62 
NATURE STUDY. 
selected in this locality is Spiraea salicifolia, variously known as 
meadow sweet and white hardhack. Rarely a small willow is 
chosen. Entomologists in other sections mention the cater¬ 
pillars as living on oak, but I have never seen them on oak trees 
in this locality. 
The eggs are arranged in a wide band about the twig, the 
smaller end being attached to the bark. These keep, usually 
without becoming stale, till the last week of the following May, 
when black, tiny caterpillars, covered with branching spines 
emerge and ascend to the newly developing leaves. They are 
born soldiers, for, like the processionary caterpillars of Europe, 
they march in order. One courageous individual braves the 
unknown and goes ahead. He is followed by another, and 
that one perhaps by two abreast. These are succeeded by the 
whole company of warriors, going by twos or threes or a wider 
column if the branch be large enough. Passing from twig to 
twig, they eat and grow, ever and anon discarding their old 
spines for new ones when the waistband gets too tight. 
Unlike some bipeds who parade in like manner they are capa¬ 
ble of inflicting real injury upon meddlers. Together with the 
larvae of the Automeris io they can sting with their spines, in¬ 
flicting wounds that smart like the sting of nettles. So far as I 
know these two caterpillars are the only ones we have that are 
capable of causing any injury to the human flesh. 
When about half grown two rows of spines along the back 
become brown. At about the same time the little soldiers 
realize that they are eating more than formerly and that pastur¬ 
age is getting scarce, and like so many Abrahams and Lots they 
separate and seek new pastures. They are particular as to their 
diet, always selecting the food on which they began to feed. 
If they hatch on time and grow well, by the middle of July 
they are full grown and measure about two inches in length. 
Descending to the ground they burrow a short distance or per¬ 
haps only crawl under the leaves and twigs on the surface and 
change to chrysalids. 
Their sleep lasts about two months and then the moth known 
