14 



These worms, or caterpillars, grow to the length of about half 

 an inch. Though varying somewhat in hue, they are mostly of a 

 pale yellowish green color, with two blacliish lines along the top 

 of" the back, and a brownish head. Under a magnifier, a few 

 short hairs can be seen on the body, arising singly from little 

 blacii points, arranged in threes on each side of every ring ; and 

 there are usually two, more or less conspicuous, semicircular, 

 blackish spots on the top of the first ring. They have sixteen 

 feet ; the first three pairs being jointed, and ending with a point 

 or claw, the others, fleshy tubercles without proper joints. They 

 are very impatient of being touched, and on being taken into the 

 hand, move with great agility, and by jerks, both forwards and 

 backwards. When the trees are shaken, the insects spin down, 

 and hang suspended by threads. Probably most of them leave 

 the trees in the same way, when their course is finished. In some 

 places, it was observed, that they all took their departure during 

 heavy showers, towards the end of June. My official engage- 

 ments, at that time, prevented my observing their progress 

 abroad. 



All the specimens sent to me, that remained alive, together 

 with a few from my trees, were put into a wide-mouthed bottle, 

 and were supplied with leaves. About the 28th of June, some 

 of these worms began to cover themselves with a transparent 

 web, formed of a few delicate silken threads. One of them was 

 transformed to a chrysalis, within its web, on the 5th of July, and 

 became a winged moth on the 9th ; having remained in the chry- 

 salis state only four days. Others were more tardy in their tians- 

 formations; and one still remains a chrysalis. More than half 

 of the whole were unable to take this form, liaving perished in 

 the worm state, from the attacks of an internal parasite, a minute 

 grub, which, after preying on the vitals of its victim, left the 

 body and spun itself a little oval whitish cocoon or pod, from 

 which it emerged soon afterwards as a tiny four-winged ichneu- 

 mon fly. 



The chrysalis of the palmer worm is only one quarter of an 

 inch long. It is of a pale brown color, and differs from that of 



