LOCKED CASE CONTENTS. ?AGH ;MOIR OF MARIA SIBILLA MERIAN ... 17 PIDOPTERA — INTRODUCTION . . 47 rlESPERID.fi 108 Grizzled Skipper. Thymele Alveolus. Plate I. Fig. 1. . . 110 The Dingy Skipper. Thymde Tages. Plate I. Fig. 2. . . . 112 Chequered Skipper. Pamphila Paniscus. Plate I. Fig. 3. . . 114 Small Skipper, Pamphila Linea. Plate I. Fig. 4. . . 116 Large Skipper. Pamphila Sylvanus. Plate II. Fig. 1. . . 117 Pearl Skipper. Pamphila Comma. Plate II. Fig. 2. . . 119 Pamphila Actseon 121* JEPIDOPTERA CREPUSCULARIA . . . . 121 The Green Forester. Ino Statices. Plate II. Fig. 3. ... 123 Six-spotted Burnet-moth. Anthrocera Filipendulce. Plate II. Fig. 4. . 124 Five-spotted Burnet-moth. Anthrocera Loti. Plate II. Fig. 5. . . 126 CONTENTS. Eyed Hawk-moth. PAGE Smerinthus Ocettatus. Plat III. Fig. 1. . . 127 Poplar Hawk-moth. Smerinthus Populi. Plate III. Fig. 2. . . 129 Lime Hawk-moth. Smennthus TUice. Plate IV. Fig. 1. . . 131 Death's-head Hawk-moth. Acherontia Atropos. Plate V 133 Genus SPHINX 139 Privet Hawk-moth. Sphinx Ligustri. Plate IV. Fig. 2. . . . 140 Unicorn Hawk-moth. Sphinx Convdvuli. Plate VI 142 Pine Hawk-moth. Sphinx Pinastri. Plate VII. Fig. 1. . . 144 Genus DEILEPHILA 146 The Madder Hawk-moth. Deilephila Galii. Plate VII. Fig. 2. . . 147 Spotted Elephant Hawk-moth. Deilephila Euphorbia. Plate VIII. . . . 149 Rayed Hawk- moth. Deilephila Lineata . . . . . » 152 Genus METOPSILUS 154 Oleander Hawk-moth. Metopsilus Nerii. Plate IX. . . . . 156 Sharp-winged Hawk-moth. Metopsilus Celerio. Plate X 159 Elephant Hawk-moth. Metopsilus Elpenor. Plate Xt Fig. I. . . 161 Small Elephant Hawk-moth. Metopsilus Porcellus. Plate XI. Fig. 2. . . 163 Humming-bird Hawk-moth. Macroglossa Stellatarum. Plate XII. Fig. 1. . 164 Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth. Sesia Fuciformis. Plate XII. Fi 3. . . 168 Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth Sesia Bombyliformis. Plate XI? /'ig 4. . . 170 CONTENTS. Bee Clear-wing. PAGE Trocliilium Apiforme. Plate XIII. Fig. 1. . 171 Breeze Clear-underwing. JEgeria Asiliformis. Plate XIII. Fig. 2. . . 174 Black and White Horned Clear-wing. jEgeria Spheciformis. Plate XIII. Fig. 3. . 175 Ruby-fly Clear-wing JEyeria Chrysidiformis. Plnte XIII. Fig. 4. * 111 LEPJDOPTERA NOCTURNA, or MOTHS . 178 Orange Swift. Plypialus Sylvinus. Plate XIV. Fig. 1. . . 179 Goat-moth. Cossus Ligniptrda. Plate XIV. Fig. 2. . . 1 82 Wood Leopard-moth. Zeuzera jEsculi. Plate XV. Fig. 1. . . 1U; Buff-tip Moth. Pygcera Bucepliala. Plate XV. Fig. 3. . . 18? Puss-moth. Cerura Vinula. Plate XVI. Fig. 1. . . 189 The Kentish Glory. Endromis versicolor. Plate XVI. Fig. 3. . . 193 Emperor-moth. Saturnia Pavonia-minor. Plate XVII. Fig. 1. . 195 Oak Egger-moth. Lasiocampa Quercus. Plate XVII. Fig. 3. . 198 Drinker-moth. Odonestis Potatoria. Plate XVIII. Figs. 1 and 2. 201 Lappet-moth. Gastropacka Querdfolia. Plate XVIII. Fig. 3. . 203 Black Arches. Psilura MonacJia. Plate XIX. Figs. 1 and 2. . 205 Scarlet Tiger-moth. Hypercampa Dominula. Plate XIX. Figs. 3 and 4. 208 The Clouded Buff. EutJiemonia Russula. Plate XX. Fig. I. . , 210 Cream-spot Tiger-moth. Arctia Villica. Plate XX. Fig. 2. . . . 212 CONTENTS. Ruby Tiger-moth. PAGB Phragmatobia fuliginosa. Plate XX. Fig. 3. 214 Wood Tiger-moth. Nemeophila Plantaginis. Plate XXI. Fig. 1. . 216 The Cinnabar Moth. CaUimorpha Jacobs. Plate XXI. Fig. 2. . 218 Crimson Speckled Footman. Deiopeia pukhella. Plate XXI. Fig. 4. . . 220 Broad-Bordered Yellow Underwing. Triphcena Fimbria. Plate XXII. Fig. 1. . . 222 Large Sword-grass Moth. Calocampa Exoleta. Plate XXII. Fig. 2. . . 224 The April Miselia. Miselia AprUina. Plate XXIII. Fig. 1. . . 226 Peach-blossom Moth. Thyatira Batis. Plate XXIII. Fig. 2. . . 228 Buff Arches. Thyatira Derosa. Plate XXIII. Fig. 3. . . 230 The Herald-moth. Scoliopteryx Libatrix. Plate XXIV. Fig. 1. . 231 Mottled Orange-moth. Gortynaflavago. Plate XXIV. Fig. 2. . . 233 The Angle Shades. PhlogopJiora Meticulosa. Plate XXIV. Fig. 3. •. 235 Pease-blossom Moth. Chariclea DelpUnii. Plate XXV. Fig. 1. . . 236 The Gamma-moth. Plusia Gamma. Plate XXV. Fig. 2. . . 238 Burnished-brass Moth. Plusia Chrysitis. Plate XXV. Fig. 4. . . 240 The Clifden Nonpareil. Catocala Fraxini. Plate XXVI. Fig. 1. . . 242 Red Underwing. Catocala Nupta. Plate XXVI. Fig. 2. . . 245 The Brimstone-moth. Rumia Cratagata. Plate XX VII. Fig. 1. . 248 Swallow-tail Moth. Ourapteryx Sambucaria. Plate XXVII, Fig. 2. 249 CONTENTS. Large Emerald-moth. PAGB Hipparchus Papilionarius. Plate XXVII. Fig. 3. 251 Magpie or Gooseberry-moth. Abraxas Grossulariata. Plate XXVIII. Fig. 1. 253 The Mottled Beauty Melanippe Hastata. Plate XXVIII. Fig. 3. . 255 Clifden Beauty. Zerene AUMlata. Plate XXVIII. Fig. 4. . 256 The Beautiful China Mark. Hydrocampa Nymphxata. Plate XXIX. Fig. 1. 258 Green Silver-lines. Hylophila Prasinana. Plate XXIX. Fig. 2. . 260 Scarce Silver-lines. HylopMa Quercana. Plate XXIX. Fig. 4. . 262 The Dark Porcelain. Argyromiges Sylvetta. Plate XXX. Fig. 1. . 263 Linnaeus' Glyphipteryx. GlypUpteryx Linneetta. Plate XXX. Fig. 2. . 265 White-plumed Moth. Pterophorus Pentadactylus. Plate XXX. Fig. 3. 266 Many-plumed Moth. Alucita Hexadactyla. Plate X XX. Fig. 4. . 267 MEMOIR OP MARIA SIBILLA MEEIAN. IN the earlier annals of the physical sciences, we find very few female names included in the lists of those who successfully devoted themselves to such pursuits. The mode in which they were usually studied, the learned languages in which it was thought necessary that every thing relating to them should be written, together with an unnecessary profusion of techni- calities, and a most barbarous nomenclature, were ill fitted to recommend them to notice in any case, and must have made them unattainable, if not al- together repulsive, to most of the gentler sex. The - branches relative to natural history, in particular, laboured greatly under these disadvantages ; and a prejudice likewise existed against the study of some departments, which long continued to operate un- favourably. To this general neglect of these pur- suits by her sex, at the period in question, the lady to whom the following notices refer, forms a signaV exception. Not that she can lay claim to high dis- 18 MEMOIR OP tinction as a scientific naturalist, nor can it be affirmed that either her powers of observation or the capacity of her judgment were of the first order. But the extraordinary zeal she shewed in the study of that branch to which her attention was directed, the sacrifices and inconveniences to which she sub- mitted in prosecuting it, the excellent delineation which she has made of many natural objects, and the mass of materials which she has thus provided to facilitate the labours of future inquirers, justly entitle her to an honourable place in a biographical series of those worthies who have exerted them- selves to promote the study of nature, with which it has been our anxious endeavour to enrich the volumes of the NATURALIST'S LIBRARY. Unfortunately not many particulars of her life have been preserved, but the following notices may not be void of interest to those who have had an oppor- tunity of examining the works by which her name has become known to the public. She belonged to a family of which many of the members acquired con- liderable celebrity as painters and engravers. Her father, Mathew Merian, was the son of a magistrate of Bale, and was born in that town in 1593. After learning the art of engraving at Zurich, under Dietrick Meyer, he removed to Nanci, where he was employed in