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POPLAR. 
Puss Moth. Dicranura vinula, Stainton ; Cerura vinula, Stephens. 
Puss Moth (male), and caterpillar (life size). 
During the past summer the splendid caterpillars of the Puss 
Moth have been reported from two localities (curiously enough both in 
Fife, N.B.) as causing great damage to Poplars. 
On July 30th one of these caterpillars was sent me by Mr. Joseph 
Low, forester on the Eothes Estate, Fife, as a specimen of what were 
then at work on Balsam Poplars, from some of which trees they had 
entirely stripped the leaves. The trees had been planted in the 
previous sprin'g, and were from four to five feet high. 
On August 18th specimens of this species were forwarded to me 
from Strathairly, Largo, Fife, by Major-General David Briggs, with 
the information that they had been found on young Poplar trees, the 
leaves of which they rapidly devoured. 
The caterpillar, when full-grown, is of the size and shape figured 
above, and may be easily recognised by the position it is fond of 
assuming, with the fore part raised, as if going to fight, and the head 
drawn squarely back into the next segment, and likewise by the tail 
of the caterpillar ending in two rough horn-like prolongations, from 
each of of which the caterpillar, when vexed or alarmed, has the 
power of protruding a long streamer, like a morsel of beautiful rose- 
coloured silken thread. 
F 
