aay ae ip ( ie. ay, ie} a4 fey. ; iy mm oa APE ; ; s aly i Pie ; pean etal tt LA (bene - PLATE I. PELE: COMMON MOTHS OF EINGE ANY) BY THE Rev. |. G. WOORE NuAn PbS Ss, |. dcc: ”» 6¢ AUTHOR OF ‘‘COMMON OBJECTS OF THE SEA-SHORE, > NATURAL HISTORY,” ETC. ETC. ILLUSTRATED WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY £E. SMITH, T. W. WOOD, AND We. S. COLEMAN LONDON GEORGE ROUTLEDGE AND SONS BROADWAY, LUDGATE HILL GLASGOW, MANCHESTER, AND NEW YORK rn 35. 6a. cach, with Coloured Illustrations. —— /——_ BRITISH BUTTERFLIES. By W. S. CoLEMAN. BRITISH BIRDS’ EGGS AND NESS. By the Rev. J. C. ATKINSON. COMMON BRITISH BHETLES. By the Rev J. G. Wocp. COMMON OBJECTS OF THE MICROSCOPE. By the Rev. J. G. Woop. COMMON OBJECTS OF THE SEASHORE. By the Rev. J. G. Woop. COMMON OBJECTS OF THE COUNTRY. By the Rev. J. G. Woop. - Ca the U V\ la) 9, V6 > —1 IS Fo Scn+HlKR PREFACE. Tus little work is intended merely as an intro- duction to that department of Entomology of which it treats. The Moths of England are so numerous, that the mere mention of the names and synonyms of all the species would fill the entire book. It is necessary, therefore, to make a selection of them, and this has been done so that the young Entomologist will find in the following pages a ficure and description of nearly every Moth that he is likely to find. As a rule, the commonest and most conspicuous species have been selected ; and although one or two of the rarer Moths are mentioned, it is because they are too important to be omitted. Throughout the whole of the book I have endeavoured to keep in mind the sort of instruc- tion which I needed when beginning the study of Entomology without any guide whatever, and I trust that this little work will supply to my successors the help which I so greatly needed in times now past. ADDENDUM. Tue following description was accidentally omitted, and should have been inserted immedi- ately after the account of the Clouded Magpie Moth on page 75 :— On Plate VI. fig. 3, is seen the delicate little CxroupeD Borprer Mors (Lomaspilis marginata), represented of the natural size. The upper wings of this very common Moth are white, and are edged with grey-black borders as shown in the figure. Beside the dark border, there are other dark lines and marks upon the wings ; butas scarcely two specimens are exactly alike, no detailed description can be given. The larva of this insect feeds on the willow, and is olive-green, marked with longitudinal white or yellow stripes. The Moth is seen throughout the end of spring, up to the begin- ning of autumn, THE COMMON MOTHS OF ENGLAND. CHAPTER I. NOCTURNI. As I desire to give an intelligible and popular account of the Moths which are most generally to be found in this country, I shall describe them as simply as possible, giving a short account of their appearance and habits, and shall render the whole of the scientific portion of the work as little obtrusive as possible. Some account of this dry scientific techni- eality is absolutely necessary, but it has been considerably simplified, and, when aided by the accompanying illustrations, the reader will find no great difficulty in it. Moreover, he will possess that which I earnestly desired when B a4 EYED HAWK MOTH. I first began the study of insects, namely, an easy introduction to works of a more strictly scientific character. . It will be as well to preface that the order of insects called Lepidoptera, to which the Moths belong, is distinguished by the feathery scales which cover their wings. They pass through three distinct changes of form after they quit the egg : firstly, the larva or caterpillar ; secondly, the pupa, or chrysalis, or aurelia, as it is called ; and lastly the imago, or perfect insect. All these characteristics are common both to the Moths and Butterflies, but the young naturalist will have no difficulty in distinguishing between these great divisions of the Lepidoptera, if he will remember that the Butterflies have their antenne or horns ending in a little knob, whereas the antennze of the Moths are pointed. We will now take the first insect on our list, the Eyep Hawk Mors (Smerinthus ocellatus), (Plate I. fig. 1), which is selected as the representative of its genus. The Hawk Moths owe their popu- lar name to the swiftness of their flight, in which they bear much the same place among Lepidop- tera as the hawk among birds. The average span of wings of this Moth is about three inches. ps EYED HAWK MOTH. 3 The thorax and abdomen in this as in other sphinges are covered with a thick hairy “pile” of a close velvety texture. The fore-wings are of a ruddy brown, with marking of a lighter D shade, clouded with olive. The hind-wings are of a beautiful rose tint, fading gradually towards the margin into ruddy brown, and thence into grey ; near the hinder angle of each is a dark B 2 4 EYED HAWK MOTH, patch with an eye-like marking of a pale bluish tinge, hence the name “eyed hawk.” A horse- shoe-shaped marking on the back of the thorax, of the same colour as the “eyes” above mentioned, will also prove serviceable in identifying this striking insect. The abdomen is of much the same shade of colour as the fore-wings, and is marked with transverse bars of a deeper hue. The larva or caterpillar is green, with seven pink stripes drawn diagonally on each side, and a pointed horn on the tail. This latter charac- teristic is common to all the true Hawk Moths. It may be obtained from willows, and the pupa or chrysalis can be found by digging at the roots of the tree. September is the best month for this purpose. The caterpillar is shown in fig. 1, illustration on page 3. In connection with this Moth must be men- tioned two other species of the same genus ; viz. the Porrar Hawk Mora (Smerinthus popult) and the Live Hawk Mora (Smerinthus tilie). The former of these two insects resembles in shape the Eyed Hawk Moth, but is almost entirely brown, and without the “eyes” which distinguish that insect. The caterpillar feeds on the poplar, and is without the pink hue of the lateral stripes. The latter is buff in colour, and RSs SS WS PEATH fy: Ecge, cat er al) Bh AS yeaa <8) vet | s LIME MOTH. a) marked with bright olive green. The caterpillar is smaller than that of the preceding insect, and is very rough on the surface. The lateral stripes are pale pink. It feeds on the lime, and changes into the chrysalis state about September. Lime Moth. In some parts of the country it appears to be rare, but I have found it plentiful enough in those places where I have resided. In order to show the curious position which this Moth is fond of assuming, I have selected a figure drawn from a living specimen. In this attitude it so closely resembles a partly- withered leaf, that when it is clinging to a 6 DEATH’S-HEAD MOTH. branch even the most practised eye can scarcely detect it. WE next come to that splendid insect popularly known as the Deatu’s-HEaD Mors (Acherontia atropos, Plate I. fig. 2), on account of the peculiar mark on the upper part of the thorax. The span of wings of this, the largest of our British Lepi- doptera, averages about four and a half inches. The peculiar velvety clothing of the thorax and abdomen, mentioned above as so remarkable in the sphinges, is especially noticeable in this species. The colour of the upper wings is a dark blackish brown, shaded and mottled with ochreous yellow, warming into chestnut. The lower wings are buff, marked with two blackish bars. The abdomen is of the same colour as the lower wings, but diversified with six trans- verse bars, of a deep bluish