e 
392 NATURAL HISTORY CALENDAR. 
species. Warned by the cool and frosty nights, multitudes of cater- 
pillars prepare to spin their dense silken cocoons, which guard them 
against frost and cold. Such are the “Spinners,” as the Germans call 
them, the Silk-moths, of which the American Silk-worm is a fair ex- 
ample. The last of September it spins its dense cocoon, in which it 
hybernates in the chrysalis state. 
The larve of those moths, such as the Sphinges, or Hawk-moths, 
which spin no cocoon, descend deep into the earth, where they lay in 
rude earthen cocoons. 
The wild bees may now be found frequenting flowers in consider- 
able numbers. Both sexes of the Humble-bee, the Leaf-cutter Bee, 
and other smaller genera abound during the warm days. 
ention during an unusu ally warm and pleasant day in this 
nearly all ants, and, perhaps, to belong to a single species. Looking 
about on the ground, an unusual activity will be jasia in the ant- 
This is the swarming of the ants. The autumnal heod of 
females has appeared, and this is their marriage day. 
The history of a formicarium, or ant’s nest, is as follows: The 
workers, only, hybernate, and are found early in spring, taking care of 
the eggs and larve produced by the autumnal brood of females. In 
the course of the summer these eggs and larve arrive at maturity, ani 
swarm on a hot sultry day, usually early in September. The females, 
after their marriage flight, for the small diminutive males seek their 
company at this time, descend and enter the ground to lay their eggs. 
for new colonies, or, as Westwood states, they are often seized by the 
workers and retained in the old colonies. Having no more inclination, 
to fly, they pluck off their wings and may be seen running about wing- 
less. 
autumnal brood of Plant-lice now occur in great numbers on 
rious plants. The last brood, however, does not consist exclu- 
individuals 
ound that many were in reality of the ordinary gemmipa- 
rous form, such as those composing the early summer broods. 
The White Pine Plant-lice, Lachnus strobi, may be seen laying their 
long string of black oval eggs on the aes of the pine. They are 
Mich drops upon the leaves leaves beneath. — A. S. P. 
