38 GREGARIOUS SAW-FLIES 



The same is noted among micro-lepidop- 

 tera : the web of the small ermine moth 

 festoons, locally, every hedge and bush. 



Larvae of some of the Saw-Fhes are strictly 

 gregarious, and may be commonly seen 

 encircling the leaves of poplar, sallow and 

 other trees ; clinging to the outer edge of the 

 leaf they form a kind of fringe. As regards 

 the collector of lepidoptera these creatures are 

 livorthless, and it may be a " tip " to the young 

 entomologist to know that they can at once 

 be identified by a dark spot on either side of 

 the head which looks like an eye, but is not ; 

 and also from the fact that these larvae have 

 no " claspers," but use their tails, which are 

 more or less prehensile. 



I particularly mention these species because 

 they have a curious habit when approached of 

 curHng up their tails simultaneously, a pro- 

 tective precaution, and one calculated to 

 startle a too inquisitive bird ; but the point 

 to note is the uniformity of the action. 



Although the lepidopterist has no use for 

 saw-fiies, nevertheless they represent a very 

 interesting class which a specialist might do 

 well to study, as there is still much to be 

 learned concerning them. The preliminary 

 stages and general appearance of these insects 

 is very similar to those of lepidoptera, and yet 



