THE FALL WEB-WOfcM. 37 



very soon after issuing, and in ordinary seasons we may safely count on 

 the bulk of the eggs being laid by the end of May. During the month 

 of June the moths become scarcer and the bulk of them have perished 

 by the middle of that mouth, while the webs of the caterpillars become 

 more and more conspicuous. The second brood of moths begins to ap- 

 pear in July, and its occurrence extends over a longer period than is 

 the case with the first or spring brood. The second brood of caterpil- 

 lars may be found from the end of July to the end of September, hatch- 

 ing most extensively, however, about the first of August. 



"In Massachusetts and other Northern States the first moths issue 

 in June and July; the caterpillars hatch from the last of June until 

 the middle of August, reach full growth and wander about seeking 

 places for transformation from the end of August to the end of Sep- 

 tember. 



"The following general remarks upon the different stages refer to 

 Washington and localities where the same conditions hold: 



The Eggs (Fig. 17, &).— " The fe- 

 male moth deposits her eggs in a 

 cluster on a leaf, sometimes upon 

 the upper and sometimes on the ^ 

 lower side, usually near the end ot l 

 a branch. Each cluster consists 01 

 a great many eggs, which are depos- 

 ited close together and in regular 



.,? ,1 c c ,i -, n, Fig. 17. —Hyphant Ha cunca : a. moth in posi- 



rows, if the surface of the leat per- tkm on leaf laying eggs, side view; i 

 mits it. In three instances those enlar?ed - 



deposited by a single female were counted. The result was 391, 427, 

 and 502, or on an average 441 eggs. But in addition to such large 

 clusters, each female will deposit eggs in smaller and less regular 

 patches, so that at least 500 eggs may be considered as the real num- 

 ber produced by a single individual. The egg, measuring 0.4 millime- 

 ters, is of a bright golden-yellow color, quite globular, and ornamented 

 by numerous regular pits, which give it under a magnifying lens the 

 appearance of a beautiful golden thimble. As the eggs approach the 

 time of hatching this color disappears and gives place to a dull leaden 

 hue. 



"The interval between the time of depositing and hatching of the 

 eggs for the first brood varies considerably, and the latter may be 

 greatly retarded by inclement weather. Usually, however, not more 

 than ten days are consumed in maturing the embryo within. The i 

 of the summer brood seldom require more than one week to hatch. 



"Without check the offspring of one female moth might in a single 

 season (assuming one-half of her progeny to be female and barring all 

 checks) number 125,000 caterpillars in early fall — enough to rain the 

 shade-trees of many a tine street. 