black, crossed by another that runs lengthwise along the upper surface throughout its whole length. On the thorax is the singular “ death’s-head ” from which the insect derives its name: a re- presentation, in some specimens of marvellous fidelity, of a skull plainly figured in yellowish buff on a black ground. This remarkable insect has the power, supposed to be unique among DEATH’S-HEAD MOTH. ré the Lepidoptera, of emitting a shrill creaking sound, somewhat resembling the squeak of a slate-pencil. In some parts of the country the Death’s- head Moth is scarce, while in others it is com- paratively plentiful. In Kent it is found in profusion, and I have often had several alive at the same time, they having been caught by the field-labourers and brought to me. Lach time that the Moth utters its strange, squeaking note, the whole body gives a convulsive sort of start. It can always be induced to squeak by being irritated. The reader must especially notice the short stout proboscis and the oddly-hooked antenne. As is the case with many of the larger Moths, its eyes shine in the dark like two balls of fire, the effect of which is very remarkable when the insect is confined in a room dimly lighted by a single candle. The larva of this Moth is, when full-grown, a very giant among caterpillars. Its colour is green, with diagonal pink stripes; and the horn on the tail, nstead of being hard, smooth, and sharply pointed, as is the case with the horns of the Hawk Moths already described, is yellow, com- paratively soft, and covered with little projections. 8 DEATH’S-HEAD MOTH. Fig. 1 in the accompanying illustration will enable the reader to detect the caterpillar if he sees it, but is necessarily reduced to less than half the size of a full-grown larva. It feeds on the jessamine and potato; and in places where the latter vegetable is much culti- vated, the caterpillar is mostly common. Like other caterpillars, it can be reared in captivity, BREEDING FROM PUPA. y but the task is a very troublesome one, partly on account of the quantity of food consumed by so large and voracious a creature, and partly because it is rather a delicate larva, and apt to die without any apparent cause. Should the pupa, of which a figure is also given, be found, it must be placed on earth kept slightly damp by a handful or two of wetted moss laid over it. Otherwise the pupal envelope becomes so hard and horny, that the enclosed moth is un- able to break its way out, and perishes. When I first began moth-breeding, I lost several speci- mens by allowing them to become too dry. Yet, in any case, breeding moths from the caterpillar, or finding the pupze and keeping them until the insects come out, is a plan far superior to that of catching them, inasmuch as a captured moth is seldom killed without having suffered some damage. ‘Those that are bred, on the contrary, can be watched until their wings have attained their full development, and can then be quietly slipped into a box, and killed either with the vapour of chloroform, or that of bruised laurel shoots. For my own part, I prefer the latter, as the chloroform is apt to make the wings so rigid that there is much difficulty in “ setting” the insect properly. 10 ““sTUNG’’ CATERPILLARS. Many pupe, especially of the larger moths, are also lost through the means of some ich- neumon fly, which has laid its eggs within them. It is impossible to detect a “stung” cater- pillar until it has ceased feeding, and not always easy to detect it even at that time. Often the caterpillar changes into a chrysalis without betraying any signs of the mortal injury that it has sustained ; but, when the time arrives for the appearance of the insect, the disappointed collector finds that instead of the moth the ichneumon fly occupies the box. In such a case the ichneumon should always be killed and preserved, together with the chry- salis from which it emerged, so that in process of time a valuable collection is formed of moths and the various species of ichneumon which infest them. In the illustration on page 8, the reader will see a figure of the ichneumon fly which attacks the Death’s-head Moth, fig. 3, the pupa being shown in fig. 2. WE will briefly take notice of one or two insects which ought not to be entirely passed over. One is the Priver Hawk Mors (Sphinz PRIVET MOTH. 1a! ligustri), so called because the caterpillar feeds upon the leaves of the privet. It is a very handsome insect, measuring more than. four inches across the wings, which are very stiff and sharply pointed. The upper wings Privet Moth and Larva. are mottled with various shades of brown, and the lower are pink, changing into yellow, and banded with three curved bars of deep black- brown. The abdomen is rose-pink, barred with black. The caterpillar is a large green larva, te SPOTTED HAWK MOTH. with pink lateral stripes, and the upper part brown-black, and the lower yellow. Another species, the ConvotvuLus Hawk Motu (Sphinx convolvulc), is sometimes, but rarely, found in England. Though larger than the Privet Moth, it is not nearly so handsome, the colour of the wings being almost entirely erey and brown. ‘The caterpillar feeds on the common bindweed. At fig. 2, on the cut D (page 3), is seen a rather remarkable chrysalis. This is the pupa of the Sporren Hawk Mors (Deilephila euphorbie). This Moth is a very pretty one, rather more than three inches in expanse of wing. The upper pair of wings are yellowish brown, mottled with black, and the lower of the same hues, but varied with pink. The abdomen is greyish white, with two black transverse bands, and the extremity is brown. The larva feeds on the sea-spurge (Huphorbia paralia). On Plate I. fig. 3, is shown the Smart ELe- PHANT Hawk Mors (Cherocampa poreellus), as an example of the Elephant Hawk Moths, so called from the length to which the proboscis Ca ELEPHANT HAWK MOTH. } extends. It can be distinguished from the Sphinx Hawk Moth by its shorter and more rounded wings. The wings, which are uni- form throughout, are of a pale buff, tending to orange, with three distinct transverse markings or bands of ruddy brown: one along the outer margin, extending through both upper and lower wings, one parallel with it through the middle, Elephant Hawk Moth. and the third at the base or insertion of the wing. The thorax is coloured like the wings. The abdomen is of a pale olive brown, with transverse bands of a lighter shade. The name cherocampa signifies ‘ hog-cater- pillar,” and is given to this genus because the 14 ELEPHANT HAWK MOTH. head and first two segments of the body narrow suddenly like the head and snout of a hog, The larva feeds on various species of saliwm, or bed-straw. . The Exerpnant Hawk Mots (Cherocampa Elpenor) [see page 13] is rather more plentiful than the preceding insect, and may be found by the side of ditches, the caterpillar feeding on the common willow herb. This larva is remarkable ’ for two great black spots, one on either side of the body, looking much like eyes. Our next insect is the Hummine-Birp Hawk Moru (Macroglossa stellatarum), Plate I. fig. 4. This Moth, which is tolerably common, has been very familiar to the public of late years, on account of the many letters which have ap. peared in the daily journals, much to the amuse ment of practical entomologists, who have been too familiar with the insect in question to think it worth a special notice. It derives its name from the style of its flight, which so closely resembles that of the humming- bird that persons who have resided in the West Indies, and afterwards