aquafortis engraving, a branch of the art then only newly invented, and in which he par- ticularly excelled. He subsequently went to Paris, and having entered into partnership with an artist of some note, named Jacques Callot, continued to MARIA SIBILLA MER1AN. 19 reside there for several years, exercising his profes- sion with diligence and success. He was not long, however, in returning to his native country, and after travelling through various parts of the continent, finally settled at Frankfort, where he remained till his death, which happened in 1651. During his residence in that place he published various topo- graphical and other works, illustrated with engrav- ings, which are said to he executed in a style greatly superior to similar productions of that period. Of these we may mention, the Topography of Zeiler, in twenty-seven folio volumes ; Theatrum Europe- urn; Florilegium Plantarum; Itinerarium Italiae; and the Dance of Death, copied from the famous work so named at Bale, and augmented hy the addition of several new designs. Shortly after his settlement at Frankfort he had married «the daughter of John Theodore tie Bry, the mother of the subject of the present notice. Maria Sibilla Merian was horn in the city just named in the year 1647. Inheriting, in an eminent degree, the talent for which her family was distin- guished, she appears to have early devoted herself to painting and drawing, and soon to have attain- ed considerable skill in these branches. It is probable that she enjoyed the instructions of her brother, Matthew Merian, an individual to whom we shall afterwards allude, who was so much older than herself as to have acquired high distinction as a painter while she was yet a child. It is affirmed, however, that the chief care of her education de- 20 MEMOIR OF volved on James Morell, likewise a painter by pro- fession, to whom her mother had heen married some time after the death of her first hushand. This duty he is said to have discharged with much solicitude and affection, and was rewarded by the rapid progress of his young relative. That the best means of instruction might be afforded to one who held out the promise of much future excellence, he placed her under the charge of Abraham Mignon, with whom she continued for a considerable time. She appears first to have practised miniature paint- ing ; but, at the same time, to have devoted much of her attention to drawing plants and insects. To the latter she soon began to shew a decided par- tiality, and received much commendation for the accuracy and elegance with which she coloured and delineated them. By tracing the forms of insects, and collecting them for representation, she was naturally led to attend to their habits and history ; a subject wrhich she found so fruitful in interesting facts, that she began, at an early period, to collect materials for a work on the subject. In the mean while, however, she continued to exercise the more profitable occupation of portrait painting, chiefly or exclusively in miniature, till she reached the age of eighteen, when she was married to a painter of Nuremberg, named John Andrew Graf. This marriage did not prove a fortunate one. A few years after it took place, Graf's affairs became so much involved, and his conduct in other respects so censurable, that he was obliged for a time to MARIA SIBILLA MERIAN. 21 leave the country. In consequence of this separa- tion, the lady never assumed her hushand's name in any of her publications, hut hecame known to the public hy her maiden appellation. After this event, experiencing perhaps the expediency of having some means of emolument in addition to her more habi- tual occupation, she is said to have employed a portion of her time in executing pieces of em- broidery; and it is asserted that she handled her needle with as much skill as she did her pencil, her productions being distinguished by an elegance and delicacy of execution which made them resemble paintings. In order to encourage others of her sex to cultivate this elegant accomplishment, she pub- lished a book of designs, which she named " The New Book of Flowers." The resolution which she had formed to illustrate by her pencil the appearance and metamorphoses of insects, was, however, by no means forgotten. On the contrary, so zealous was she in the prosecu- tion of this object, that, according to her own account, she abandoned for a time all kind of company, and applied herself exclusively to painting insects, in order that she might, if possible, be enabled to represent them with sufficient accuracy to give satisfaction to natural philosophers.* The result of her labours in this department appeared in 1679. in a volume published at Nuremberg, entitled " Eru- carum ortus, alimenta, et paradoxa metamorphosis." the plates engraved by herself. Two omer parts * Pref. to Insects of Surinam. 22 MEMOIR OF were subsequently added, the last printed under the care of her youngest daughter. This work has heen translated both into German and French, and there seems to be more than one edition of the original. That now before us is printed at Amsterdam, and the date, which appears only at the bottom of the frontispiece, is 1717« It forms a quarto volume, written in Dutch, consisting of three parts, and containing one hundred and fifty plates, besides ornamented frontispieces. The objects represented are chiefly European lepidoptera, with their larvee, generally accompanied with a figure of the plant on which the latter feed. A few coleopterous and dipterous species are occasionally introduced, and the pupae in most cases are likewise represented Although the engraving is rather coarse, and the drawing often faulty, these plates, upon the whole, afford not inaccurate representations of a considerable number of insects, most of them in all their different stages ; and must have been a useful and even an elegant contribution to the entomology of the period, which was sufficiently meagre both in descriptive and illustrated works. The accompanying text, it is true, is not of much value ; but it must be borne in mind, in estimating its merit, that this branch of natural history, as well as every other, was still in its infancy. The ponderous volumes of Ulysses Aldrovanus, the works of Gesner, Goedart, and a few others, who studied Aristotle more closely than they did nature, were almost the only accessible sources of information on the subject ; for the more MARIA SIBILLA MERIAN. 