152 Twenty-sixth Report on the State Museum. 



at pleasure in two long slender tail-like projections, annulated with 

 red and green, and at their greatest extension disclosing a white ring. 



Some young larvae, collected August 22d on willow, apparently 

 prior to their first molting, were found quite delicate to rear. 

 Although furnished with fresh leaves twice a day, only one was 

 matured by inclosing in its box the end of a twig of a growing plant. 

 The larva is of slow growtli, requiring about six weeks for it to 

 mature. 



The larva makes a flattened cocoon, three-fourths of an inch long, 

 and quite firm in its texture, from the quantity of sawdust-like bits 

 which it gnaws from the wood upon which its cocoon is placed and 

 weaves together with its thread, excavating the wood, in some instan- 

 ces, to the depth of a tenth of an inch. • Composed almost wholly of 

 the gnawed material, and but slightly elevated above the surface, it is 

 very liable to escape observation. 



When engaged in the construction of its cocoon, the larva is very 

 active, moving its head with remarkable rapidity. A cocoon was 

 made August 22d, and two others September 1st. 



Within a warmed room the imago has emerged April 1st and 

 April 7th. 



Telea Polyphemus {Linn.), 



A female which mated June 18th-19th, deposited three hundred 

 and fifteen eggs on the 19th. Of these, two hundred and seventy- 

 eight produced their larvse June 29th; fifteen died in the act of 

 emerging from the shell ; seventeen containing larvae died within the 

 shell, not fully developed, and five were probably unfertilized. 



The eggs are round as seen from above, quite flattened on the 

 upper and lower surfaces, white, with an intermediate brown band .04 

 in. broad, on which at two opposite sides is a small elongated white 

 spot, and sometimes, between the two, an obscure whitish line. 



From another bred example of the moth, two hundred and thirty- 

 three eggs were deposited, and twelve additional were found within 

 the abdomen, making two hundred and forty-five in all. The moth 

 was somewhat dwarfed from its artificial feeding. 



Actias Luna {Linn.). 



As an illustration of the occasional extraordinary abundance, for a 

 single season, of some of our usually rare insects, the following state- 

 ment, made to me by Mr. Otto Meske, is worthy of record : 