come to live in England, have been deluded into the idea that they have seen genuine humming-birds flying about. HUMMING-BIRD HAWK MOTH. 15 The average span of the wings is rather less than two inches. The upper pair of wings are of a neutral tint, tending to brownish black. Across the centre of each run two parallel wavy black lines, about one-fourth of an inch apart, in the space between which is a small black dot. The® rest of the wings are of a cloudy pattern, pale in the middle and tending to black at the base and outer margin. The lower wings are pale yellow, shaded with blackish grey at the base, deepening into orange towards the margin, and thence to a ruddy brown. The thorax, which is well clothed with hair, is uniform in colour with the fore-wings—a brownish black; a wedge-shaped streak of the same colour runs along the upper part of the abdomen to the tail, which is strongly tufted with hairs of a similar shade. The rest of the abdomen is marked in chequers of black and white. The long spiral tongue and proboscis can be projected to a considerable distance from the head, so that the insect can feed while on the wing. Few persons, when they have once seen it, will forget the manner in which this Moth feeds. The spectator may be looking at a flower, and be close to it, when suddenly a moth appears 16 HUMMING-BIRD HAWK MOTH. in front of the blossom. How it got there he does not know, for it appears as if it had been gifted with the power of making itself visible and invisible at will. Presently, a long, thread-like proboscis is thrust into the flower, .and there the insect feeds quite at its ease, suspended in the air by the wings, which are scarcely visible from the rapidity of their motion. It is very bold, and BEE HAWK MOTH. dy as long as the spectator is quiet or moves gently it will continue to feed ; but if even a hand be moved sharply, it shoots off as rapidly as it came, and its place is vacant as if by magic. The Humming-bird Moth is fond of flying along the sunny side of walls, and, swift as is its flight, may be taken in a common butterfly- net by meeting it in its course along the wall, and giving a sharp, quick stroke of the net as the insect draws near. The larva feeds on many plants of the stellate kind, and hence derives its specific title of stellatarum. The pupa or chrysalis of this insect is shown in the pre- ceding illustration (fig. 1). There are only two other English insects be- longing to this genus. The first is the Narrow- BORDERED Bee Hawk Mors (Macroglossa bombyli- formis); see Plate I. fig. 5. According to several systematic zoologists, this Moth belongs to the genus which immediately follows; but in Mr Doubleday’s arrangement it takes the position which is here assigned to it. The average span of the wings is a little more than one inch and a half. They are almost en- tirely transparent, showing the nervures as a dark tracery. The margins only, which are of a greyish brown, have any distinct colour. The rs) 18 BROAD-BORDERED HAWK MOTH. thorax and abdomen are hairy, the former being of a dull ruddy brown, and the latter strangely coloured in two distinct segments—the upper half a lively crimson, and the lower or tail half a bright yellow. The whole insect bears a strong superficial resemblance to the humble-bee tribe, whence its name ; it has however, of course, no real affinity with the bees. The larva of this insect feeds on the Devil’s- nit scabious (Scabiosa succisa). The second species, the BroaD-BORDERED Hawk Mota (Macroglossa fuciformis), much resembles the preceding insect, from which it can be distinguished by the greater breadth of the dark border round the wings. Next come a few more of the remarkable Clear-winged Moths, the first of which is the Hornet Mors (Sesta apiformis). The popular name is a very appropriate one, as the insect bears the most extraordinary resemblance to a wasp or hornet, and scarcely any one, except an entomologist, would like to touch it with the bare hand. The average span of the wings is rather under yn inch and a half. They are almost entirely HORNET MOTH. 19 divested of plumage, except on the borders, which are edged with a narrow band of brown. The thorax is also brown, mottled with a darker hue, and the abdomen is yellow, banded with dark red. So close is the resemblance between this insect and the wasps, that when showing my collection, I have often found great difficulty in persuading the spectators that the insect was really a moth, and have been obliged to place a veritable hornet by the side of the Hornet Moth before they could see the distinction between the two insects. The larva of the Hornet Moth is one of the wood-borers, and lives in the interior of poplar- trees. It can generally be found in the trunk at a little distance from the ground. When the insect is about to pass into the perfect state, the chrysalis works its way through the gallery which it had bored when a caterpillar, and partly pro- jects, so that when the Moth makes its appear- ance it passes at once into the air. Some- times the chrysalis emerges altogether, and can be found among the loose bark near the roots. A figure of this Moth is given in Plate I. fig. 6. On the same plate, fig. 7, is another insect of oc 2 20 CURRANT CLEAR WING MOTE. the same genus. This is the Currant CLEAR Wine Mora (Sesia tipuliformis), which bears the same curious resemblance to a gnat that the preceding insect does to a hornet. The average span of wings is rather under an inch. Both wings, like those of the preceding insect, are transparent. They are tinged with yellow towards the margin, which is black. The thorax is of a deep blue black, with a slight yellowish streak on either side. The ab- domen and its areal tuft are of the same colour, with three yellow bands. The larva of this pretty little Moth lives ix the interior of currant twigs, where it feeds upon the pith. It may often be seen in the summer reposing on the leaves of the currant- bushes, enjoying the rays of the sun, and may easily be captured. WE now come to another family of Moths, the best representative of which is that singu- larly pretty insect, the Woop Lzoparp Motu (Zeuzera cescult). The span of wings depends much on the sex of the insect, that of the male being about two inches, and that of the female half an inch wider. As is often the case with insects and pull PLATE: Tit, f 7 “te “ y sie ‘ ; veh . 4 Dae een if “sic alge AN NGhaY Ute WOOD LEOPARD MOTH. 2] birds, the female is by far the larger and hand- somer insect. The fore-wings are semi-transparent, of a faint greenish yellow, thickly studded with blue-black spots of a rich metallic lustre. The hind-wings are similarly though more faintly marked. The thorax is also similarly coloured, with seven blue- black spots, arranged somewhat like the seven in a pack of cards. The abdomen is hairy, and of the same greenish tinge, deepening into an almost olive shade at either side. ‘ Zeuzera. Saturnia. Hepialus, G 3 The antenne are very beautifully formed and deserve examination through a magnifier. An enlarged representation of this organ is given in the above illustration (fig. 3). This pectinated form of the antenne furnishes a simple characteristic by which to distinguish the 22 WOOD LEOPARD MOTH. sexes, the antennz of the former being without the feather-like appendages at the base. The larva of the Leopard Moth, like that of the preceding insect, is a wood-borer, and often does considerable damage to the pears, apples, chesnuts, and walnuts, not to mention the elm, ash, and other forest trees, the