EyTOMOLOGICAL CONTRIBUTIONS. 129 



III. DESCRIPTIONS OF THE LARVil OF SOME BOMBYCIDiE. 



Parorgyia pa rail el a Gr.-Eoh. 



The larva was taken at Schoharie daring the month ot June, 1859, 

 feeding on the plum. It was tufted similar to that of Orgyla Jeucos- 

 tigma^ with mouse-colored feathered hairs ; the pencils (from memory) 

 were black. It made a thin cocoon July 5th, in which its hairs 

 were loosely woven. The moth emerged July 21st. At rest, its 

 wings slope like the roof of a house, and its front legs are extended, 

 giving it an attitude like that of Eiidryas grata. 



On the 25th of July, of the same year, a female moth of this spe- 

 cies vvas taken, which, after having been pinned, deposited a number 

 of eggs from which ten larvae were obtained. 



Tlie tufts and pencils of hairs marking the larvae were developed at 

 the second molting (date not noted). 



In preparing for their third molting, they spun on the side of the 

 box in which they were confined a thin web, somewhat larger in 

 extent than their body, upon which they took position ; their molting 

 occurred two days thereafter. They continued resting in the same 

 position for another day, when they commenced to travel slowly 

 about the box, but refused to eat of any of the tender leaves which 

 were placed in their path. 



Two or three days later (October 1st) it was noticed that they had 

 again resumed a fixed position on newly spun webs. As, without 

 feeding and growth, another molting could not be impending, there 

 was scarcely any doubt but that they were now commencing their 

 period of hybernation, in accordance with their habit at this stage of 

 their growth. This was evident a month later (November 5th) when 

 they were found still maintaining their fixed position, but showing 

 equal sensitiveness upon being touched to that manifested at the 

 commencement of their rest. They were accordingly set aside in a 

 cool room for their winter's repose. 



With their heads closely appressed to the surface on which they 

 rested, they ])resented the following features: 



Length .18 of an inch. Body densely covered with liglit Ijrown 

 or fawn-colored hairs, short and even on the back and upper portion 

 9 



