a6 PLATE LXXXIL 



The Pupa is marked with a brown colour at every ambulation Im- 

 mediately after the Caterpillar has patted to that Hate, but as the crea- 

 ture within becomes more perfed, that brown is gradually changed to 

 a dark, or black colour. 



I have obferved much variation in the colours of different fpecimens 

 of this fpecies; of three male Infers which I have bred this feafon, 

 one only correfponded with the annexed figure, one inclined much 

 more to a red brown, and the other to a dull purple. 



I met with the Caterpillars on the oak, and they always preferred 

 that food to any other. The Caterpillars are fmall in July, they pafs 

 to the Pupa ftate in Autumn, and the Moths are to be taken about the 

 middle of March. 



Although, as we have juft obferved, this Infect does not particularly 

 claim our regard as a rarity, it does not appear to have been defcribed 

 by Lihna'us, or even by Fabricius in his Species Infectorum ; and no 

 account of it is included in Berkenhout's Outlines, in Harris's Cata- 

 logue of Englifh Infects, or any other work we have had an opportu- 

 nity of perufing. 



In its manners, the Caterpillar is not more lingular than in its 

 form ; when young it is very active and in continual motion; but as it 

 grows larger it becomes more fluggifh in its difpofition : it will fome- 

 times affix itfelf by its hind feet to one of the extreme branches of the 

 tree on which it feeds, in the fame manner as fhewn in our plate, and 

 will remain in that pofiure feveral hours without the leaft apparent 

 figns of life. 



PLATE 