23 philosophical investigations of Redi and Swammer- dam, though at this time in progress, and even in part published, were as y °x hut little known. It in not, therefore, surprising that Madam Merian should occasionally have fallen into error, the more espe- cially as she seems to have been but imperfectly acquainted even with the little that had been accomplished by her predecessors in the same field of labour. After residing about fourteen years at Nuremberg, Madam Merian returned, in 1684, to Frankfort, along with her husband, who had again rejoined her some years previously. Not long after, how- ever, she left him, in company with her two daugh- ters, for the purpose of uniting themselves to a sect of religionists, named Labbadists, who had esta- blished themselves at Bosch, between Franeker and Leuwarden. These enthusiasts were followers of the famous John Labadie, a native of Bourg in Guienne, who had renounced the doctrines of the church of Rome, and promulgated a set of opinions bearing some resemblance to those of the Quietists, but mingled with several peculiar notions of his own. His supposed sanctity and remarkable elo- quence had given him, notwithstanding the extra- vagance of some of his opinions, a great influence over many, particularly females, — a class of fol- lowers which Bayle affirms, significantly, he was always much more anxious to conciliate than the opposite sex. Besides Madam Merian, one of the most celebrated of his converts was Anna Maria 24 MEMOIR OF Schurman, of Utrecht, whose extensive learning causes her to be ranked among the ornaments of the seventeenth century. Some of his tenets were not unlike those of the well known Antoiiia Bou- rignon, who flourished at the same period and in the same country, whose partiality in the choice of votaries seems to have inclined in an opposite direc- tion from that of her cotemporary ; at least if we may judge from the influence she acquired over the distinguished John Swammerdam, in whose mind her fanaticism found a ready reception, after it had lapsed into a state of gloom and hypochondriasm brought on by excessive study. Madam Merian's zeal, however, never appears to have reached such a height as to unfit her for attending to the ordinary duties of life, as was unfortunately the case in the instance just referred to. On the contrary, she availed herself of the opportunity, while at Bosch, of examining the rich cabinet of insects in the pos- session of M. Sommerdyck, which rekindled all her zeal for the study of that branch of natural history. She likewise went to Amsterdam, and visited the different museums in that city, taking every means in her power to extend her acquaintance with the subject. She mentions, in particular, the gratifica- tion and instruction she received from the collections of Nicolas Witsen, director of the East India Com- pany, and those of Dr. Frederic Ruisch and Levin Vincent. It appears to have been the admiration excited by a view of the many splendid productions of tropical America, preserved in these cabinets. MARIA SIBILLA MERIAN. 25 that first inspired her with the 'desire of crossing the Atlantic for the purpose of delineating them as they appeared in their native haunts and localities. The beauty of the insect tribes, especially, so far surpassed what she had been accustomed to con- template, that her partiality for them was fully confirmed, and she determined to enjoy the pleasure of observing them in their living state. What tended not a little to confirm her in this design, was observing how much was wanting to complete the natural history, even of the most common and interesting kinds; almost nothing being known of any of them in the states in which they exist before acquiring their final form. The difficulty of pre- serving caterpillars and other larvae, sufficiently accounts for the small number of these to be found in cabinets, even at the present day ; and the most obvious method of making up for this deficiency is by coloured drawings taken from living examples. The desire of supplying this important desideratum in regard to some of the more remarkable insects of America, as well as of determining the nature of their metamorphosis and kind of food, had more influence in leading Madam Merian to visit that country, than a wish to delineate the perfect insects, many of which were already well known in Europe from preserved specimens. She accordingly made arrangements for leaving Europe, but did not finally set sail till the year 1699, taking one of her daughters along with her. " It was a kind of phenomenon," says Reaumur, 26 MEMOIR OF " to see a lady actuated by a love for insects so truly heroic, as to induce her to traverse the seas for the purpose of painting and describing them/' The inconveniences to which she must have submitted in leaving the comforts of home, and repairing to a distant land, where her health was endangered by exposure to a burning sun and a most unwholesome climate, must indeed be admitted to imply a degree of zeal of which we do not find many examples, and which renders the epithet employed by the French naturalist by no means inapplicable. The place of her destination was Dutch Guiana, often called Surinam, from a river of that name on which the capital (Paramaribo) is situated. As a Dutch colony, it naturally afforded her advantages which could not easily have been obtained else- where. Its situation, too, was highly favourable to the purpose she had in view. Lying between 4° 45 " and 6° of north latitude, the temperature is very high ; and as the rains are copious, and many parts of the country low and marshy, vegetation is sustained in the greatest luxuriance throughout a great part of the year, affording appropriate places of resort to many of the most gorgeous produc- tions of the tropics. In this fruitful region, so po- pulous in .- .. bees and birds, And fairy formed, and many-coloured things, her ardent curiosity found ample means of gratifica- tion, and she remained nearly two years diligently employed in collecting and painting insects, shells. MARIA SIBILLA MERIAN. 27 and plants. She designed to remain for a much longer time, but the heat of the climate had such an injurious effect on her health, that she was un- der the necessity of leaving the country before her plans had been fully accomplished. She returned to Europe towards the close of the year 1701, and on showing her drawings to the lovers of natural his- tory, they were judged so much superior to any productions of the kind they had previously wit- nessed, that she was urged to publish them imme- diately. But the expense of executing engravings on such a scale, caused this to be delayed for some years, and it was not till 1705 that they were given to the public, under the title of Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium, &c. the text drawn up by Gaspar Commelin, from the manuscripts of the author. Before attempting to give some account of this, the most important of her publications, it may be proper to narrate the few additional particulars which we have been able to collect regarding her, and to notice some of the subsequent editions of her works. The costly volume just mentioned originally consisted of sixty plates ; with a view to extend it and render it more complete, she is said to have sent her eldest daughter a second time to America, to collect additional materials. She received in conse- quence many new drawings and manuscripts, which she was preparing for publication, when she became unwell, and died on 13th January, 1717- These 28 MEMOIR OP new designs were added to a second edition of the Surinam Insects, published two years after the author's death hy her youngest daughter, Dorothea Maria Henrietta. They are twelve in number, making the entire amount of plates seventy-two, but are regarded as very inferior in execution to the others. Another edition subsequently appeared at the Hague (1726) with the text in Latin and French ; and mention is made of a fourth, wTitten in the Dutch language, which is not, however, ac- counted of much value. Another work is occasionally referred to as the production of Madam Merian, under the title of " Histoire des Insectes de 1'Europe dessines d'apres nature et expliques par M. S. Merian;" translated into Dutch and French by J. Marret (Amsterdam, 1730.) This we have had no opportunity of ex- amining, but it is said to be little more than a reprint of the Erucarum ortus, &c. with some additions and alterations. Many of this lady's beautiful drawings are still preserved. A considerable number, purchased at a high price by Sir Hans Sloane, and subsequently deposited along with his other collections in the British Museum, are asserted, however, to exhibit traces of the graver*, but the colouring is entirely executed by her own hand. These are done on * Surely there must be some mistake here, for if these coloured drawings be done on vellum, there can be no trace of the graver. UNIVERSITY MARIA SIBILLA MERIAN. 