4G0 
LEl’IDOI’TliRA. 
net-work, through which the insects may be seen. A very 
few of the span-worms fasten 
themselves to the stems of 
plants, and are changed to 
chrysalids, which hang sus- 
pended, without the protection 
of any outer covering. 
In their perfected state, 
these insects are mostly slen- 
der-bodied moths, with taper- 
ing antennas, which are often 
feathered in the males. Their 
feelers are short and slender ; the tongue is short and weak ; 
the thorax is not crested ; the wings are large, thin, and 
delicate, sometimes angular, and often marked with one or 
two dark-colored oblique bands. They generally rest with 
the wings slightly inclined, and almost horizontal ; some with 
them extended, and others with the hind wings covered 
by the upper pair. A very few carry their wings like the 
Skippers. Some of the females are without wings, and are 
distinguished also by the oval and robust form of their bodies. 
These moths are most active in the night ; but some of them 
may be seen flying in thickets during the day-time. They 
are very short-lived, and die soon after their eggs are laid. 
Those kinds, whereof the females are wingless, or have 
only very short, scale-like wings, and naked antennae, while 
the males have large, entire wings, and feathered or downy 
antennae, seem to form a distinct group, which may be 
named Hybernians ( IIyherniaD/e), from the principal genus 
included therein. The caterpillars have only ten legs, six 
before and four behind ; and they undergo their transforma- 
tions in the ground. The insects called canker-worms in 
this country, are of this kind. The moths from which they 
are produced belong to the genus Aniaoptcnjx * so named 
because in some species the wings in the two sexes are very 
Fig. 220. 
* Literally unequal wing. 
