortunately 

 very rare. It has remarkably long thoracic legs, the abdomen is 

 swollen at the tip, and instead of the terminal claspers has two 

 long slender processes. The effect of these peculiarities is greatly 

 enhanced by the extraordinary attitude assumed by the cater- 

 pillar, which holds the first five segments erect, with the second 

 and third pairs of thoracic legs outstretched ; the swollen terminal 

 segment is also held erect. Hermann Miiller states * that when 

 seen from the front this caterpillar looks like a spider, and also 

 that when alarmed it moves the long legs after the fashion of 

 an Arachnid. He believes that it is thus effectually protected 

 from the attacks of Ichneumons. Birchall says 2 that the young- 

 larva, when at rest, closely resembles, in colour and outline, 

 one of the twigs of beech with unopened buds, on which it 

 frequently stations itself; and that, when feeding, its likeness 

 to a great earwig or to a Staphylinus is very striking. Others 

 say that this caterpillar resembles a dead and crumpled beech 

 leaf. 



The larva of Hybocampa milhauseri — the Dragon of old Sepp 

 — is highly remarkable. When young it has grand lateral 

 horns in front, and a dorsal row ; as it grows the lateral 

 horns disappear. Dr. Chapman says 3 that he could not under- 

 stand at first why any larva should have such remarkable angular 

 outlines, curiously conspicuous corners and humps. But he after- 

 wards found that the creature exactly resembled a curled oak 

 leaf, eaten and abandoned by a Tortrix larva. This caterpillar 

 also constructs an elaborate cocoon from which the moth escapes 

 by an operation performed by the pupa, which is provided with 

 two hard spines, called by Dr. Chapman sardine-openers. " By 

 a lateral rotatory movement of the pupa, which obtains its fulcrum 



1 P. cat. Soc. London, 1880, p. iii. 2 Ent. Monthly May. xiii. 1877, p. 231. 



3 Entomologist, xxiii. 1890, p. 92. 

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