384 
LEP1D0PTERA. 
the same yellow color ; on each of the rings are about six 
minute pearl-colored warts, tinged with purple or rose-red 
and furnishing a few little hairs ; and at the extremity of the 
body are three brown spots, edged above with yellow. When 
this insect is at rest it is nearly as thick as a man’s thumb, 
its rings are hunched, and its body is shortened, not measur- 
ing, even when fully grown, above two inches in length ; 
but, in motion, it extends to the length of three inches or 
more. When about to make its cocoon, it draws together, 
with silken threads, two or three leaves of the tree, and 
within the hollow thus formed 
spins an oval and very close 
and strong cocoon (Fig. 180), 
about one inch and three quarters 
long, and immediately afterwards 
changes to a chrysalis. The co- 
coons fall from the trees in the 
autumn with the leaves in which 
they are enveloped ; and the moths make their escape from 
them in June. 
A caterpillar, closely resembling that of the Luna moth, 
may be found on oaks, and sometimes also on elm and lime 
trees, in August and September. Its sides are not striped 
with yellow, and there are no transverse yellow bands on the 
back ; the warts have a pearly lustre, more or less tinted 
with orange, rose-red, or purple, and between the two lower- 
most on the side of each ring is an oblique white line ; the 
head and the feet are brown ; and the tail is bordered by a 
brown V-shaped line. These caterpillars, in repose, cling 
to the twigs of the trees, with their backs downwards, 
contract their bodies in length, and hunch up the rings even 
more than those of the Luna moth, which, when fully grown, 
they somewhat exceed in size. They make their cocoons 
upon the trees in the same manner, with an outer covering 
of leaves, which fall off in the autumn, bearing the enclosed 
tough oval cocoons to the ground, where they remain through 
Fig. 180. 