29 rellum. Numerous others are to be found in public collections at Petersburg!!, and in the cabinets of Holland and Germany. The acquirements of Madam Merian are certainly upon the whole very remarkable, but her abilities as an artist, and the taste displayed in the arrange- ment of the objects which she depicts, may be said to be in some measure unique. Many ladies have distinguished themselves as successful aspirants after distinction in the Fine Arts, but none, excepting the subject of the present memoir, have been cele- brated for the performance of a work so replete with artist-like feeling, as that of the insects of Surinam, which is certainly more elegant and taste- ful in the composition of the objects brought together upon the plates than any of its cotemporaries ; and without instituting any unnecessary or invidious comparison, we rather think, in these respects, her pictures have not been surpassed by any works of art of a similar description, by the moderns, to whom her method of arranging and combining her figures may serve as a lesson. Her manner of introducing the insects in their various stages of metamorphosis, in connexion with the plants upon which they feed, is, in our opinion, not only very instructive but extremely elegant, and her skill in composition has almost invariably led her to do this in an artist- like pleasing way. Her opportunities, no doubt, eminently served her in these respects, for she may be said to have been born an artist, surrounded at the period of her early 30 MEMOIR OF education with a perfect gallaxy of talent on every side, both in her domestic circle and by so many of her gifted countrymen in Flanders and Holland. The great and deserved celebrity of Rubens, Vandyke, Rembrandt, and others of the Flemish school of painting, was a means of inducing many others to tread in the same path, emulous of the honours and wealth which had been heaped upon these bright ornaments of a country at that time distin- guished alike by the transcendant abilities of these men, and by the wealth which poured into it from its colonial possessions, and extensive and almost monopolising commercial enterprise. These circum- stances mainly contributed, in our opinion, to foster the genius of that nation for the Fine Arts; and this taste continued to prevail in the Low Countries many years after the time which we have adverted to, and only declined when the enter- prize of other more fortunate and active competitors stepped forward to divide with them the empire of the seas and the sway of their foreign possessions. Flower painting as well as the cultivation of parti- ticular flowers, have ever been favourite luxuries with the Dutch, and we find the works of Van Huisum, Van Os, and many others, were produced about the period of which we are writing, and no doubt were treasured by Madam Merian as models for her study and imitation, along with the other fine pictures which she must have been in daily habit of examining. Several of the members of Madam Merian's MARIA SIBILLA MERIAN. 31 family acquired considerable distinction by their talents and attainments. Besides rivaling her mo- ther in the use of the pencil, the youngest daughter, Dorothea Maria, was remarkable for possessing an extensive knowledge of the Hebrew language. Her brother, like most of her other relations, devoted himself to painting, and had the singular advantage to enjoy the occasional instructions of Vandyke, Rubens, Youet, Lesiieur, Sacchi, and Charleo Ma- ratti. These he had the capacity to turn to such good account, that he became one of the most popular portrait painters in Germany, being em- ployed by the emperor and members of the court, who loaded him with honours and presents. He was entrusted with the management of public affairs at Frankfort, and raised to the rank of an aulic counsellor. The most celebrated of his numerous paintings is the Artemisia, and the portrait of Pierre Serini, who was beheaded in 1671. Of these pro- ductions it has been said, that they are equal to the highest efforts of Rembrandt and Rubens ; a degree of praise which may readily be admitted to be over- charged, but which may be assumed as sufficient proof that they possessed merits of a very high order. Madam Merian's great work was originally en- titled " Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium, in qua erucaa et vermes ad vivum delineantur et describuntur," &c. ; but in the subsequent editions, containing twelve additional plates, the title was slightly changed. In the edition printed at the 32 MEMOIR OP Hague, which is the only one to which we have had access, the title is as follows, — " Dissertatio de generatione et metamorphosibus insectorum Surina- mensium ; in qua, praeter vermes et erucas Surina- menses, earumque admirandam metamorphosin, plantae, flores et fructus, quibus vescuntur, et in quibus filer unt inventse, exhibentur. His adjun- guntur Bufones, Lacerti, Serpentes, Aranea3, aliaque admiranda istius regionis animalcula, omnia manu ejusdem Matronae in America ad vivum accurate depicta et mine aeri incisa. Accedit appendix transformationum Piscium in Ranas, et Ranarum in Pisces." At the time of its publication, this was justly considered a magnificent volume, far sur- passing any illustrated work previously devoted to this tribe of animals. The dimensions of the plates — of that description which is technically called atlas folio — allowed most of the objects to be represented in their natural size ; and as many of the most beautiful and striking are selected, they form a series of as shewy and imposing pictures as can well be conceived. Many of the figures, both of plants and animals, are delineated and coloured with great elegance and accuracy ; but this commendation can by no means be extended to the whole, or even the larger proportion of them. The author is frequently led into serious errors, by having but an imperfect acquaintance with the objects of her study, and she is far from being free from the bad taste of the period, in occasionally placing her figures in fanciful and unnatural positions. In this respect, some of MARIA SIBILLA MERIAN. 