Page:Transactions of the Linnean Society of London, Volume 2 (1794).djvu/24

 4 Mr.Beckwith'j Hijiory and Defcr'iptions of fpots, and in a fuperior degree of thinnefs and tranfparency of the fkin and humours, through which the inteflines very vifibly ap- pear. This circumftance renders it extremely liable to be injured ia beating from the trees. Its food is the poplar, upon which I have repeatedly found it near town about the end of September. In the beginning of Oftober it generally prepares for its transformation by enclofing itfelf between two leaves, whofe edges it unites by a great number of pretty ftrong threads. The Chryfalis, fig. 5. is of a reddilh brown, and of the ufual form. The Phalffina, fig. 6. is produced from it about the end of May or beginning of June in the next year. Defer. Phal. NoiSlua Gemina. Spirilinguis criflata, alls fuperioribus cinereo-fufcefcentibus, fafciis duabus ftrigofis maculifque duabus niveis intermediis. Expanfio alarum, i unc. 2 lin. Bafis alarum fuperiorum cinereo-fufcefcens; intra medium fafcia lata e ftrigis quatuor nigris confefla ; in ipfo medio maculae dune niveae, interior orbicularis, exterior fubrotunda poftice biloba ; extra medium fafcia e ftriis fub tribus undu- latis; in apice marginis antici lineola obliqua nigra. Alse inferiores fufcefcentes fuperioribus pallidiores. The larva, fig. 7. has the back and belly of a pale livid colour; along the middle of the back is a row of white rhomboidal fpots, one in each fegment ; the fides are of a dark brown, the lower ex- tremity being edged with a white line. I have met with it near the roots of willow trees, concealed under the earth or tufts of grafs, on removing of which it is difcovered : it afcends thefe trees in the evening to feed upon the leaves, and returns in the morning to its place of retirement, remaining the whole of the day concealed. This conftant practice is probably to avoid the attacks of Ichneu- 4 mens