70 



The Natukalist. 



to yourselves a cat which, being destitute of cat-meat for a week, is 



suddenly presented with a rat ; there we have, in the pounce of the 



cat, I), vinula exactly. With a back shaped like a chain of mountains, 



it presents no ordinary larva-like spectacle ; and when at work 



feeding on a poplar leaf, its whole energies and appetite seem directed 



towards the entire demolition of that leaf. In other respects it is 



vastly dissimilar to a cat, as it is slow of movement, and rather 



inactive, anything like a puss' agility being conspicuously marked 



by its absence. The ova or eggs are laid indiscriminately (with 



regard to arrangement) on the leaves, trunks, or branches, of more 



commonly the poplar and willow trees ; but I once discovered a small 



batch deposited on the stem of a holly-leaf, which I succeeded in 



rearing. I exhibit an imago bred from one of the ova. They are 



readily detected by their peculiar shape and colour, viz., round on the 



top, flat base, reddish-brown colour, and somewhat large. A particle 



of coloured melted borax dropped on to a smooth surface (as glass) 



would resemble them in appearance. They may be obtained the 



latter end of May, they are prolific in July and August, and extend 



until about the 25th of September. I may here mention that there 



are two separate and distinct colours to be noticed, in this animal, 



from the ova up to the imago condition, of which I shall speak 



presently. It is well-known that at each successive change of skin 



the caterpillar is observed to devour its recent habiliment. It neither 



believes in the principle of giving away old clothes nor of vending 



them. Everything is utilised, even to the old worn-out coat, which 



it wears threadbare, then casts, then eats ; and it is always ready to 



do battle with a marauder, who, not finding sufficient " d'um' " off its 



own clothes, seeks by theft to obtain some one else's. Still, there are 



exceptions to all rules, and hence sometimes we find an entire skin 



hanging down from some prominent position like a clothes line on 



a washing day. There are comparatively few more pretty sights in 



nature than an elegant full-grown, well-developed puss larva. Many 



sights are larger, more gorgeous, but 



" Ask why God made the gem so small, 

 And why so huge the granite 'I 

 Because God meant mankind should set 

 The higher value on it. " 



However, as it is worthy of being well described, I must either resort 



to our worthy president's abilities, or give it in the elaborate and 



precise language of Mr. Newman, as follows ; — 



" The full-grown caterpillar rests with its flat head drawn into the 



second segment, and its anterior segments elevated. The body is 



