I 12 
TRANSFORMATIONS OF INSECTS. 
Several of the Bombycidce, which are common in England 
and France, are very interesting to the naturalist, but are very 
troublesome to the farmer and gardener. 
The Eggars, so called from the firm, egg-shaped cocoons 
spun by the caterpillar, are very numerous, and the Oak Eggar, 
which is so common, is named Lasiocampa querciis. Although 
so constantly seen, this species requires much more study than has 
hitherto been given to it, and one or two points especially deserve 
attention — namely, the duration of the caterpillar life, and the 
hybernation which takes place before the transformation into the 
chrysalis condition. The male moths are of a rich chocolate 
brown colour ; beyond the centre of the wings is a deep yellow 
band, which shades into chocolate at the hind margin, and there 
is a white central spot in the fore wings, and a yellowish patch 
towards their base. The female has pale yellow wings, with the 
white spot and a very light band. Mr. Stainton says that the 
colour of the female is tawny. There is thus a great distinction 
between the colours of the sexes, and, moreover, the females are 
much larger insects than the males. 
These moths appear in the month of July, and the females lay 
their eggs in August upon leaves. The eggs are hatched in a 
few days, and the caterpillars do not begin to eat like most 
others, but to all intents and purposes hybernate, if they can 
be said to do such a thing, in the month of August. As soon 
as they are out of the egg, the caterpillars begin to look out 
for a shelter, and seek cracks in the bark of trees and such 
places. Having discovered a fit place, the insect hides itself up, 
does not come forth to feed, and does not become metamorphosed 
into a chrysalis, but stops there through the auutmn, winter, and 
far into the spring. The caterpillar does not take any nourish- 
ment for nine months, but remains in a stupid and lethargic 
state until the warmth of the spring drives a little vitality into 
it. Then it feeds, and soon becomes transformed into a chry- 
salis. These fasting caterpillars are of a blackish hue, with rusty 
greyish hairs, which wave gracefully when the insects walk ; they 
feed upon the oak, the briar, and the broom, in woods, and upon 
gooseberry bushes, plum trees, lilacs, and privet, in gardens and 
orchards. They fasten their egg-shaped and dense cocoons either 
