34 



The head and thorax are black, having a white spot on each side of the latter. The elytra 

 are red, having seven small round spots thereon ; one of which, on the back, is divided into two 

 parts by the suture. The legs and abdomen are black. 



The caterpillar feeds [upon Aphides] on orach, &c. and appears full fed about the end of July, 

 as represented at (p) (o) ; when it fastens itself up by the tail, as at (q) and (V), and changes into 

 an orange-coloured chrysalis : which has the faculty, when disturbed, to raise itself almost erect, 

 with the head upward, with a quick and sudden motion, as shewn by the line at (r). The beetle 

 appears in seven days. The female generally lays her eggs in regular order ; each of which 

 appears as at (p), in shape somewhat like a cask. About ten or twelve days after they are first 

 laid they change from a green to a wainscot colour ; and a black triangular mark appears toward 

 the top of each, over which is seen two spots of bright red, as in the plate ; soon after which the 

 beetle [larva ?] appears. 



Length of the body a quarter of an inch. 



COSSUS LIGNIPERDA. THE GOAT MOTH. 



Plate XXIII. 



Synonyms. PhalaBna (Bombyx) Cossus, Linn. Syst. Nat. ii. 827. Bonov. Brit. Ins. 4. pi. 114. 

 Albin's Ins. pi. 35. Wilkes' Eng. Moths, fyc. pi. 31. 

 Cossus Ligniperda, Fahricius 3 Stephens. Curtis Brit.Ent. pi. 60. Duncan Brit. Moths, 

 pi. 14. fig. 2—3. 



Upper Side. The antennae are very strong, and toothed on the under side like a saw. The 

 thorax has a broad yellow collar, like a ruff, and a strong black mark or stroke a little above 

 the scutulum. The superior wings are of an ash colour, covered all over with black undulated 

 lines, which join and interrupt each other in an irregular manner, not easily described. The 

 inferior wings are somewhat darker, but marked in a similar manner to the superior. 



The under side is like the upper, but paler. 



The caterpillar feeds on the wood within the body of the willow tree ; also on oak. In some 

 places, particularly in Cornwall, it is called the Auger Worm, from the holes it makes in the 

 timber, which appear as if bored with that instrument. It is not full fed till the third year after 

 it comes from the egg, being then about four inches and a half in length ; and, in my opinion, 

 very disagreeable to the eye, appearing like a large maggot, of a reddish buff colour on the belly 

 and sides, but on the back of a deep red brown, like raw beef. The head is black and shining ; 

 behind which, on the first joint, it hath a spot of a remarkable shape, which is also black and 

 shining. When ready for transformation it spins a strong web, within three or four inches 

 of the entrance, wherein it changes to a brown chrysalis, seen at (e). The case is composed of 

 little bits of wood, which it bites off with its forceps ; it is like saw-dust, which is interwoven 

 with the web, the inside being made delicately smooth, like white satin. At the expiration of two 

 months the moth appears. It must here be observed, that when the moth leaves the chrysalis, 

 the chrysalis appears half out of the tree, as represented at (<f) ; being armed with strong spinules 

 round every division of the tail part, it forces itself forward through the case to the entrance of 

 the hole ; and is pushed further out, before the moth can disengage itself. I have given a figure 

 of the moth sitting close- winged at (e), and as flying at (/). 



I cannot break off the history of this moth, without mentioning a chrysalis of one of them 

 which I took out of a hole of a willow tree. It was remarkably black and soft, so that I thought 

 the moth would, in a short time, make its appearance * ? after waiting two or three days in vain, 

 I broke it open, and, to my surprise, it was so full of minute ichneumons that it appeared as if 

 crammed with a fine black powder : on a moderate computation there might be twenty thousand. 