33 them exhibit more of the artist than of the naturalist, being disposed with a view to effect, rather than for the purpose of displaying their habitual and charac- teristic attitudes. When circumstances did not admit of personal observation, she gave far too easy belief to the reports of the Indians, who seem occasionally to have imposed upon her. Hence it is that she has introduced many idle stories into her work, for which her only authority is, persuasum e$t mihi ah Indis ; and also the fictitious figure in Plate XLIX. composed of the body of a Tettigonia, surmounted by the mitred head of a lantern fly, the manufacture, in all probability, of some cunning negro, who doubtless turned the unique specimen to good account. The work, besides, is preeminently liable to the objection which applies so forcibly to all the pictorial illustrations published both in that and the succeeding age ; namely, a want of precision and finishing in the minute details, which are indispensable requisites in every delineation de- signed to be of service in natural history. But notwithstanding these defects, some of which are almost inseparable from the nature of the un- dertaking, while others are to be ascribed to the imperfect state of engraving at that period, as ap- plied to the representation of natural objects, the work in question forms an important contribution to the library of the naturalist, and is a striking memorial of the zeal and ability of its fair author, ne fidelity with which many tropical plants are 34 MEMOIR OP represented has rendered it useful to the hotanist*, and the student of entomology may still refer to it for information on many points which he will not easily find elucidated elsewhere. It has been already mentioned that her principal object was to figure the larvae and pupae of lepidopterous insects, and these accordingly will be found to constitute by far the most valuable portion of the book, the drawing and engraving of these being obviously much more carefully executed than in the case of the com- plete insect. But in order that the nature of the work may be more fully understood, it will be proper to describe a few of the more remarkable plates in detail ; and in doing so, we shall occasionally avail ourselves of the observations made on them by tha late Rev. Lansdown Guilding, who was eminently qualified to form an estimate of their character, not only by his skill as a draughtsman and naturalist, but likewise by his residence for a time in a country similar to that whose productions they were de- signed to illustrate t. The two first plates are more remarkable for the plants which they exhibit than the insects, the former being the well known pine (Bromelia ananas, L.), first in a state of inflorescence, with * To commemorate Madam Merian's services in this de- partment, although it was with her a secondary object, Swartz has named after her his genus Meriana, which comprehends two species of exotic plants, belonging to the class clecandria and order monogynia. t See Loudons Mag. of Nat. Hist. vol. vii. p. 335. MARIA SIBILLA MERIAN. 35 the crown and basilar offsets just developed, and secondly in a ripe state, cut out of its cluster of serrated leaves, and prepared for the table ; both of the figures extremely well executed. The insects are rather coarsely engraved. Those towards the top of Plate i. are the kakkerlac or American cock- roach (Blatta Americana, L.), which infests most of the houses of tropical America. The four upper figures in Plate n. represent the Coccinella cacti, and the four lower ones the different states of Pa- pilio Dido, Fab., the caterpillar somewhat remark- able for having two long pilose spines, springing from the incisure of the anal segment. Plate m, represents the different stages of a gigantic hawk- moth, which does not appear to have been known to Fabricius. The pupa, which is beautifully drawn, has the case of the proboscis of great length, and incurved like a ram's horn. The pupa and exuviae of the larvae are improperly attached to a plant (the Anona muricata, or soursop), as the sphingidaa undergo their change in the earth, and envelope themselves in a loose cocoon. Plate v. likewise represents a large and finely marked sphinx (Sphinx Tetrio, Fab.), together with its pupa and larva. The latter is placed on a cassava plant, the root of which is figured to show the tubers, which afford a common and valuable article of food. The author states, that when the tubers are well scraped, all the juice is pressed out of them, as it is of a poisonous quality. They are then placed on a plate of iron, under which a fire is kept up, until the remaining 36 MEMOIR OP moisture entirely evaporate. When thus prepared, the remaining mass is as palatable as the best European biscuit. If the expressed juice be swal- lowed by either man or beast, death ensues, ac- companied with excruciating pains ; but when the juice is boiled, it forms an innoxious and even a pleasant beverage. Mr. Guilding mentions, that by the act of boiling only, this juice is (in the Demerara settlement) converted into the rich and dark sauce called cassaripe. The native Indians form of dark clay their pots which bear the name of this sauce, serving to season the hunter's daily meal ; and the colonist has introduced the custom into his more luxurious dwelling. The plan is, to throw into the cassaripe pot, which is never cleaned or altogether emptied, the remains of meat and poultry ; to add the sauce, and stir the compound preparation, which is said to form a most delicious meal. In order still further to embellish the above plate, Madam Merian has introduced a fine mottled snake in a gravid state, together with a group of its eggs. The figure not noticed in the text, which is miserably engraved, is the curious Membracis foliata. Plates vn. vui. and ix. illustrate respec- tively the various conditions of three splendid but- terflies, Pap. Achilles, Nymphalis Amphinome, and Pap. Nestor. The former of these plates is of con- siderable value, as aifording an excellent repre- sentation of one of the largest and most highly ornamented of tropical butterflies, accompanied with a good figure of the larva, which seems to be of MARIA BIBILLA MERIAN. 3? rare occurrence, and likewise of the pupa, worthy of notice for its short ovate shape. The caterpillar of Nymphalis Amphinome (drawn on a plant which our author calls Indian Jasmine, but which is the Plumieria rubra of Linn.) is distinguished by having its head surrounded with a coronet of eight occipital spines, and two long anal horns, similar to those in the caterpillar of the common puss moth ( Centra vinula)^ but to all appearance not en- closing tentacula, as is the case in the instance just mentioned. Although Pap. Nestor is asserted to have been produced from the caterpillar on the pomegranate branch (Plate ix.), there is some reason to doubt the accuracy of this statement, as its form and oblique lateral stripes rather indicate its con- nexion with the crepuscular or nocturnal lepidoptera. Plate xi. affords good representations of the two sexes of a conspicuous moth, Attacus Erythrince, and a beautiful species of the plant from which the insect obtains its name. " If we can depend on the drawings of the Iarva3," says Mr. Guilding, " and the accompanying statements, we have here an extraordinary instance of the change which takes place during the development of the larva. I have myself, as well as other observers, witnessed the disappearance of spots, the alteration of colour, and the variations in the clothing of caterpillars, but have never noticed such great changes as are here described. The yellow larva at its first moult* ing exchanges its transverse bands for lateral spots ; at the second, the six strong spines which defend 38 MEMOIR OF the body are laid aside, and the general colouring of the animal undergoes a change." On Plate xn. along with a flowering branch of the plantain fMusa pwradisiacay L.), to whose magnificent di- mensions even Madam Merian's plates cannot do justice, is figured a male moth of the genus Sa- turnia, conjectured by Mr. Guilding to be the same species as one drawn by himself in all its stages, and sent for insertion in the costly zoological illustrations of Mr. Wilson of Edinburgh, and which he has named Attacus Wilsonii, in honour of that gentleman*. The xvith plate may be mentioned as affording an unpardonable instance of our fair author's carelessness, and of the readiness with which she listened to the stories of those who procured her subjects for her pencil. In represent- ing a branch of the cashew-nut tree (Anacardium occidentals ), she has reversed the ripe fruit, and placed it by means of an imaginary peduncle under the leaves, where it never grows. The white cater- pillar on one of the lower leaves is a very remarkable creature, being entirely covered with thick tufts of hairs of great length. The xviuth plate is, in some respects, one of the most remarkable in the book, and has not improperly been described as an entomological caricature. The animals themselves are not inaccurately figured, * We are enabled to state, that Mr. Guilding's beautiful drawing will be represented on the ivth plate of the 2d vol. of these valuable illustrations, the publication of which wiH V*e resumed forthwith. MARIA SIBILLA MERIAN. 