146 FIFTH REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL COMMISSION. 
specimens belonging to the two last stages, differs remarkably from that of chlori8 y 
baring almost nothing in common ; as regards the larvie alone, the two species would 
wen to be genexfenlly separated. 
The preceding description was drawn up from specimens kindly sent 
by Miss Morton. 
THE SADDLE-BACK CATERPILLAR. 
201. E/mpretia 8timulea Clemens. 
While the singular caterpillar of this moth feeds on a variety of 
. it has been found by Mr. S. L. Elliott to occur on the oak, though 
it is nowhere a particularly common insect. 
According to Clemeus, it feeds on a great variety of plants; i. e., 
fruit-trees, the rose, Iudiau corn, etc. 
The caterpillar is of strange form, being short and thick, with two 
large spiny tubercles iu front and two behind. On the back is a large 
square greeu patch like a saddle-cloth, while the saddle is represented 
by au oval purplish-brown spot. The hairs fringing the sides of the 
body sting severely. Clemens, who describes this insect (Proc. Acad. 
Nat. Sci. Phila.), says that the caterpillars " produce an exceedingly 
painful sensation when they come in contact with the back of the hand, 
or any portion of the body ou which the skin is thin." The larva' do 
not seem to seek cover, and are probably distasteful to birds ou account 
of their nettling hairs. 
Fig. 50.— Empretia stimulea : a. moth (after Hubbard): b. larva (after Riley) (all hauual size). 
"The cocoons are short, oval, almost globular, flattened against the 
branch to which they are attached, and are of the same tough, parch- 
ment-like material and brown color as in Lagoa. They are usually 
placed in concealment, often against the main trunk of the tree, at or 
near the surface of the ground. The larva before pupating cuts a cir- 
cular flap at the end, making an opening nearly equal to the entire 
diameter of the cocoon, through which the moth makes its escape by 
pushing open the door from within." (Hubbard's Orange Insects.) 
Larva. — Very short and broad, about an inch long and one-third as broad ; with 
a pair of short tubercles on two of the thoracic segments, and four short ones at the 
end of the body; a pair of very large, fleshy tubercles like horns on the first and 
eighth abdominal segments, which are longer before the last molt than after- 
wards. Body brown, but green above between the two pairs of lar«:e tubercles, in- 
closing a central purplish or reddish-brown spot, bordered with white, the latter 
edged with a black line. 
