110 THE PUSS-MOTH. 



CHAPTEE VI. 



THE PUSS-MOTH— UURTOUS CATERPILLAR — A STRONG PORTRESS — 

 THE BDRNET-MOTH— OAK EGGER — HOW TO KILL INSECTS- 

 TWOFOLD LIFE — VICTIMS OF LOVE — ACDTE SENSES — THE STORY 

 OF INSECT LIFE— DRINKER MOTH — CATERPILLAR BOX — EM- 

 PEROR MOTH — TYPE OF THE MOUSE-TRAP. 



Just at the right hand of the Tiger-moth, on plate 

 B, may be seen a caterpillar of a very strange and 

 eccentric form, and marked by the number 4 a. 

 This is the larva or caterpillar of the Puss-moth, and 

 is no less beautiful in colouring than fantastic in 

 form. Its attitude, too, when it is at rest, is quite 

 as curious as its general appearance. 



While eating, it sits on the leaves and twigs much 

 as any other caterpillar ; but when it ceases to feed, 

 and reposes itself, it grasps the twig firmly with the 

 claspers with which the hinder portion of its body is 

 furnished, and raises the fore-part of its body half 

 upright. In this attitude it much resembles that of 

 the Egyptian Sphinx, and from this circumstance 

 the moth itself is called a Sphinx. An old gardener 

 was once quite put out of temper by seeing several 

 of these caterpillars for the first time, because they 

 had so consequential an air. 