39 but the manner in which they are represented to be employed seems entirely fanciful, and probably sug- gested by the idle stories of the natives. The prin- cipal figures are those of the gigantic bird-spider (My gale avicularia, Walck.), the hunting-spider (Thmmsus venatorim^ Latr.), and parasol ant (For- mica cephalotes, Fabr,) Of the former, one of the figures is represented as destroying a humming-bird, which it has just dragged from its nest ; and the other as issuing from the huge cocoon of a kind of moth, which it is asserted, without probability, to be in the habit of adopting for its dwelling. As the story of this spider devouring small birds seems to have originated with Madam Merian, we shall translate what she says on the subject ; and this account, along with that of Formica cephalotes appended to it, may be taken as an example of the descriptive portion of her work. " I found," she says, " many large dark coloured spiders on the guava tree (Psidium)^ which take up their abode in the large cocoon of a caterpillar; for they do not spin webs, as some travellers have tried to make us believe. Their bodies are entirely covered with hair, and they are armed with long pointed teeth, with which they bite severely, and inflict dangerous wounds by in- jecting some kind of liquid. Their common food is ants, which they capture with ease as they run upon the trees ; for, like all other spiders, they are furnished with eight eyes, two placed above and two below, two on the right side, and a like number 40 MEMOIR OF on the left. When they cannot obtain ants, they carry off even small birds from their nests, and suck the blood from their bodies. They occasionally change their skin, in the same manner as cater- pillars ; but I hare never found them flying. These spiders seize upon humming-birds when sitting in their nests. This bird was formerly used by the priests of Surinam as an article of food, and I am assured that they were prohibited from eating any other kind of food. fcC Ants of a large size are found in America, which in a single night sometimes strip trees of their foliage so completely as to make them re- semble stakes rather than trees. They are armed with two curved teeth which cut across each other like the blades of a pair of scissors, by means of which they cut off the leaves, which fall to the ground, leaving the branches as naked as winter makes them in Europe. Thousands of ants are waiting at the bottom to receive these leaves as they fall, and they immediately carry them to their nests, not as food for themselves but for their young, which are as yet only small worms ; for it is to be observed, that the winged ants lay eggs in the same manner as flies, from which are produced small worms or acari of two different kinds, some of them enclosing themselves in a web, but the greater number passing into nymphs. These nymphs some, who are igno- rant of the matter, call eggs, but the eggs are much smaller. The nymphs are employed at Surinam for feeding chickens, and they form a more nourish- MARIA SIBILLA MERIAN. 41 ing food than either oats or barley. From these the ants are produced, which, after changing their skin, acquire wings and lay eggs, from which spring the worms, for whose support the ants labour with such unceasing diligence ; in these warm countries, however, they have no occasion to make provision against the cold, since there is no winter. They excavate passages in the earth to the depth of eight feet, so neatly formed that they might be supposed to be the work of human art. When they wish to cross from one place to another between which there is no passage, they form a bridge in the fol- lowing manner, — the first clings to a piece of wood, which he seizes firmly between his teeth, a second follows the first and adheres to him, and in like manner a third and fourth, each supported by his predecessor ; in this state they hang exposed to the wind, till a blast brings the free end in contact with the point which they desire to reach, and a bridge is thus formed, which serves for the passage of thousands. The ants carry on a perpetual war with spiders and all other insects that inhabit this country. When they issue from their excavations, which they do twice in the year, their numbers are so great that they fill the houses, and run from one apartment to another, killing all the smaller animals and sucking their juices. They devour one of the large spiders, formerly mentioned, in a moment, attacking it in such crowds that it is wholly unable to escape. Even man himself is obliged to take 42 MEMOIR OP flight, such multitudes traverse the houses in all directions. When one house has heen in this manner stripped and cleared, they pass on to the next, till at length they return to their holes*." The ahove accounts, there can he little doubt, are to a considerable extent fabulous. That the fero- cious spider could easily overcome the tiny hum- ming-birds, if it succeeded in catching them, is by no means unlikely, but it is very improbable that it would attempt to feed on them. The mygale in fact is scarcely ever seen on trees, but resides in tubes under ground, and generally remains close to the surface, while the humming-birds never alight but on branches. Its food consists of wood-lice, subterranean crickets, and cockroaches ; and when a humming-bird was once placed for experiment in one of its tubes, it was not only not eaten by the spider, but the latter actually quitted its hole and left it in possession of the intruder. The existence of any bird-catching spider in America, is therefore regarded by those who have had ample opportunities of obser- vation, as wholly improbable t. The nest is very ill drawn, and ought to have contained only two eggs. Plate xx. is one of the best finished of the whole, and is highly interesting to the entomologist, as containing excellent figures of the caterpillar and cocoon of the giant owl-moth, Erebus Strix, Fair., * Insects of Surinam, p. 18. *}• A communication on this subject, made by Mr. M'Leay to the Zoological Society, will be found in Taylor's PhiL Mag. vol. iv. p. 460. third series. MARIA SIBILLA MERIAN. 