MURRAIN WORM. 
127 
so-called Murrain Worm, which turned out to be the caterpillar of the 
Elephant Hawk Moth. 
On the 20th of August another specimen of the same kind of 
caterpillar, which was beginning to spin itself up in a light web, was 
sent me by Mr. N. Richardson, from the Estate Office, Castle Comer, 
Co. Kilkenny, Ireland. This had been found in a neighbouring 
garden. The above figure of the caterpillar gives a very good idea of 
its strange shape, showing the thick strong appearance tapering 
rapidly to the small head from the great puffed-out segments into 
which the head can be withdrawn. The name of Chcerocainpa is fas is 
noticed by Prof. Westwood in his ‘ British Moths,’ vol. i.) derived 
from two Greek words signifying “hog” and “caterpillar,” alluding 
to the peculiar form, much like a pig’s head, of the fore part of the 
caterpillars. They are found of two colours; one with a ground 
colour of dull green, with a black-brown freckling of network and 
blotches, and a spot or blotch on the fourth and fifth segments from 
the head; the other is brown, marked with blackish network of 
freckles and variously marked with yellow, besides the eye-like or 
kidney-like patches on the fourth and fifth segments. Prof. Westwood 
mentions that the caterpillar is green at first and becomes of the 
brown, or brown varied with yellow colour, with a dark stripe down 
the back after the second moult. 
Both the specimens sent me were at the brown stage. The cater¬ 
pillar is stated to spin a cocoon of open net on the surface of the 
ground, or amongst bits of leaves or odds and ends, in which it turns 
to a brownish chrysalis marked with black. 
The moth has the body between the wings, and abdomen olive- 
coloured, the first with four pink lines, the latter with three broader 
stripes running lengthwise; the fore wings olive, with transverse 
bands of pink; the hind wings of a deeper purplish pink with base and 
fore-edge of a blackish tint. The mixture of delicate colours inter¬ 
mingled with pure white fringe to the hinder wing, and a white stripe 
on each side of the body between the fore wings, make the moth as 
beautiful as the caterpillar is repulsive in appearance. It is rather 
common, especially in the South of England, and the above short note 
is only given relatively to the evil effects sometimes, though very 
wrongly, ascribed to the ugly grub. 
