December 13, 1877. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



459 



nestis potatoria), is also leathery but yellow. The gaily adorned 

 caterpillar is well clothed with hairs, which cover even the feet, 

 and by which the creature bids defiance to our changefnl 

 winter, feeding on grasses at intervals from September till 

 May, but is not in any degree prejudicial to fields or lawns, pre- 

 ferring as it does the growth along hedgerows. An exceptional 

 circumstance in caterpillar history is the partiality shown by 

 the caterpillar of 0. potatoria for the drops of morning dew, 

 which it will sip with pleasure, though most caterpillars evi- 

 dently entertain quite different opinions about moisture. Damp 

 weather, indeed, appears to be the cause of one of the most 

 fatal ailments prevalent amongst caterpillars, nor do the hairy 

 species, as a rule, escape its influence. In several of these 

 species the moths have been called " Eggere," from the egg- 

 like form of the cocoons ; and in one species, the Eriogaster 

 lanestris, notable for its gregarious caterpillars, the chrysalis 

 condition has been observed to last two, three, or even five 

 years. Only a single moth in the family (Bombyx neustria), 

 is to be reckoned among injurious species, and the favourite 

 food of the caterpillar is Hawthorn, though it is occasionally 

 to be seen on Elms, and on Apple trees in orchards. Feeding 

 when young in companies, these caterpillars scatter about after 

 the last change of Ekin, and the blue head showing two dark 

 spots with the striped body render it easily recognisable. 

 Rennie has remarked on the circumstance, that a party of 

 them if startled by a noise all jerk their heads in the same 

 direction, an indication that their hearing is good. There are 

 three if not four suppositions as to the meaning of the name 

 "Lackey" applied to this species. 



The family of the Cuspidates, also called Peeudo-Bombyces, 

 I take next, though it is sometimes placed after the Geometers, 

 that extensive and well-known family of moderate-sized moths 

 with slim bodies. In appearance the moths of the Cuspidates 

 closely resemble the Bombycida?. Though some of them can fly 

 with tolerable swiftness, their figures do not BUggest rapidity 

 of motion generally ; the singular species denominated " Hook- 

 tips," have, however, slim bodies, and prefer taking excursions 

 by day. The caterpillars may be subdivided into two groups — 

 those that are more or less humped or otherwise eccentric in 

 form, often with, in addition, one or two points at the ex- 

 tremity of the body, of which the Puss (Dicranura vinula), is 

 a handsome example ; and those of the ordinary cylindrical 

 type, less in number, like that of theFigure-of-8 (Diloba caaruleo- 

 cephale), whoBe bluish-green cranium has given rise to its very 

 resonant Latin specific name ; and, dismissing it in a word, 

 we may note that the caterpillar is one of the host that feed 

 on the Hawthorn, being more conspicuous by the black warts 

 even than by the head, but not abundant enough to be harm- 

 ful. The small compact cocoon is curiously made-up of gnaw- 

 ings from the bark of the twigs mingled with bits of leaves 

 and Bilk. Another caterpillar of the customary shape is that 

 which ultimately produces the Buff Tip (Pygaerabucephala), an 

 ubiquitous species, which makes itself thoroughly at home in 

 our London suburbs, maliciously anticipating the effects of 

 autumn upon the trees in our parks and shrubberies by bariDg 

 them of their leaves during July. It is, though, almost the 

 only species of the Cappidates that can be deemed troublesome 

 to mankind, and in its favour we may state that the cater- 

 pillars seldom touch fruit trees, but feed froely on Lime, Elm, 

 Hazel, Willow, and of course Hawthorn. The dull yellow 

 body is marked with bright orange, white, and black, and 

 when in repose, like most Cuspidates, they like to raise the last 

 pair of legs in the air. The head has certainly a " truculent " 

 aspect, and the Baff-Tip caterpillars manifest an exceptional 

 sourness of disposition, for one of them if in the least offended 

 turns its black head sharply and attempts to seize any person 

 or thing within reach. As the chrysalis is simply laid on the 

 surface of the ground without any protection it is easily found 

 by fowls, and Mr. Newman credits these with good service in 

 reducing the number of moths. Ha says, " These chrysalids 

 constitute a favourite food for poultry, and are sought for with 

 great eagerness. Dame Partlet may often be seen scratching 

 for them in my own neighbourhood under the Lindens." The 

 moth, too, conspicuous by its buff tip, may be readily captured 

 in June ere the eggs have been deposited. 