oak being appa- rently too hard for its jaws. When it is about to make its way out of the branches in which it has been feeding, it changes the course of its burrow, eats away the wood close to the surface of the bark, and then spins a cocoon made of wood-chips, in which it remains until the time for its entrance inte the world. The insect is shown in Plate II. fig. 1, and the form of its burrow is seen in the illustra- tion marked L, fig. 3. THE largest and most destructive of the wood- boring Moths is shown in Plate II. fig. 2. It is popularly called the Goat Motu (Cossus lagnt- perda), because the larva exudes a powerful odour which has been compared to that of the he-goat. The odour in question is not only powerful, but enduring. It is possible to detect the hidden habitations of the Goat Moth and caterpillar by GOAT MOTH. 24 the scent that issues from the burrows, and some of the cocoons spun by the larva still retain their peculiar odour, though five or six years have elapsed since I took them from the tree. L The span of wings is rather more than three inches. The fore-wings are greyish brown, clouded with white, and marked with nume- 24 GOAT MOTH. rous transverse bands. The hind-wings are the same, but more faintly coloured. The thorax is brown, tinged with yellow; the abdomen, which is large, the same, with a longitudinal yellow band along its full extent. The other plumage is remarkably soft and woolly. The larva is, when full-grown, very large, smooth, and of a mahogany-red colour. It re- mains in the larval state for three years, con- structing in the winter of each year a cocoon from the chips of gnawed wood. ‘These cocoons vary in size with the dimensions of the insect, and I have before me a series of three cocoons made by the same larva, that I was fortunate enough to procure from a willow-tree in Kent. The willow is the favourite tree of the Goat Moth, though the insect does attack the poplar, the ash, and the elm. A figure of a half-grown Goat Moth larva is given in the illustration marked F, fig. 3, page 16. The Goat Moth is the only English represen: tative of the genus. By some naturalists the caterpillar is thought to be the “ cossus” which, when cooked, was a favourite dish with Roman epicures in the time of the Cesars. Our next insect is the curious GHost Motu GHOST MOTH. 25 Heprialus humul), which is shown in Plate II. fig. 3. The span of the wing is rather under two inches and a half. The wings of the male are snowy white above, presenting an almost glazed appearance, and fringed with yellow, under-side a yellowish brown. The thorax and abdomen are yellow shaded with orange. The wings of the female have none of the sheeny gloss which distinguishes those of the male, but are dull yellow, shaded with orange, with several irre- gular annular markings. The rather ominous name of Ghost Moth is given to the insect in consequence of the habits of the male. It is given to fluttering over the herbage at eighteen inches or two feet from the ground, and occasionally settling on a stalk of grass, or simi- lar object. As it is flying about in the dark, the white shining upper surfaces of the wings glitter in a most curious manner, almost appearing as if giving out their own light. But as soon as the insect settles on a stalk of grass or other herb, the dark under-surface is turned upwards, and the insect disappears as if by magic. The eggs of this moth are small, black, and not unlike gunpowder, and the larva feeds mostly 26 GREEN FORESTER. on the roots of the hop, as is implied by the specific name. The peculiar nervures of the wing are seen in cut G, fig. 1, page 21. A tolerably common example of the family of the Procride is found =- in the GREEN FORESTER (Procris Statices). Its shape may be seen from the accompanying illustration, which is of the natural size. The upper wings are green, Green Forester. with a peculiar translucent gloss, and the lower wings are brown. The short, stout, dark green caterpillar feeds on the sorrel. The only other British member of this family, the Scarce Forester (Procris Globularie), re- sembles the Green Forester in shape, but may be distinguished by the coppery gloss of the upper wings. Next in order comes the pretty and common Srx-spot Burnet Mors (Anthrocera filipendule), which though by no means the largest is certainly one of the handsomest of the British Moths. The body and fore-wings are a deep metallic indigo BURNET MOTH. ra green, each wing having six crimson metallic spots or markings; hind-wings rich crimson, with narrow dark green bordering. The green of the upper wings is so exceedingly deep as to look almost black at the first glance. The larva of the Six-spot Burnet Moth feeds chiefly on the common deepwort (Spercea filipen- dulce), and towards the end of May the chrysalis may be found in profusion, inhabiting a spindle- shaped cocoon fixed throughout its length to a stalk of grass or similar support. I have seen a field so covered with these cocoons that it was scarcely possible to walk without crushing them. One of these cocoons is shown in cut L, fig. 1, page 23, as it appears when attached to the grass, and the head and tongue of the insect are shown on cut F, fig. 2, page 16. An insect allied to the preceding species is the large CuimNey Sweep (Sterrhopterix [Psyche] nigricans). The wings of this interesting insect are soft pink brown, and that slightly covered with plumage. Only the male has fully developed wings, those of the female being so diminutive that she is practically wingless, looking much more like a grub than a moth. The larva makes for itself a curicus dwelling of little twigs and 28 LARGE FOOTMAN. similar materials, and never leaves its home as long as it remains in that stage of existence. A figure of the larva in its moveable home may be seen in cut L, fig. 4, page 23. Mr. Doubleday thinks that this family ought to be placed among the Tine. WE now come to some of the Moths which are zalled by the fanciful name of Footman. The first of them is the Larcr Foorman (Litho- sia quadra), which is represented in Plate II. fig. 5, a little less than the average size. The fore-wings of the male are grey, deepening in shade towards the anterior margin, and the hind-wings are pale yellowish white. In the female, the fore-wings are primrose yellow, and have two distinct black spots towards the middle. In the above description the words “ anterior margin” are mentioned. Although I intend to avoid the use of strictly scientific terms as far as possible, there must occur instances where it is impossible to do so. I therefore insert two dia- grams representing the various portions of the upper and under pair of wings, showing the divi- sions as they are, like the countries in a map. These divisions are not arbitrary, nor the mere invention of entomologists. They are the natural THE WINGS. 29 boundaries of the wings; and, unless the reader makes himself acquainted with them, he will find himself quite at a loss when reading the descrip- tions of insects in purely scientific books. The accompanying diagram represents the various parts of the upper and anterior wing of the Moth. Beginning with the part designated by the capital letters, a is the anterior margin, B the costal nervure, c the median nervure, D the anal or posterior angle, E the posterior or interior 30 THE WINGS, margin, F the discoidal cell, a the anterior angle, H the outer or exterior angle, 1 the subcostal nervure. Next we come to those divisions which are designated by figures. 