6 2 PLATE XCV. 



The Caterpillar of the Ph. Neuftria are found in June, either on 

 the white-thorn, black-thorn, or briar ; fometimes on fruit trees : they 

 paft to the Chryfalis ftate in July, and the Moths appear in Auguft. 



The female depofits her eggs with fueh particular care and regu- 

 larity, that a clufter of them forms one of the moft pleafing objects for 

 microfcopical inveftigation ; they are cruftaceous, of a light grey or 

 bluifh colour, elegantly marked at the broadeft end; they are difpofed 

 with the greateftfymmetry around the fmall branches of the thorn, and 

 are fo cemented together that they cannot readily be feparated. — The 

 appearance of a clufter is represented in. our plate. 



The eggs are laid in autumn, though they are not hatched till the 

 enfuing fpring. When the young Caterpillars burft forth, they form 

 into focieties, fometimes of thirty or forty individuals, fometimes of a 

 much greater number ; they immediately commence the formation of 

 a fpacious web, and if the weather be fine in two or three days, their, 

 work is completed ; as however they encreafe in bulk, it is neceflary 

 to enlarge their dwelling, and this they manage either by adding new 

 external coverings, or encreafing and extending the windings within. 

 They feldom pais to the Pupa form in thofe nefts, but feparate in fearch 

 of a more convenient place for that purpofe when they have attained, 

 their full fize. 



The Caterpillar, when preparing for its next Mate, weaves a large 

 filky cafe ; within which it forms another fomewhat fmaller ; and thus 

 enveloped by its double cone, it changes to the Pupa form?' The 

 Pupa is black, and may be juft difcerned through the two cafes, as re-». 

 prefented in our plate. 



The figure of the perfect In'fcgb is copied from a female fpeci.men;. 

 the male is rather darker, and has the Antenna; more feathered. 



PLAT 