43 the glory of the noctuidrx, as it has been de- servedly called. This caterpillar is black with a green band on each segment, and is furnished with a strong anal horn like those of the hawk-moths, but it differs from these in having tufts of hair springing from each side The figures of the moth are much more carefully engraved than usual. Plate xxni. represents Morpho Teucer with its curious armed caterpillar placed on the ripe fruit of the banana (Musa sapientum, Linn.) ; and the fol- lowing plate is entirely devoted to the coleoptera, containing figures of Cerambyx farinosus, Cerambyx spinibarbis, and Prionus melanopus, with the larva of the latter. The plant is the Mexican poppy C Argemone Mexicana), drawn in a very character- istic manner. The xxixth plate merits attention as a very successful representation of one of the most beauti- ful butterflies known, the Urania Leiliis of Fabr., lately named Leilus Surinamensis, from being rather hastily supposed to be confined to that country. A singular larva is likewise figured, from which our author affirms that the butterfly was produced. It is thickly beset with sharp hairy spines of great length, some of them half as long as the body, and as rigid as iron wire. But a celebrated entomologist, who has lately investigated the metamorphosis of another species of Urania (U. Fernandince) has given it as his opinion that Madam Merian's figure and description of this larva are unworthy of credit. 44 MEMOIR OF The fruit introduced into this plate is the shaddock (Citrus decumana), the largest and one of the finest of the citrine tribe. Passing over numerous plates devoted to the illustration of many fine lepidopterous species, some of them of considerable merit, and a few (such as Plate XLII.) unworthy of commendation, we shall extract Mr. Guilding's notice of plate XLIX., which affords an excellent delineation of both sexes of the great lantern-fly. " The subterraneous larva and the smaller expanded figure belong to a true cicada, but not, I think, the Tettigonia tibicen, Fair. The larger figures well represent the noble Fulgora lan- ternaria, one of the most singular of all insects, and a precious addition to any cabinet. The creature at the bottom is fictitious. The hollow lantern- shaped head of the Fulgora has been glued on a Tettigonia, and probably sold to our good-tempered author by some cunning negro. From her words, * persuasum mihi ab Indis est,' she had evidently no better authority for presenting us with this strange figure. The sounds of the cicada, so like those of the razor-grinder s wheel, are not produced by the proboscis, but by the wonderful and complex tympanum, which occupies half the abdomen of the clamorous and impatient male. From the peculiar shrillness of the confused notes drawn from the quickly agitated organ, the creature is heard not only at a great distance, but is superior in attracting the attention to any thing I know. Often, as the MARIA S1BILLA MERIAN. 45 sun has been descending, and I have been perform- ing the solemn service of the dead, one of these creatures has lighted on a neighbouring plant, and there commenced his evening hymn, and thus disturbed me. At other times, attracted by the lights at evening service, the noisy intruder will enter my parish church, and distress the preacher with his rival voice. If its jarring notes cannot be said to drown my powerful organ, they are certainly heard distinctly above every thing by the still assembly. Madam Merian gives us an account of her first discovery of the shining property of the Fulgora, and tells us of the horror which seized her when she opened the box to separate the quarrelling inmates and saw it filled with fire. A glass full of any of our luminous insects, when in health, is, indeed, a splendid show. The plant is the mon- strous or double variety of the pomegranate (Punica Granatum^ L.), sometimes cultivated as an orna- ment of our gardens." We have now mentioned some of the principal plates of this splendid work, and although there are many others of great interest and value, an account of them would exceed the limits which we can assign to the present notice. Towards the close of the volume, the drawing and engraving are in ge- neral less carefully executed, and the objects represented are of a more miscellaneous description. Serpents, lizards, shells, and frogs, are occasionally introduced, and one of the last plates is occupied by 46 MEMOIR OF MARIA SIBILLA MERIAN. showing the process of transformation by which a Surinam frog (Rana paradoxa^ Cuv.) is converted into a fish ! The closing plate presents a heteroge- neous assemblage of various objects, disposed in a most fantastical manner, and is utterly worthless. LEPIDOPTERA. INTRODUCTION. IN a previous volume of our entomological series, we have given a view of such of the day-flying lepidoptera, or butterfly tribes, as have been ascer- tained to inhabit Britain. Their extreme beauty renders them by far the most attractive of our native insects, and we trust that few can have their attention directed, however briefly, to their history, without having their curiosity gratified by the in- stances of singular instinct and economy with which it abounds. These constitute, however, only one section of the lepidopterous order, and that by no means one of the most extensive. The hawk-moths, and moths properly so called, form the other divi- sions ; and to these we propose to devote the present volume, with the same limitation as formerly in regard to locality A view will thus be afforded of the entire order of our - painted populace That live in fields and lead ambrosial lives, comprehending an account of the most interesting and remarkable native species which it contains. 48 INTUODUCriON. Several of the hawk-moths are among the most conspicuous insects we possess, one of them the largest found in Europe ; and their caterpillars are likewise remarkable for their size and beautiful colour. Although moths in general yield to the diurnal kinds in richness of decoration and colours which seem as if they caught their glowing tints from the pure skies and cloudless sunshine under which these gay creatures delight to roam, they yet present much to please the eye even in their mode of embellishment. Their subdued and occa- sionally almost sombre hues are finely adapted to the seasons in which they are destined for active life, and are often blended and intermixed in so harmonious a manner as to produce a most pleasing effect. Neither is this " sober livery" by any means universal among the tribe ; many are decorated with the richest colours, displayed in strongly contrasted bands and spots, and sometimes glossed with a metallic lustre. In the form of caterpillars, too they become objects of the highest interest and curiosity. In that condition they exhibit examples of the most laborious industry and of the greatest ingenuity, together with a variety in their modes of living, and peculiarity of form and appearance, scarcely surpassed by any other race of little crea- tures. Then also they afford those • millions of spinning worms That in their green shops weave the smooth-hair 'd silk ; thus adding to the other considerations recommend- INTRODUCTION. 