1 is the sub-median nervure ; 2, the first me- dian nervure; 3, second ditto; 4, third ditto; 5 and 6 are the discoidal nervures; 7, 8, 9, 10,11, the subcostal nervures; 12, the disco-cellular nervule; 13, the middle ditto; and 14, the lower ditto. The second diagram represents the correspond- ing divisions of the lower or posterior wings. In the diagram, a is the outer or posterior margin, 6 the anal or posterior angle, ¢ the an- terior angle, d the anterior margin, e the abdo- minal margin, and f the discoidal cell. Taking the parts represented by figures, 1 is the sub- median nervure; 2, 3, 4, the median nervules ; 5, the discoidal nervure; and 6, 7, 8, the sub- costal nervules. These seem rather crabbed terms, and difficult to learn, but they are soon mastered, and a knowledge of them is absolutely necessary to the entomologist. The best way of learning them is to take three or four different Moths, and by the nid of the diagram A to trace: the different parts. At first this will seem rather difficult, as the ner- THE WINGS. 31 vures are not nearly so distinct in the Moth as in the diagram. A very little practice, however, will enable the eye to trace them without the least difficulty, and when they are once learned they will not be forgotten. The important part of the head and thorax of a Moth are shown in the diagram in the next page. ae THE HEAD AND THORAX. We will take fig. 1 first, and begin at the top. d dare the palpi; and between the large, protu- berent compound eyes which project from the sides of the head, are the little simple eyes called calli. These are shown at ¢ ¢. The thorax is divided into three portions. The first is called the prothorax, and the two lobes of its collar are seen ata a; the middle part or meso- thorax is shown at 0; the last portion or meta- thorax is shown at e, and the scutellum at f. Fig. 2 gives the parts of the head on an en- larged scale. In the middle, at 2, is the tongue, or proboscis. At either side of the tongue are the palpi, 4 h, and at g g are the cavities into which are inserted the hases of the antenne. SPECKLED FOOTMAN, oo There are, of course, many other divisions of body, but these are the most important. WE will now return to the description of the Moths which have been selected for this book. On Plate II. fig. 6, may be seen the SPECKLED Footman (Hulepia cribrum). This is not so common an insect as many of our examples, but it is too characteristic to be omitted from the book. It may be found in Hampshire, the cater- pillar feeding on the heath. It derives its popu- lar name from the mode in which the white upper wings are speckled with black and brown spots, arranged in a tolerably regular order. Another of these Moths, the Crimson SPECKLED Footman (Deiopeva pulchella), is shown in Plate II. fig. 7. It is a singularly pretty insect, and is found towards the end of autumn. Like the pre- ceding insect, it is scarce, but too conspicuous to be omitted. The caterpillar is said by Mr. H. N. Humphreys to feed on the common forget- me-not. I am not personally acquainted with this larva. Fore-wings white, studded with crimson spots closely interspersed with smaller black ones, Hind-wings white, with an irregular black bor- der at the outer margin. Thorax and abdomen white shaded with grey. D 34 CINNABAR MOTH. Our next example is the Cinnabar Mors (Lu chelia jacobee). This very pretty insect is very plentiful in some localities, and scarcely ever seen in others. For example, about Oxford it is one of the most familiar of Moths, flitting about the fields and gardens, and its pretty caterpillar being common on the ragwort. Yet in many parts of Kent it is one of the scarcest of Lepidoptera, although its special plant grows in profusion. The Cinnabar Moth is almost unique among lepidopterous insects In having the upper and under sides of the wings exactly alike. The ground colour of the upper wings is deep black with scarlet marks, and that of the under wings scarlet with a black-brown band surrounding them. The caterpillar is bright yellow with black bands extending nearly round the body, and, as it is very conspicuous, it is easily seen. If alarmed, it looses its hold of the leaves and falls to the ground. I have captured, bred, and dissected great numbers of this insect. The Rev. J. Greene, in his valuable little work, “The Insect Hunter’s Companion,” states that he never took more than one specimen of this Moth in England, though he captured plenty in Ireland. He also mentions the curious fact that, although he found the pup in boundless profusion on the bark of wych elm, CLOUDED BUFF. 35 he never saw the perfect insect except in this one instance. The following is a more detailed description of the colour of this beautiful species, a figure of which may be seen in Plate III. fig. 1. The fore-wings are of a deep bluish black, with three circular spots of pale crimson at the outer margin, and two streaks of the same colour, the first from the base to the foremost spot, the other along the hinder margin. The hind-wings are uniform crimson, the body blue-black. The underside is exactly the same as the upper, a very unusual circumstance. Next on our list comes the Moth known by the name of the CLoupep Burr (Luthemonia russula), Plate ITI. fig. 2. This pretty but inconspicuous Moth is widely but thinly spread over England, and may generally be found in June, inhabiting open spaces in woods and on heather-covered lands. The larva, which is covered with red-brown hairs, and has a red line along the back, may be found upon the scabious and one or two other plants. The upper pair of wings are remarkable for having their colouring merely composed of different shades of the same hue: those of the male, yellowish brown shading into russet.at the margins, with D2 36 TIGER MOTH. a central irregular dark marking. Hind-wings yellow, with dark brown markings. The fore- wings of the female are orange, with dark central mark. The male is larger than the female, and the colours of the sexes are so different that they scarcely seem to belong to the same species. The span of wing is about an inch and a half. Our next example is the well-known TicER Mora (Chelonia [or Arctia] caja). Were not this Moth so common, it would take high rank among entomologists, as one of the first of the British insects, while its extreme abundance renders it so common that it is utterly despised by collectors. It is rather a large Moth, the span of wings sometimes reaching nearly three inches. The usual colour of the insect is as follows. The fore-wings are rich dark brown, with cream- coloured markings. The hind-wings are deep crimson, sometimes with a touch of orange, with several black spots. There is much variation observable in different specimens in the markings both of the fore and hind wings. In the former the brown sometimes almost eats up the cream- colour, and wce versd; and in the latter some- times the crimson, sometimes the black, greatly / / Lit UMMA hat AP 1 wat iy Ye ef ATE TY. PL TIGER MOTH. BY preponderates. Thorax brown and hairy, abdo- men pale crimson. There are indeed few Lepidoptera more vari- able than the Tiger Moth Mr. Doubleday pos- sesses a wonderful series of varieties, ranging from an almost total absence of colour to deep black. The young entomologist must remember that 38 TIGER MOTH. almost all insects lose their colour when exposed to the light, and that if he does not keep his specimens in utter darkness the colour will fade. The Tiger Moth is very liable to fade, and some of my specimens, from which the light has not been carefully excluded, are