36 INSECTS. 



sufficiently grown to supply tiiem with food, there is no danger 

 of their perishing with hunger, for they will feed upon the sofl^ 

 glutinous suhstance which covers the eggs, and has served tc 

 shield them from the wet. Selectiiig some convenient fork ir 

 the hranches, they spin in it a web, which they enlarge as thej 

 increase in size. This web or tent is their place of abode, from 

 which they go in search of food, and to which they return when 

 their hunger is satisfied, all going out and returning together in 

 regular procession. When full grown they are about two inches 

 in length, colour deep black with a white stripe extending along 

 the back, and on each side of this stripe are numerous irregular 

 yellow lines and a row of pale blue oval spots. The Forest Tent 

 Caterpillar has a row of white spots along the back instead of a 

 stripe. "When they have attained to this size they leave their 

 tents and become scattered about, seeking secure places in which 

 to spin their cocoons, such as the crevices of fences and the loose 

 bark of old trees, or any neglected rubbish. The cocoons are 

 oval, pale yellow, loosely woven, and the meshes filled with a fine 

 powder resembling sulphur. Having wrapped himself in this 

 cocoon, the caterpillar changes to the pupa state, remaining in 

 this condition about three weeks, when the moth comes forth, 

 working its way out at one end of the cocoon. The moth is of a 

 dull, reddish buff colour, with two parallel, nearly white stripes 

 OT bands running obliquely across the fore-wings. These moths 

 are most abundant in July, live but g, few days, in which the 

 females lay their eggs upon the twigs of the trees in a broad belt, 

 usually encircling the twig, and cover them with a thick coating 

 of glutinous matter, which gives the bracelet the appearance of 

 having been varnished, and serves to protect the eggs untU the 

 young caterpillars are hatched, and then becomes their first food. 

 The Forest Tent Caterpillar does not make so large a tent 

 nor place it in the forks of the branches, but merely makes a 

 slight web on the side of the trunk or large branches. When 

 nearly grown they congregate upon the trunk of the tree or 

 some large branch when not feeding, and may then be kiUed by 

 the thousand. 



