THE YOUNG 



Others, such as the larvae of those pretty 

 little moths, Dasycera snlphirclla, Argyrcs- 

 thin Broclicella, Chrysoclhta ZiuncoUa, Sec, 

 feed under or within the bark of tree, posts, 

 &c. 



Many Ti/ica larvae feed in seeds ; others, 

 such as those of some of the Oicophora, 

 feed on decaying matter ; but one species, 

 besides eating almost anything that comes 

 in its way, is a regular pest to collectors, for 

 this species {(E j^sevdo-spriteUa) finds a nice 

 fat pupa a " bonne bouche." 



A great number of Tinea larvae make 

 mines in leaves of trees and grass, and some 

 remain between the two cuticles until they 

 are ready to assume the perfect state. The 

 genera UlachUta, I/ithocolletis, and Nqjti- 

 cula are exclusively leaf-miners. 



A great sourse of protection to larvae is 

 that they very frequently resemble in shape 

 and colour the plant on which they feed or 

 5 repose. Indeed, the resemblance some of the 

 \ larvae of the GeomctrcB, when at rest, bear 

 to twigs and sticks is most wonderful, and 

 might sometimes deceive the eye of any but 

 a most experienced entomologist. The 

 deception is much heightened by the larva 

 generally reposing on the part of the plant 

 or tree to which they bear most analogy in 

 colouring : for instance, we find that the 

 larvre of Thera vaHata and T. firmaria, 

 which are green with whitish lines, are 

 often found clinging to the pinnae of the firs ; 

 whilst the larvae of Ellopia fasciaria 

 (another fir feeder), which resemble bark 

 in colour, markings, and form, reposes on 

 the branches. 



Again, the larva: oi Agrot'is iwrpliyrea and 

 Anuria myrtiUi arc rather diflicult to dis- 

 tinguish among their food-plant (heath), and 

 it requires a very experienced eye to dis- 

 tinguish the larva of appropriately named 

 , insect, C. lichcnaria, from its food. 



Generally night-feeding larvx are naked 

 as they require less protection than diurnal 

 kinds, far they are not so liable to attack 



NATUEALIST. 217 



from ichnemons, since these are generally 

 day-fliers : their means of defence lie princi- 

 pally in their being of obscure colours and in 

 their burrowing habits. Then, again, as col- 

 lectors well know, they are have a knack, 

 when disturbed during the time they are 

 engaged at their repast, of suddenly curling 

 their bodies, and dropping among the grass, 

 and so eluding the box prepared for them. 

 Many others trust to their power of quick 

 locomotion for escaping from their enemies. 



The day-feeding larvae being more exposed 

 to danger from birds, ichneumons, cvm mvltis 

 aliis, require more protection than the noc- 

 turnal feeding species, hence we often find 

 that the day-loving species are clothed with 

 hair, and it is remarkable that hairy cater- 

 pillar, apparently considering their coat a 

 sufficient protection, rarely attempt to hide 

 themselves, but seem to love to bask in 

 the sunshine ; and we also find that as a 

 rule these larvae are seldom attacked, 

 either by birds or by parasites, although 

 some species, such as the "Tiger " {Cheloiiia 

 caja), the Tortoiseshell (F. TJrticcB), the 

 Cinnabar {Euchelij, Jacdbcca), &c., are par- 

 ticularly subject to the latter infliction. 

 The caterpillar of the " Fox " {Bomhyx rubl) 

 is rarely attacked by birds, though the cuc- 

 koo appears to be fond of them ; yet as soon 

 as these larvae have spun their cocoons 

 among the grass tufts, and have turned into 

 pupae, the birds (crows in particular) flock 

 to the place and very quickly root out the 

 cocoons and swallow the pupae. Sometimes 

 they do not trouble themselves to pull out 

 the cocoon, but merely take the pupaj out 

 of it. Should, however, the larva not 

 have changed, they pull it out of its cocoon, 

 but do not eat it. When disturbed, hairy 

 larvae generally drop from the food-plant 

 and curl their bodies into a ring ; thoy 

 rigidly retain that position until their confi- 

 dence is restored. Besides preserving them- 

 selves from foes, their habit of coiling their 

 bodies serves to break their fall. 