quite pale in colour. The larva or caterpillar is familiarly known by the name of the Woolly Bear, in consequence of the dense coating of long hair with which it is covered. A figure of this larva is shown in the illustration on the preceding page, fig. 1. It feeds chiefly on the common dumb nettle, and consumes Tiger Moth—Hammock. great quantities of the plant, as I can testify, from having had to feed upwards of four hundred Woolly Bears while experimenting on the com- parative anatomy of the insect in its stages. When it has.finished feeding, it spins a loose kind of silken hammock (see the above illus- tration), and, after throwing off its larval skin, hes recumbent as a pupa until the middle of the summer, when it emerges in its perfect CREAM SPOT TIGER MOTH. 39 state. It is rather swift of foot, and when cowering in the evening among the herbage, with its brown upper wings closed over the splendid scarlet of the lower pair, it looks so like a mouse that my cat has often been deceived, and pounced on the Moth thinking he had caught a mouse. This beautiful Moth is shown on Plate III. fig. 3. There is another species belonging to the same genus, namely, the Cream Spor Tiger Mora (Che- lonia|or Arctia] villica). This is a smaller and, if possible, a handsomer insect. In this Moth the fore-wings are deep brown-black with patches of creamy white, and the body and posterior wings are rich orange with black marks. This is said to be a plentiful insect. Iam in- clined to consider it to be locally plentiful, but generally rather scarce. The larva is much darker than that of the preceding species, and not so hairy. It feeds upon the groundsel and one or two other plants. The general name of Arctia was given to these Moths on account of the popular title of Woolly Bear which has been conferred upon their larva, and I personally much prefer it to the word Chelonia. 40 ERMINE MOTH On Plate IIT. fig. 4, we see a figure of the large Ermine Mors (Spilosoma menthastrt). There are several Ermine Moths, which are so called from the soft downy nature of their plumage and the dark spots with which they are variegated. It is a very conspicuous insect, and may be easily recognized from the illustration, which is given of the natural size. The fore-wings are pale buff, with numerous black spots. Hind-wings white, with black veins and a few black spots. Thorax tufted, pale buff. Abdomen the same colour, with a longitudinal series of black spots. Another species, the Burr Ermine (Spilosoma lubricepeda), is still more common. The general colour is yellow buff, variegated with blackish spots, and an orange stripe runs along the back, which often become merged +to- gether and form broken and irregularlines. Both these Moths may be found sticking on the bark of trees, quite motionless during the hours of daylight. The larva of this species has a black skin, with a moderately dense clothing of brown hair. It feeds on many plants. Next in order come the curious Moths belong- ing to the genus Liparis. They ere remarkable BROWN-TAILED MOTH. 41 tor the manner in which the feather-scales are prolonged into feathery plumes at the end of the tail. This is largely developed in the female in- sect, and is used by her in forming a sort of pent- house over her eggs. The eggs are piled in a conical heap on some flat substance, and the Moth lays over them a complete thatched roof formed of these elegant plumes. The species represented on Plate III. fig. 5 is the Brown-Ta1LED Mots (Liparis chrysorrhea). The upper surface of the wings is pure satiny white ; under surface of fore-wings tinged with brownish yellow. ‘The thorax and abdomen are of the same colour as the wings. The tail is strongly tufted with golden brown hairs. The larva of this moth feeds on the leaves of small trees, the hawthorn and sloe being, perhaps, its favourite resort. It is yellowish for the first few segments, and changes to pinkish orange for the rest of the body. It may be known by the long tufts or pencils of hair which project on either side of the first segment, and the shorter tufts that are found on the rest of the body. The larve are social, and spin large webs, in which they live in common. In some years this insect has been so abundant as to threaten the destruction of every tree in the place, and then 42 GOLD-TAILED MOTH. has disappeared so completely that scarcely a specimen can be found in places where it formerly swarmed. The Goup-TaILeD Motu (Liparis auriflua) is somewhat like the preceding insect, but the tuft at the end of the tail is bright golden yellow. Like the Brown-tailed Moth, it has several times Gold-tailed Moth and Larva. appeared in such numbers that the trees and hedges were quite devastated by the hosts of larve. The hairs of the caterpillar are very irri- tant to tender skins. I have been almost disabled by them before discovering the real cause of the mischief, VAPOURER MOTH. 43 On Plate ITI. fig. 6, is a figure of the common VapourER Motu (Orgyia antiqua). The wings are of a rich brown, the fore-wings with a few trans- verse wavy black lines, and a white spot at the Male Vapourer and Wingless Female. hinder angle. Thorax and abdomen the same colour as the wings. Antenne very markedly pectinated or feathered on the inside. Female wingless, and very heavily built. This is a very abundant species, and as it is one of the day-flying Moths, it is as conspicuous as it is abundant. Vapourer Moth Larva. The caterpillar is a very pretty one, dark brown, variegated with red spots, and being adorned with “tussocks,” 2.e. thick compact bundles of white- 44. TUSSOCK MOTH. grey hair on some of the first segments, and with spreading tufts of black hair on either side of the head and tail. As for the female Moth, it is very inconspi- cuous, and, having no wings, is seldom captured, the generality of specimens in cabinets being obtained by rearing the larva. There is a great similarity between the winglees females of the different species, and one of them is given in Plate V. fig. 5. There is an insect allied to the Vapourer, which deserves a passing notice, more on account of its larva than for its own sake. This is the Licur Tussock Mora (Dasychira pudibunda), which derives its popular name from the flat-topped tus- socks of straw-coloured hairs which decorate the back. From the twelfth segment there protrudes a tuft or pencil of reddish hair, somewhat re- sembling the tail of a dog. ‘The larva is very plentiful in the hop counties, where it ss known by the name of the Hop-dog. There is scarcely a year when I do not receive a box or two of hop-dogs, with a request for the name of the creature. On Plate III. fig. 7, is seen a Moth which has the curious name of OaK-raGar (Bombyx [Lasio- campa]| quercus). The figure represents the female. OAK-EGGAR. 