S8 LEPIDOPTERA. 



bodies, the thorax being often crested, by the stout 

 and well developed palpi, and the simple and some- 

 times slightly pectinated antenna;. The fore wings 

 arjEL small and narrow, and the rather large hind wings 

 are, when at rest, folded under them, so that the moth 

 looks much smaller than when flying. They fly 

 swiftly at night, and are attracted by light." (i, 302). 



The most important are the Cut-worms, or Surface 

 caterpillars, which belong to the following genera; 

 Agrotis, Hadena, Mamestra, and Cclcena. (4, IX., 237; 

 3- I-. 67)- 



The habits of Cut-worms are, in general, as follows : 

 Eggs laid during mid-summer. The larvae as soon as 

 hatched feed upon the roots of grass and other plants, 

 doing but little injury during the first season. They 

 winter in the ground at the depth of three or four 

 inches. In the spring they come to the surface, and 

 are very destructive to the young and tender plants. 

 When full grown they descend three or four inches 

 into the ground, and form oval cells within which they 

 undergo their transformations. The pupa state lasts 

 about four weeks. 



Some of the exceptions to the above are as follows : 

 Many species ascend trees during the night, and de- 

 stroy the young buds ; some are two brooded ; a few 

 pass the winter in the pupa state. 



GEOMETRID/E or PHAL/ENID/E. 



" The Geometrids are easily known by their .slender, 

 finely scaled bodies and broad thin wings, which in re- 

 pose are not folded roof-like over the body, but are 

 spread horizontally and scarcely overlap each other. 

 The antenna; are usually pectinated. They are deli- 



