150 



NATURE SKETCHES IN TEMPERATE AMERICA 



a suitable kind of place to pupate. They often cross wide, 

 open stretches of grassy ground in their restless search. The 

 caterpillars are particularly abundant on sassafras leaves, 

 and here they are often associated with a small leaf-rolling 

 tortrieid moth. The latter cannot be easily confused with 

 the troilus caterpillar, for it is small and nimble and springs out 

 of its nest onto the ground at the first attempt to open the 

 silk fastened leaves. 



The Disguises of the Ckesphontes Caterpillar 



*HE prevalence of protective 

 coloring among caterpillars 

 has been treated in a pre- 

 vious section. These forms 

 are usually defenceless. Aside 

 from their effective ^apes and protective markings they 

 seldom possess any armature. Other caterpillars are pro- 

 tected by nettling hairs and warning colors. In some 

 instances, however, such as that which is described in the 

 next chapter on the puss-moth larva, they are provided with 

 special whip-like lashes at the end of the body which render 

 them service in thwarting the attacks of enemies. Another 

 method of protection, coming under a somewhat different 

 category, is found in the Cresphontes swallow-tail butterfly 

 larvae. Though touched upon in the previous chapter, I shall 

 take up the subject in more detail here. It is the presence of 

 the fork-like scent organ in this caterpillar to which particular 

 attention is drawn, as well as the protective resemblance to 

 bird droppings. 



I once found a number of these young larvae in the woods 