46 She may be at once known by her pale colours, and by the simple antenne, which have not the beautiful pectination which distinguishes those of the male insect. This is a common Moth, but, owing to the swift flight of the males, they are more obtained by rearing from the larva than by capture with the net. Should the collector possess a female, he may capture as many males as he likes. All he has to do is, to put her in a box covered with gauze, take her to the borders or the open spaces of a wood, and put the box on the ground. By some strange faculty the males are enabled to detect her presence at an amazing distance, and will come in numbers to the box, over which they will crawl with such entire devotion to the. pri- soner that they may be picked up with the fingers. I have caught numbers of male Oak-eggars, merely by placing in my chamber a box containing a newly-bred female, and leaving the window open. This mode of catching-the males is called “sembling,” and can be used with several other species of Moths. The wings of the male are of deep chocolate brown, with a broad pale ochreish band a little beyond the centre, extending through both wings, 46 OAK-EGGAR. shading off again into chocolate at the margin. A distinctly marked white “ comma” is observable about the centre of the fore-wings. The thorax is dark chocolate, slightly tinged here and there with pale ochre. The abdomen is of the same pale ochre, with transverse chocolate markings at the joints. The female is much larger than the male, and the markings, though similar, are much paler. There is much variety noticeable in various speci- mens as to the depth of colouring in this species ; the colours are peculiarly fugitive when exposed to light. They are also destroyed by the fumes of sulphur, as I found in my early entomologizing days, when I killed some of these insects with sulphur. The larva grows to a considerable size, and is thickly covered with hairs. This peculiarity is referred to in the generic name, Lasiocampa, which signifies hairy caterpillars. The junctions of the segments are marked by belts of velvet black; which are very conspicuous as the caterpillar bends its body in the act of crawling. It feeds upon various plants, and is very easy to rear. When it is full-fed, it spins a remarkable cocoon, just like a brown egg. This cocoon, which is about as large as a sparrow’s egg, though FOX MOTH. 47 longer in p.oportion to its width, may often be found fastened to the stems of herbaceous plants, Eggar Cocoon. and the twigs of hedgerows. It is of very tough and hard material. The next insect in our list is the Fox Morn (Bombyx rubi), a figure of which is given in Plate IV. fig. 2. It is a tolerably common species. The wings are of a nearly uniform reddish brown, or fox colour,—hence the name, —with two oblique lines on either side the centre of fore-wings. The thorax and abdomen are of the same colour as the wings. As is indicated by the specific name, the cater- pillar feeds on the bramble. It is remarkable for the alteration in its colour as it increases in size. When small, it is dark blackish brown, with the 48 LACKEY MOTH. junction of the segments marked with belts of bright gold. As it becomes older, the gold bands vanish, and the entire larva is deep rusty red. The cocoon is comparatively a large one, permitting the pupa to move from one end to the other. The Ground Lackey Mota (Bombyx [or Clisiocampa] castrensis) is a rather pretty moth, and very variable in colour. The upper wings are reddish yellow, with two darker bars, and the under wings are al- together darker. This is the usual marking, but there is Ground Lackey Moth, so great a variety of hues that a more detailed description is needless. The larva feeds chiefly on the herbage of salt marshes. On Plate IV. fig. 1, is a figure of the common Drinker Motu (Odonestris potatoria). As may be seen by the illustration, this is a conspicuous, though a’soberly-tinted insect; the beak-like form of the palpi, the soft downy plumage, and the deeply pectinated antennz of the male, at once pointing it out. The remarkable forked appear- ance of the tail-plumage is another characteristic. The fore-wings of the male are of a ruddy yellow, with a white spot, somewhat like that on the Oak-eggar, and an oblique dusky streak DRINKER MOTH. 49 or bar runs from the apex to middle of hind margin. The female is much larger and of a lighter colour than the male. Hind-wings nearly uniform ochre, or but slightly marked. Thorax and abdomen also uniform. The tail in the male Drinker Moth and Caterpillar. is bifid, that is, is split into two lobes or tufts ; in the female it is pointed. The gaudy caterpillar of this species, con- spicuous for its handsome colouring of yellow ey 50 DRINKER MOTH. and deep chocolate brown, is common along our hedgerows, and is easily reared. It makes a spindle-shaped cocoon of much softer material than that of the Eggar Moth. This Moth is easily attracted by light. I have ie a Sh . = x / SS ee wor ge Sinn Syne 2 y Lappet Moth (wings closed). caught many of them fluttering about the gas- lamps in the streets of Oxford, and in the shop- windows, and have seen them lying disabled within the lamps, having cantrived to crawi LAPPET GLORY. 5] through the aperture by which the gas-pipe enters the lamp. ‘On Plate IV. fig. 6, is represented the Lapprt Motu (Bombyx quercifolia), as it appears with its wings spread,—when it closes them it presents quite a different aspect. (See page 50.) The colour of the wings is exactly that of a brown, withered leaf, a green band near the edges adding to the resemblance. When the insect is at rest, the hinder wings project beyond the upper, and make it look so exactly like a dry crumpled leaf, that even a practised eye will often fail to detect it as it clings to a twig. The caterpillar grows to a considerable size. It is grey, hairy, and remarkable for the dark, velvet- like bosses in the second of the segments. It feeds on many herbs and trees, and is so readily discovered and easily reared, that almost any number can be procured in a single season. The Moth which is known by the popular name of the Kentish Guiory (Zndromis versicolor), was once, as its name implies, found in Kent, and was one of the rarest of British insects. Other haunts of this Moth have, however, been now discovered ; and the insect, though not a very common one, is no longerararity. It has been principally found in the Rannoch woods near E 2 52 _ KENTISH GLORY. Perth. It owes its reputation more to its former rarity than to the beauty of its colour. The fore-wings are variegated with varied wavy pa. \rallel markings of deep rich brown, orange tawny, and pale yellow, fading almost into white. These markings are continued into the hind- wings, which, however, have a groundwork of yellow, deepening into rich orange at the hind margin. In the female the markings are much the same, but a pale grey takes the part of the yellow and a faint blush pink of the orange. The thorax and abdomen are dark brown, with a faint shading of yellow in male and pink in female. The larva of this species feeds on several trees, , of which the birch, the lime, and the hazel seem to be its favourites. The Moth is shown in Plate IV. fig. 3. Here must be mentioned the beautiful EMPrror Mots (Saturnia pavonia-minor). This: insect is equally remarkable in its three stages of existence. The larva is one of the handsomest of the British caterpillars. Its colour is bright green, belted with black, and each segment is very deeply marked, as if a number of threads had been tightly bound rourd the body. Each seg- : if a hee. PLATE Y. EMPEROR MOTH. 5g ment is adorned with a number of tufts of golden yellow spots, from which proceed little tufts of bristles. In shape the Moth somewhat resembles the Oak-eggar (see Plate III. fig. 7); but it is easily known by the eye-like spot in each wing. The Male Emperor Moth, Larva, and Cocoon. centre of the eye is yellow, surrounded with black, and having a blue crescent partly sur- rounding it. Before the larva assumes the pupal state, it spins a most singular cocoon. This cocoon is 54 EMPEROR MOTH. double, a loose outer envelope enclosing au inner cocoon made of stiffer hairs. The ends of these hairs converge over the opening, so that the Moth, when it shakes off the