480 LEPIDOPTEEA. 



enough to enable us to group the insects together under 

 family names. 



The caterpillars of some of our largest species are found 

 on the ends of the branches of various trees and bushes, in 

 nests, made of the young leaves drawn together in bunches, 

 and fastened with threads. In the middle of these nests 

 the caterpillars live, either singly, or in companies of several 

 individuals together. Nests of this kind, containing a large 

 number of caterpillars, may often be seen on oak-trees in 

 the summer. The chrysalids force their way partly out of 

 the nests by the help of the transverse rows of prickles on 

 their backs, when the moths are about to make their escape. 

 The moths resemble in form and general appearance those 

 of another species, the caterpillars of which live singly in 

 much smaller nests, on apple-trees and rose-bushes. Early 

 in May, or soon after the buds of the apple-tree begin to 

 open, these little caterpillars begin their labors. They curl 

 up and fasten together the small and tender leaves that 

 supply them both with shelter and food ; and in this way, 

 they often do considerable damage to the trees. These 

 caterpillars are sometimes of a pale green color, with the 

 head and the top of the first ring brownish ; and sometimes 

 the whole body is brownish or dull flesh-red ; they are rough 

 to the touch, with minute warts, each of which produces 

 a very short hair, invisible to the naked eye. They come 

 to their full size towards the middle of June, and then 

 measure nearly or quite half an inch in length. After 

 this, they line the inner surface of the curled leaves com- 

 posing their nests with a web of silk, and are then changed 

 to chrysalids of a dark brown color. Towards the end of 

 June, or early in July, the chrysalis pushes itself half-way 

 out of its nest, and bursts open at the upper end, so that 

 the moth may come out. The moth closely resembles the 

 Iiozotcenia* oporana of Europe, but differs from it in having 



* This word was probably an error of the press in the "Catalogue" of Mr. 

 Stephens, by whom tho genus was proposed. It has, however, been copied in 



