a Sackbearing Bomhyx. 3 



somewhat flattened on its lower side. It consisted externally of two 

 oblong oval pieces of a leaf, fastened together in the neatest manner 

 by their edges, but the seams made a little ridge on each side of 

 the case; this had become dry and faded, and was lined within 

 with a thick and tough layer of brownish silk, in which there was 

 left at each end a circular opening, just big enough for the larva 

 to pass through. The larva was cylindrical, of a light reddish 

 brown colour, with a paler line along the back ; it was rough, 

 with little elevated points; its head and the top of the first ring 

 were black, hard and rough also. The head was provided with 

 a pair of jointed feelers, which the insect extended and drew in at 

 pleasure, and which, when they were out, were kept in continual 

 motion. On each side of the middle of the head there was a 

 black and flexible organ, like an antenna, very slender where it 

 joined the head, and broader towards the end, like the handle of 

 a spoon. The first three pairs of legs were equal in length, and 

 armed with stout horny claws. The other legs, if such they 

 could be called, were ten in number, and so short that only the 

 oval soles of the feet were visible, and these were surrounded by 

 numerous minute hooks. The anal extremity of the body was as 

 blunt as if it had been cut off" with a knife ; it sloped a little 

 backwards, and consisted of a circular horny plate, of a dark 

 gray colour, which, when the larva retired within its case, exactly 

 fitted and closed one of tlie holes. This larva ate the leaves of 

 the oak, and fed mostly by night; while eating it protruded half 

 its body out of its case, and in moving laid hold of the leaf with 

 its fore legs, and then shortened its body suddenly, so as to bring 

 its case after it with a jerk ; and in this way it went by jerks 

 fi'om place to place. When it had done eating it moored its case 

 to a leaf by a few silken threads fastened to one, and sometimes 

 to both ends; and before moving again, it came out and bit off 

 these threads, close to the case. It could turn round easily 

 within its case, and go out of either end as occasion required. So 

 tenaciously did it cling to the inside of its case with the little 

 hooks of its false feet, that all attempts to make it come wholly 

 out, except by a force which would have been fatal to the insect, 

 were without effect. 



Pupa of Perophora Melsheimerii. 



This kind of caterpillar prepares for transformation by fasten- 

 ing both ends of its cocoon to a branch, and then stops up each 

 of the holes in it with a little circular silken lid, exactly fitting 



B 2 



