3b 



Tjrown. The head case is nearly black, with a rugged surface — the anterior segments 

 almost cylindrical, with a ventral depression or cavity, ridged on each side to about the 

 beginning of the seventh segment, where the ridging terminates in a pair of dark protu- 

 berances. The posterior segments are tapering, and there is a slightly darker ventral 

 line, with a row of small tubercles on each side. 



Dr. Fitch, State Entomologist of New York, who was the first to describe and name 

 this insect, says that the duration of the chrysalis state, is only from six to eight days. 

 Mr. Riley puts it down as a week. Our own observations which have been very carefully 

 made, point to a longer period, not less than ten days, and not usually more than thirteen, 

 most commonly about twelve days. 



The elegant little moth (t ig. 42, d,) then makes its appearance. Its wings, which 

 are very finely and delicately constructed, measure, when expanded, about seven-tenths of 

 an inch. The fore wings are long and narrow, and cleft down the middle, about half way 

 towards their base • the posterior half of the wing having a notch in the outer margin. 

 Their color is yellowish brown, with a metallic lustre, with several dull whitish streaks 

 and spots. The hind wings are divided into three lobes, the lower division is complete, 

 extending to the base, the upper one only about two-thirds of the distance. The color 

 of these is yellowish brown also, with the same burnished metallic appearance, and with 

 a streak of dull white on the hinder lobe. The outer and hind margins of the wings, as 

 well as all the edges of their lobes, are beautifully bordered with a deep whitish fringe, 

 sprinkled here and there with brown. Its body is long and slender, and of the same color 

 as the wings, but a shade darker. The antennae are moderately long and thread like, 

 nearly black, but beautifully and regularly dotted with white their whole length. The 

 legs are also long, banded alternately with yellowish brown and white, and powdered with 

 metallic scales. The hinder ones are each furnished with two pairs of diverging spiaes, 

 having at their base a garter-like tuft of long brown scales. 



Under a low magnifying power, this moth is really a charming object, we have 

 scarcely seen a more beautiful one. Its graceful outlines, its delicate structure and the 

 harmonious blending of its soft shades of color, with the light reflected from its burnished, 

 coppery-like scales — all enchant the eye, and to think that such grace of form and beauty 

 of detail should spring from such a common looking hairy caterpillar, lends a further 

 interest to it. 



With regard to its manner of flight, we cannot do better than quote Dr. Fitch: — 

 " Like other species of this family, this moth is very agile, rapid, and impetuous in its 

 motion. When disturbed, bounding from side to side of the cage in which it is confined, 

 almost with the velocity of lightning, for a moment, and then resting ; clinging with its 

 four anterior feet to the top of the cage, its wings 3pread and its body hanging perpen- 

 dicularly downwards, and swinging to and fro with the wind, with its long hind legs 

 extended." 



In all probability there is only one brood of this insect during the season. Where a 

 species is double-brooded, the second brood is usually more numerous than the first, but 

 in this case, although specimens of the early brood are only too plentiful, we have failed 

 after close observation for two seasons, to see any indications of later offspring. May it 

 not be that the moth which appears from the middle to the end of June, deposits its egg 

 on the canes of the vines, near the base of the bud from which the next year's branch will 

 spring, and that there it remains quiescent during the remainder of summer, and follow- 

 ing winter, hatching into the larva in spring 1 Further investigation here is needed. 



The spinning habits of this creature, lead to its ready detection, when it may be 

 easily crushed with the hand, consequently where ordinary care is exercised, its destruc- 

 tive powers are not likely to cause serious alarm. 



This species is also widely distributed. Rev. L. Provancher says it is common in the 

 neighborhood of Quebec, and it is pretty generally scattered throughout Ontario. 



No. 6. — The Grape Oidaria (Cidaria diver silineata, Hubner). This is a pretty 

 yellow moth with brown lines, producing a geometric or looping caterpillar, which 

 consumes the foliage of the vine. In the August number, 1870, of the Canadian 

 Entomologist, we published the results of our observations on this insect during the past 

 season, which we snail here make free use of. 



