186 THE BUTTERFLY VIVARIUM. 



may be said to be absolutely abundant, though 

 tbose wbo have not schooled themselves to watch for 

 the occurrence of such objects during their country 

 walks may never have seen it. The two horn-like 

 appendages at the tail have been taken as the cha- 

 racter of the genus, the name of which, Gerura, is 

 founded on the Greek word *«/>«?, a horn or 

 antenna. I once reared a large brood of the larva? 

 of Centra Vinula, from eggs laid by a female 

 which I had captured in the perfect state; 

 and the appearance of the little Caterpillars when 

 first hatched, as well as in their different stages, was 

 very interesting. The markings and general 

 appearance as to colour changed several times, 

 and even in their full-grown state differed very 

 considerably ; some having the saddle-shaped mark 

 on the back beautifully tinted with white and pink, 

 while in others the same portion, as shown in 

 Plate V., was entirely of a dark olive, variegated with 

 delicate veinings of black. The Caterpillar is found 

 about August, feeding on Willow or Poplar, and 

 when full-grown burrows in dry ground or loose 

 rubbish to undergo its change to the pupa state, 

 orming a cocoon of small chips or other matters 

 glued together so compactly that it is difficult to 

 make any impression upon it with a sharp knife ; 



