136 



Marvels of the Universe 



wings, all bordered with red ; the 

 body and base of the fore wings are 

 vinous red, and the outer portion of 

 the wings shades into grey, marked 

 with brown lines, waved on the fore 

 wings, and straighter on the hind 

 wings ; between the white and red 

 band of the fore wings and the outer 

 margin is a large roundish black spot 

 towards the tip. and often others 

 below it. 



The moth appears to be less 

 common in the Southern United States 

 than further north. It was described 

 and figured by the earliest writers on 

 American butterflies and moths, and 

 the caterpillar was described by Abbot 

 as feeding on wild plum, and in capti- 

 vity on apple. It really feeds upon a 

 great variety of trees and shrubs, 

 though manifesting a predilection for 

 the rose famil}-, such as apple, pear 

 and plum ; it also feeds on lOac, 

 willows, maples, and the like. 



Like others of the family, this 

 moth is accustomed to cling to the 

 under surface of a branch and let its 

 wings droop down, in which position 

 it might easih' be mistaken for a 

 swaying leaf. 



The eggs of the Cecropia Moth are 

 of a chalk}- white, streaked with brown. The newh'-hatched caterpillar is nearly black, but 

 undergoes several moults, during which it becomes a beautiful pale green, shading into blue on 

 the sides, with black, red and yellow tubercles. When full grown the caterpillar measures 

 four inches in length, and is green washed with blue on the back, and ornamented with blue, 

 red and yellow firm tubercles on the body. 



As in the case of most butterflies and moths, the Cecropia Moth is liable to the attacks of various 

 parasites, several species of ichneumon flies laying their eggs on the caterpillar, when their grubs 

 feed upon the contents of its body, and finally destroy it by the time that it attains its full growth. 



But if no such untoward accident should happen, the caterpillar becomes a chrysalis, or pupa. 

 This is enclosed in a large brown or white cocoon like that of the common silkworm, with an outer 

 covering of coarser silk which is securely attached to the branch of a tree. Abbot says that this silk 

 has been carded, spun and made into stockings, and that it will wash like linen ; but as the cocoon 

 is open at the end, the silk is of less value and less easily unwound than that of the mulberrj- silk- 

 worm, and I am not aware that much use is made of the silk of the Cecropia Moth for commercial 

 purposes at present, though an allied Californian species, the Ceanothus Moth, a smaller and 

 redder species, is regularh' reared for its silk. 



There is no doubt that there are many natural products which might be put to commercial and 

 other practical purposes which have not yet been made use of : but it is possible for our zeal to carry 



Phulu (/(/] \_E. .flep, F.L.--<. 



COCOON OF GIANT SILKX^'ORM. 



The full-grown caterpillar spins a large cocoon of white or brown silk 

 which it changes to a chrysalis and spends the winter and spring. 



