SATURNIA CYNTHIA. 143 



hatch in from ten to fifteen days, according to the 

 temperature of the air. The caterpillars arrive at 

 their full size, which is from two and a half to three 

 inches, in the space of about one month; during 

 which time they, like the caterpillars of the common 

 silk- worm, cast their skin three or four times. They 

 are also composed often segments : across the middle 

 of each are several small, soft, conic-pointed tuber- 

 cles ; otherwise they are smooth and delicately soft. 

 The prevailing colour pale or sea green. In this 

 state they are very voracious, devouring daily many 

 times their own weight of food. (The full grown 

 caterpillar is represented on Plate XV. fig. 1.) The 

 cocoon is white or yellowish, of a very soft and 

 delicate texture ; about two inches long and three 

 in circumference, pointed at each end. Enveloped 

 in this case the animal remains dormant from ten to 

 twenty days, according to the state of the weather. 

 The perfect insect issues from one end, and in that 

 state exists from four to eight days, during which 

 period it is wholly employed in the grand work of 

 Nature, generation ; remaining perfectly contented 

 in its chamber, seldom attempting to fly away. In 

 this respect it differs exceedingly from the Bughy 

 and Jarroo moths. 



The caterpillars, like the common silk- worm, are 

 reared in a domestic state, and entirely fed on the 

 leaves of the Palma Christi plant (Recinus com- 

 munis). The filament of the cocoon is so exceed- 

 ingly delicate as to render it impracticable to wind 

 off the silk ; it is therefore spun like cotton. The 



