16 



appeal to the imagination. When the hind part is thus turned 

 forward ils ventral surface of course becomes the dorsal sur ace of 

 the abdomen of the supposed spider, and it is appropriately 

 coloured and has an appearance of plumpness which greatly adds 

 to the resemblance. When the larva is much irritated it gently 

 moves this hinder part from side to side, and with it the antennse- 

 like appendages. Tiiis movement also adds to the general effect — . 

 (Colours of Animals, p. 279-80.) 



Another remarkable caterpillar is that of Bombyx reyalis, one of 

 the largest of the nocturnal lepidoptera of America. When fall 

 grown it is about five and a half inches in length. Each segment 

 is armed with a few black setose spines. On the three segments 

 immediately behind the head the spines are of very great length, 

 curved and granular. When it raises its head and draws the 

 anterior segments together it has a very formidable appearance, 

 shaking its head from side to side as if preparing for an attack. 

 By the natives of Virginia it was called the Hickory Horned Devil, 

 and they were so afraid of it that they would not handle it, fearing 

 it as much as a rattlesnake. Other kinds of protection, such as 

 long hair and tussock-liko protuberances, we must cursorily 

 mention. Familiar instances of these occur in those of the Garden 

 Tiger [A. Gaja) and the Pale Tussock [Dasychira mulibunda) better 

 known as the Hop-Dog. On being attacked they roll themselves 

 up in a ball, and, on handling them, hairs come out. On the larva 

 of the brown and gold tail moths being touched by the hand, 

 a stinging sensation is felt, lasting in some cases for a few days. 

 This, no doubt, would be very unpleasant to lizards and other 

 insect-eating vertebrates. The caterpillar of one species of moth 

 [Cataclysta lemnalis) passes the larva stage in and under water. The 

 eggs are laid on the leaves of Lemna minor (the small duckweed that 

 covers our ponds and ditches). On being hatched they soon spin up 

 the leaves of the plant and make themselves a dwelling place. This 

 is generally about half-an-inch in length, the leaves of which it is 

 formed overlapping each other, but in an irregular manner, and so 

 constructed that a leaf or two should hang down and mask the 

 openings at the ends; then the occupant remains quiet within. 

 This much resembles an accidental accumulation of some of the 

 duckweed, so slight is the eminence which it causes above the 

 general level of the surface. 



With the mention of the Psychidfe, or case-bearers, the larvae of 

 which cover themselves with pieces of grass and leaves, and so 

 make a movable house, into which they retreat when alarmed, we 

 must bring this portion of the subject to a close. 



We now come to the third stage of the existence of our insect, 

 viz., that of the pupal or chrysalis stage. If it was almost defence- 



