New York AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 371 
rate would consume 400 leaves per day. While no very 
extensive data bearing on this point were obtained from the cater- 
pillars kept im the insectary, it was observed that in one instance 
a single caterpillar, nearly full grown, devoured one large sized 
peach leaf during the day, and several instances were noted where 
an entire apple leaf, not exceeding 2 inches in length, was con- 
sumed during the forenoon. 
During favorable weather the caterpillars feed at quite regular 
intervals. Their favorite time is during the middle of the day. 
When not feeding they stay in or upon the nest and also retreat 
to it during cold or stormy weather. In going to and from the 
nest the caterpillars follow the same path, usually preferring the 
upper side of the limb and always spinning a thread of silk as they 
pass along. Thus the branches in the vicinity of the nest over 
which the caterpillars have frequently passed become covered with 
silk on the upper surface. 
Plate XXXII is from a photograph of a nest full of caterpillars 
with some on the outside. The photograph was taken about 4 
o’clock in the afternoon, just before a severe thunderstorm. Half 
an hour before this the caterpillars were scattered about the 
neighboring branches. As a rule they seem to prefer not to wan- 
der far from the nest, but as long as food is plenty will feed near 
by. They also seem to prefer to go toward the top of the tree for 
their food rather than toward lower branches. In going to and 
from the nest they follow each other closely; sometimes in single 
file or two or more together. Figure 5 is from a photograph of 
some caterpillars on a peach twig about to begin feeding on the 
leaves. 7 | 
‘The full grown caterpillars measure nearly two inches in length. 
The body is sparsely covered with long yellowish hairs. The gen- 
eral color is black. A prominent white stripe extends the entire 
length of the back. Numerous shorter irregular lines extend 
along the sides. A row of oval, pale blue spots, one upon the mid- 
dle of each segment, extends along the sides. The under side of 