The Puss (D. vinula), already referred to, which occasionally 

 excites wonderment when it is seen as a caterpillar on the 

 Poplar or Willow, is not common enough to do damage, though 

 its menacing horns scare-off children who would otherwise re- 

 move it from its food. These horns or tentacles are really 

 harmless, but this caterpillar has a means of defence in an 

 acid liquor which it can eject at will from an aperture just 



under the head. The tenacity with which the " Puss " and ite 

 small relatives the " Kittens " cling to the leaves or twigs is 

 remarkable ; they are seldom dislodged by the highest winds in 

 exposed situations, though the caterpillars do not prefer such 

 spots. So tough is the cocoon this species constructs that it 

 will turn the edge of a knife, yet the moth manages to escape 

 from it uninjured. Strangely Ehaped, again, is the "Lobster" 

 caterpillar (Stauropus Fagi), the lengthened second and third 

 pairs of legs, the singular head, the deeply-marked segments, 

 all suggesting a creature which one would ecarcely know how 

 to class if the moth did not closely resemble in structure the 

 rest of the family. Several of tho Prominent moths have 

 eccentric caterpillars, that of the Notodonta Ziczac for example, 

 doubles itself up in a zigzag manner, which would be prejudicial 

 to its circulation had it any blood. The Willow, Sallow, and 

 Poplar are trees much resorted to by the Prominents, some of 

 which are of such rarity that collectors travel many miles in 

 search of them. These, and others in the Bombycidse also, 

 are conclusive instances against a theory lately put forth, that 

 moEt gaily- coloured caterpillars feed on poisonous plsnts. The 

 largest of the Prominents (N. trepida), occurs in Osk woods, 

 and sometimes flies into houses, attracted by the glare of lights. 

 Honey or other sweets do not, however, hold out any tempt- 

 ation to moths in this family, as the organs of the month are 

 very small, and in most species no nutriment is sought by the 

 perfect insect. In the caterpillar of the Great Prominent the 

 circumBtanee is worthy of notice that we have a display of 

 seven oblique stripes on the sides, as in many species of the 

 Hawk Moth family; but in this caterpillar the stripes slant 

 in just the opposite direction to the uniform mode amongst the 

 Hawk Moths. Each 6tripe is regularly divided by two tints, 

 half being pink and half whitish yellow. There are also various 

 additional markings on the light green ground colour, so that 

 altogether it may bear comparison with any caterpillar aB regards 

 beauty, though to some people it may Beem ludicrous to apply 

 that word to a creature which is popularly associated with 

 repulsive ideas. 



In the month of May, and again in August, on tapping 

 slightly one of the mixed hedgerows which give a charm to the 

 lanes in most of our English counties, the little moth, Cilix 

 spinula, either flies tardily out or falls like a enowflake on the 

 path. This species, also known as the Chinese Character frona 

 some peculiar silvery rays on the fore wings that have been 

 fancifully compared to Chinese letters, is the smallest of the 

 Cuspidates, and of very delicate structure. The caterpillar 

 keeps cIobo under the leaves of Whitethorn or Bramble, having 

 a head cleft on the crown, and a body curiously wrinkled and 

 studded with warts ; the anal extremity has no claspers, but 

 instead a solitary spike or filament. One group of small moths 

 have so puzzled naturalists that it has been debated whether 

 they are moths or flies. These insects, the Psychid^, are now 

 generally placed next the Cuspidates, the males having stout 

 bodies and pectinated antennae., the wings extending from hal£ 

 an inch to an inch. The females are without wings, and even 

 in the species of the genus Psyche minus antenrjse and legs, 

 therefore worse off than the caterpillar, for though that lives 

 in a case it can travel about with its domicile from place to 

 place. In or near gardens the case of P. nitidilla may be 

 observed during spring on Sallow, Hawthorn, and other low 

 shrubs, this case, however, not being formed of portions of the 

 food plant, but of evenly-chopped bits of grass connected by 

 silk. The moths come forth in June, the females sitting on 

 the outside of the cases upon which they lay their eggs. In 

 Psyche the females are, of course, unable to quit the larval 

 case at all. P. fusca, which used to be caught at Hornsey 

 Wood in the " good old times," makes a case of variegated 

 appearance as fragments of leaves and grass are crossed 

 ingeniously. — J. R. S. C. 



GLAZING "WITHOUT PUTTY. 

 In answer to " E. W. R.," respecting glazing without putty, 

 I did so glaze a vinery and afterwards a conservatory, and 

 with the latter, which haB been erected three years, I am per- 

 fectly satisfied. The builder Bpoiled the roof of the first by 

 neglecting to carry out minutely the instructions given on one 

 point which is absolutely essential to prevent drip. That- 

 being attended to in the conservatory the house turns rain like 

 a bottle. The rafters may be from 15 to 20 inches apart and 

 must be formed thus : The groove shown is to oonvey drip 

 to the face-board and eaves-trough, and the outer edge of the 

 rafter at points marked x must be clear of the glass, or drip 