pupal skin, can easily creep out, while no other insect can creep in. The Emperor Moth—Cocoon. structure of the cocoon is shown in the accom- panying illustration. The larva of the Emperor Moth may generally be found upon the heath. The form of the antenne is shown in cut G, fig. 2, page 21. CHAPTER II. THE GEOMETER MOTHS. We now come to the GromEeTR& or LOOPERs, a very large family of Moths, which derive their name from the curious mode of progression em- ployed by the larvee. The name of Geometre signifies “ earth measurers,” and is given to them for the follow- ing reasons :— Tnstead of crawling like other caterpillars, they seize some object with their front legs, and then draw up the tail so as to form the body into a loop. They then grasp with the claspers, or fals e legs at the end of the body, and stretch themselves out to seize another object with the front legs. Thus they have a fanciful resemblance to those Indian devotees who “measure the way” to their place of worship by prostrating themselves on the ground, marking the spot where their out- 56 SWALLOW-TAILED MOTH. stretched hands rest, placing their feet on that spot, and prostrating themselves afresh. The more popular name of Looper is given to them because the body is drawn up in a loop at every step. The power of grasp displayed by these cate1 pillars is enormous in proportion to the size of the creature. Some of the Geometre, which are coloured greenish brown, are in the habit of grasping a branch with their hind claspers, and stretching themselves out in a straight line. This position they will retain for hours together, and look so exactly like twigs that even the caterpillar-hunting birds are deceived, and pass them by. One of the best examples of this description of caterpillars is the larva of the insect that heads the Geometre, namely, the SwaLLow- TAILED Motu (Ourapteryx sambucata). As its specific name implies, the caterpillar is found on the elder, though it is not confined to that tree, but sometimes takes to several other trees and plants. It is brown in colour, with a few stripes along the sides, and, when it is stretched out stiff from a branch, it has the most singular resem- blance to a twig, the knobs upon its body looking like buds. SWALLOW-TAILED MOTH. a The Moth derives its popular name of Swallow- tail from the peculiar form of the hind-wings, which are prolonged into points something like those of the swallow-tail butterfly. The wings are of a uniform pale primrose yellow. The fore-wings have a dark greenish streak beyond the centre, and another inside it passing on across to the inner angle of the hind- wings. The hind-wings terminate in a tail. The thorax and abdomen are uniform with the wings, the latter slightly marked transversely with dark greenish stripes. (See Plate IV. fig. 5.) These colours are very delicate, and the wings are very thin and fragile. The insect is ex- ceedingly common, and may be taken in the dusk of the evening as it flies about, and also captured in the daytime by beating the bushes in which it lies hidden during the hours of day: light. When Bagley Wood near Oxford was in its prime, this Moth was continually flying out of the bushes as the entomologist passed among them. This Moth is the sole British representative of its family, the Ourapteryde. OF the next family, the Ennomide, we have more than twenty examples, four of which will be found in this book. 58 ORANGE MOTH. The first of these is that exceedingly variable insect, the Orance Mora (Angerona prunaria). Not only is there a marked difference between the colours of the sexes, the wings of the male being dark orange, while those of the female are yellow, but in many instances the brown takes the place of the yellow or orange, the original colour only showing itself in bands or blotches. The caterpillar is as variable as the moth, and has very much the same colours, brown always predominating. It may be generally found on the blackthorn and beech, but also feeds upon the plum, from which circumstance it takes the name of prunarza. Independently of the darker colour, the male may be known by the beauti- fully-pectinated antenne. The expanse of the wings is nearly two inches. (See Plate LV. fig. 4.) Another common species is the Light EMERALD Mota (Metrocampa margaritata), so called from the colour of its wings, which are of a delicate green, traversed by narrow white stripes, two stripes crossing the fore-wings and only one the hind-wings. It is about the same size as the preceding insect. Mr. Newman states that he has found the caterpillar upon the broom, but thinks that it may BRIMSTONE MOTH. 59 be a general feeder. It is remarkable for having six claspers at the end of the body instead of four, which is the usual number in the larve of Geometre, and is olive green, with a dark line along the back and a series of whitish marks along the sides. The Brimstone Motu (Rumia crategata) is still more common, and may be found plentifully throughout the greater part of the summer. It is a very pretty insect, the wings being of a light brimstone yellow, and the “costal margin” of the fore-wings being adorned with some reddish brown spots. The caterpillar is plentiful in white- thorn hedges, and is remarkable for the fact of having eight pairs of claspers, and only using two pairs. Brimstone Moth Larva, Less conspicuous is the ScorcHeD Wine Motu (Eurymene dolobraria), an insect which derives its name from the colour of the upper wings, which look exactly as if they were made of irregularly scorched paper. The figure on Plate 60 BORDERED BEAUTY. V. fig. 3, will give a good idea of its appearance, and will show the slightly angular form of the wings. The general colour is pale brown, and the slight lines that are seen crossing the wings are blackish brown. The hind-wings are also pale brown, but of a much lighter hue than the upper pair. The Moth may be found any time about mid- summer, and can mostly be taken in the neigh- bourhood of oak and beech, on which the cater- pillar feeds. The reader will observe that the angular form of the wings is found in a greater or less degree throughout the whole of the present family of Moths, which perhaps from this peculiarity have received the popular and rather fanciful name of Thorns. Some of these are known by other popular names, the worst of which is, that the name generally ccuveys no sort of idea of the insect. One of these Moths is the well-known BorDERED Bravty (Lpione apiciaria), one of the prettiest members of this family. It is much smaller than those which have already been described, being little more than an inch in expanse of wing. The peculiarity of this Moth is, that both pairs of wings are surrounded by a broad band of purplish brown, the rest of the LUNAR THORN. 6: wings being orange. It flies about the end of summer and beginning of autumn, and is very common. A rather rarer species, the Dark BorRDERED Beauty (Lpione vespertaria), bears some re- semblance to the preceding insect, but may be known from it by the purple-brown dots whicn are scattered over the orange part of the wing. The wings of the female are yellow instead of orange. We now pass on to the Lunar THorn (Selenia lunaria), so called from the brown semilunar marks at the tips of the wings. A figure of the female is given in Plate V. fig. 2. The male has pectinated antenne, and the wings are much darker. The general colour is pale reddish brown, barred with a darker brown. Upon the bar that crosses the middle of the upper wings is a tiny crescent-shaped mark nearly white.