1905] NATURE STuDY—No. 29. 159 
c. NATURE STUDY No. XXIX. 
WOOLLY-BEAR CATERPILLARS. 
By ARTHUR GiBsON, Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa. 
i Teachers engaged in Nature Study are oiten at a loss to 
decide what forms of life around them will serve best to attract 
and hold the attention of their pupils. 
On account of their abundance, and the ease with which they 
can be collected, insects are every day being more and more used 
_as Nature Study object lessons. This article is presented simply 
_ to draw the attention of teachers engaged in Nature Study work 
to acertain group of insects, the Woolly-bears, three kinds of 
_which are to be found commonly almost everywhere in Canada. 
_ When specimens have been collected, the teacher should present 
_ them to the class in such a way as to arouse the interest of the 
_ pupils, and thus develop independent thought and investigation. 
_ The little that the child sees and thinks out for itself, is of far more 
educative value than the great deal that the teacher gives out in 
the course of one or even many lessons. 
‘‘Woolly-bears’’ is the popular name given to the hairy cater- 
_ pillars of the moths known as Arctians. All of these caterpillars are 
clothed with dense clusters of hairs, which as a rule are con- 
spicuously coloured. In some kinds these hairs are stiff and even, 
while in others they are slender and of varying lengths. Most 
_arctian caterpillars are general feeders, living upon the foliage of 
_almost any herbaceous plant ; but a few kinds occasionally feed 
on the leaves of shrubs and trees. The moths are fairly large and, 
on account of their beauty, are favourites with collectors. 
Tue HEDGEHOG CATERPILLAR.—In the fall of the year, or in 
early spring, everyone must 
have seen the caterpillars of 
the Isabella Tiger moth, 
Ista tsabella, S. & A. This 
~Woolly-bear which is called 
the Hedgehog Caterpillar is 
particularly noticeable in 
autumn, hurrying along 
road-side paths, sidewalks, 
railroad tracks, etc., as if 
On a most pressing errand. 
If we watch them for a little 
while, we shall soon see 
that there is a set purpose 
in their actions. Evidently 
they are not simply wander- 
ing around in search of food, 
because we see them pass by Hedgehog caterpillar, pupa in cocoon, 
and moth. 
L 
