FOREST LIFE. I97 



that of the Cecropia-moth, except that the ends are 

 usually free from the branch to which the cocoon is 

 attached. 



THE ROYAL-MOTHS. 



The royal-moths constitute a family, the ClTHE- 

 RONIID^ (Cith-e-ro-ni'i-dze), which is closely allied to 

 the giant silkworms. The species are of medium or 

 large size, and some of them are among the more 

 common forest insects. The larvas are armed with 

 horns or spines, of which those on the second thorac- 

 ic segment, and sometimes also those on the third, 

 are long and curved. These caterpillars eat the 

 leaves of forest trees, and go into the ground to 

 transform, which they do without making cocoons. 

 The rings of the pupa bear little notched ridges, the 

 teeth of which, together with some strong prickles at 

 the hind end of the body, assist it in forcing its way 

 upward out of the earth. The following are the 

 more common species : — 



Fig. 161. — Larva of the imperial-moth. 



The Imperial-moth, Basilona imperialis (Bas-i-lo' na 

 im-pe-ri-a' lis). — The full-grown larva of this species 



