224 



THE STUDY OF INSECTS. 



with branching spines (Fig. 258). The larvae when full 

 grown spin very dense cocoons of brown silk ; these are 

 egg-shaped or nearly spherical (Fig. 259), and are usually 

 spun between leaves. 



The moths are of medium or small size ; they vary 



greatly in appearance, 

 and many of them are 

 very prettily colored. 



Considerable variation 

 exists in the venation of 

 the wings in this family 

 (Figs. 260, 261). The 

 base of vein V may be 

 preserved or wanting. In 

 some species it is forked 

 within the discal cell, in 

 others not. There is also 

 considerable variation in 

 the coalescence of the 

 branches of radius, but 

 veins II I 3 and III 4 co- 

 alesce to a greater ex- 

 tent than any other 

 branches of this vein, and there is no accessory cell. 



The Skiff Caterpillar, Eulimacodes scapha (Eu-lim-a-co'des 

 sca'pha). — This remarkable larva (Fig. 257) is not uncommon 

 on oak and other forest trees. It is pale apple-green, with a 

 chestnut-brown patch on its back. The moth (Fig. 262) is 

 light cinnamon-brown, with a tan-brown triangular spot on 

 each fore wing. 



The Spiny Oak-slug, Eiiclea delphinii (Eu'cle-a del- 

 phin'i-i). — This larva (Fig. 258) is one of the most common 

 of our slug-caterpillars. It feeds on the leaves of oak, 

 pear, willow, and other trees. The moth is cinnamon- 

 brown, with a variable number of bright green spots on the 

 fore wings (Fig. 263). 



VIII 

 Fig. 260. — Wings of Adoneta spinuloides. 



