460 
ANNUAL REPORT OF NEW-YORK 
less distinct, and along the middle of the back is a slender dusky stripe between 
the whitish ones. A transverse line of a clearer white color occupies the hind 
edge of each segment. Several small black dots symmetrically arranged and 
each one yielding a fine hair, may be perceived, whereof two above near the 
hind edge of each segment are the most conspicuous. The head is polished and 
of the yellow color of bees-wax. The neck or second segment is of the same 
color, and has above on each side of the middle a black stripe which curves 
inwards at its hind end, sometimes forming a hook, and outside of this are two 
black oblong dots, the lower one smaller. 
It appears to be the ordinary habit of these worms to remain 
upon the trees and change to pupse in the same tuft of leaves in 
which the lame have resided, the worm retiring into a plait or 
fold of a particular leaf and spinning a slight web of line silken 
threads over itself, of so thin a texture that it may be seen 
through this web. But when they are numerous, multitudes of 
the worms live openly exposed upon the leaves, and the foliage 
is so totally destroyed on many trees that It can furnish no safe 
retreats in which they can conceal themselves when they are 
ready to change to pupae. In such cases, as I infer from the 
habits of the worm when bred in cages, they secrete themselves 
under dry leaves on the surface of the ground, in crevices of the 
bark and similar situations, spinning a slight web over them¬ 
selves. As they remain in the pupa state only a short time they 
require no regular cocoon or other substantial fabric for their 
protection. 
The pupa is at first of a pale tawny yellow color with the head 
and sheaths of the wings and legs lighter yellow, 
and is about a quarter of an inch long. It gradu¬ 
ally changes to a darker color, and in about ten or twelve days 
after the worm ceases feeding and shuts itself up within its web 
the perfect insect is disclosed. In different years the moths 
which I have bred have mostly come out of their pupse state 
upon the eighth of July; and on one occasion, passing on this 
day under a large white oak tree which had been entirely 
stripped of its leaves by these insects, at every step among the 
weeds and grass a swarm of the moths would arise and flit a yard 
or two aside and alight again, this fact showing that they were 
mostly hatched at this date or earlier. The moths are of a gray 
color and three-eighths of an inch long, and rest with their long 
narrow wings folded together and laid flat uuon their backs, the 
