39 



single very fine larva. A correspondent, however, in a subsequent number (No. 15), 

 has very rationally thrown some doubts on this singular statement. 



An anonymous writer in the Magazine of Natural History (No. 6), has 

 described the developement of this insect from the pupa, and the gradual growth 

 of its wings, the insect in a quarter of an hour having attained its full size, but no 

 strength: previous to which he had observed the pulsation of the abdomen was sixty 

 in a minute, the wings did not however attain their full power for five hours, when 

 it discharged a copious evacuation. 



ERIOGASTER LANESTRIS. THE SMALL EGGER MOTH. 



Plate XXV. fig. h— o. 



Synonyms. Phalsena (Bombyx) Lanestris, Linn. Syst. Nat. ii. p. 815. Donovan Brit. Ins. vol. vi. 

 pi. 310. $ . Alain' s Ircs.pl. 19. fig. 26. a- d. Wilkes' Eng. Moths, pi. 53. 

 Eriogaster Lanestris, Germar, Stephens. 



Upper Side. The antennae are like threads. The thorax and abdomen are brown. The 

 superior wings are of a dark red brown toward the thorax, in which are placed two white spots ; 

 but the part toward the fan edges is lighter, and is separated by a white line. The inferior wings 

 are brown. 



The under side is a faint resemblance of the upper side. 



The caterpillar feeds on the black- thorn ; is full fed as at (k), when it spins itself up in a 

 cream colour case, like that at (J) ; wherein it changes to a short thick chrysalis, of a nut brown 

 colour, seen at (m) ; and the moth appears about the middle of March ; the upper side of which 

 is seen at (w), and the under at (<?). In breeding this moth from the caterpillar, the web must be 

 put in the cage with the caterpillars, otherwise they will all certainly perish. This moth has no 

 tongue. 



Expansion of the wings 1^ — 1 f inches. 



" The parental cares of nature," observes Mr. Haworth, " which are so conspi- 

 cuously manifested towards the most insignificant of her productions (if any can be 

 called such), are extended towards this poor insect in a very extraordinary and inte- 

 resting manner. Doomed to a regular appearance in the winged state at the termi- 

 nation of the cold and ungenial month of February, nature (that it may not fail and 

 become extinct) reserves a small portion of it annually, in the pupa state, until the 

 February following that of its pupation, and sometimes even until the third occur- 

 rence of that frigid month ; denying their emancipation all the intermediate time, and 

 thus effectually securing, by these unusual means, the safety and perpetuation of an 

 animal, small, it is true, but whose annual existence at that inclement season, in the 

 winged state, is probably of more consequence in the intricacy of its great Creator's 

 plans than we are at present aware of, although He constantly exposes it to the dan- 

 gerous vicissitudes of winter ; for 



" Each shell, each crawling insect, holds a rank 

 Important in the plan of him who framed 

 This scale of beings : holds a rank, which lost 

 Would break the chain, and leave behind a gap 

 Which Nature's self would rue." 



Stillingfleet. 



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