49 ing them to notice, that which arises from contri- buting directly to our interests. Hawk-moths and moths possess, of course, many properties in common with butterflies, besides the peculiar consistency of the wings. In the confor- mation of the mouth, mode of propagation, character of the metamorphosis, and many other particulars, there is a general agreement, as may be inferred from their being associated together in the same ordinal division of their class% Instead, therefore, of repeating what has been already said respecting the various organs, their functions, and several other general properties, it will suffice to mention what peculiarities are observable in the tribes in question. Their habits and economy, however, are in many cases so remarkable and interesting, that in order to do that part of the subject any thing bike adequate justice, it will require to be treated in considerable detail. They are distinguished from butterflies, among other characters, by having at the base of the under wings, near the anterior edge, a stiff bristle or hair which passes through a hook on the under side of the anterior wings and maintains them when at rest in a horizontal or somewhat inclined position. The most characteristic and destinctive mark of the hawk-moths, the tribe to which we shall first direct our attention, is to be found in the form of the antennae, which increase in diameter from a slender base £early to the apex, forming a prismatic, fusi- form club oint directed backwards. In some cases two or three of the anterior segments become rather sud- denly attenuated towards the head, which thereby acquires some resemblance to a pig's snout, and has given occasion to the French name chenille* cockonnes*. The surface is without hair, sometimes % smooth, but more commonly shagreened, or covered with hard grains like a piece of seal skin ; the prevailing colour fine green, the sides often adorned with oblique stripes of yellow, purple, or blue. The caudal horn, which appears under a glass to be co- vered with small points, arranged after the manner of scales, has been conjectured to be a weapon of offence or defence, but the animal has never been observed to employ it for such purposes. When at rest, they usually elevate the anterior part of the body, and retract the head under the second or third segment, thus assuming a peculiar attitude in which they have been thought to bear some resem- * This form is exemplified in tbe caterpillars of Deilephila Elpenor, D. Porcellus, and others belonging to the group which we have distinguished as a subgenus under the name of Mi- topsilug. 54 INTRODUCTION. blance to the fabled sphinx of antiquity, which led Linnaeus to distinguish them by that name. They in general live singly, and feed on the leaves of plants, principally of the herbaceous kind. When about to be transformed, they undergo a sudden and total change of colour, their usual bright hues being converted into dull grey or brown. Prepara- tory to the same important operation, they merely scoop out an oval chamber in the earth, without en- closing themselves in a silken cocoon, being satisfied with the protection afforded by the slightly agglu- tinated particles of the circumjacent soil. The chrysalis is generally without angular projections, and in some instances the sheath containing the proboscis is prominent and detached, and curved, downwards over the breast. The larvae of the Zygenidae and ^Egeridae, how- ever, which likewise pertain to the crepuscular sec- tion, recede considerably from the more characteristic forms and habits just described. They are destitute of a caudal horn, and those of the latter family gnaw the woody portions of trees and shrubs, form- ing a rude cocoon of the triturated fragments and undergoing their transformations in the interior; while those of the former live exposed on the foliage of plants, and spin a long oval or spindle-shaped cocoon, of a coreaceous texture, which they attach to the stem or branches. The last, and by far the most extensive section of the lepidopterous order, is that containing the INTRODUCTION. 55 insects known by the familiar name of MOTHS. This numerous assemblage, which the minute in- vestigations of modern observers have caused to be arranged in a multitude of generic groups, was originally comprehended within the ample boun- daries of the single genus Phalama^ as defined by Linn&us and the older naturalists. They present many remarkable variations, both in their general appearance and in the details of their structure. Their manners and economy are likewise so diver- sified and curious, that a minute account of these would afford ample materials for a work of con- siderable extent, exclusive of any description of the insects themselves. In the space here designed to be allotted to the subject, in conformity with the endeavour we have hitherto made to combine two objects, which have been frequently disjoined, to the material hinderance of accurate knowledge in natural history, viz. a general account of the habits of ani- mals, with a correct view of their specific forms and appearance, we shall first mention what is peculiar to these insects in their winged state, and then describe their external structure and habits as caterpillars. An opportunity will thus be afforded of presenting what is most striking in their ways and instincts, which, taken in connexion with what has been said in a previous volume regarding the phenomena of transformation, &c. and what is subsequently sup- plied in notices of the respective genera and species, will form at least what is most material to be known, and all that is likely to interest a general reader,— 56 INTRODUCTION. it may be something more — in the histoiy of the lepidopterous tribes. These insects are best distinguished by the shape of the antennae, which are setaceous or diminishing in thickness from the base to the apex. They are generally long and flexible, and composed of oblong, subquadrate, or transverse joints. In many cases they are toothed or serrated, and often emit a series of parallel branchlets on one or both sides, some- what resembling the teeth of a comb, whence they are said to be pectinated or bipectinated. These branchlets are sometimes themselves furnished with a secondary row, and have two or three divergent spines at the tip, all of them placed with much regularity, and presenting a very beautiful appear ance under a magnifying lens. They are generally more or less clothed with scales, which sometimes (as in Hypena proloscidalis ) are very long and not unlike feathers. Whenever they deviate from a • simply articulated structure, the antennae are more developed in the male than in the female ; if serrated in the former, for example, they are often simple in the latter ; and if those of the male are pectinated, his partner usually has them merely serrated, or at most imperfectly pectinated. In a group of small silver-spotted moths ( Aryyromiges ) , which suspend their slender cocoon to the under side of a leaf by means of four threads at each end, exactly after the manner of a hammock, the antennae when in repose are bent backwards and lodged beneath the wings. The superficial scales are greatly more varied in INTRODUCTION. 57 shape than among butterflies ; indeed, it has been asserted that they assume a different form in each species. This, however, is by no means the case, hut they are frequently dissimilar on different parts of the same individual. Many of them are so long and slender that they have the appearance of hairs, but the application even of a faint magnifying power shows that they are more or less dilated at the tip, and frequently bifid, trifid, or palmate. Of this nature are the kinds composing the hair-like tufts and crests on many of the noctuidse, as may be seen by examining the gamma-moth (Plusia gamma), a common species in most parts of the country. The proboscis is apparently of the same structure as in the day-flying tribes, and presents nothing peculiar in its appearance. It is seldom of great length, and in many instances it is merely rudi- mentary, while in others it is altogether wanting. The Swifts or Ghost-moths (Hepiali), the Goat- moth, and many others, are so circumstanced, and they are probably in consequence incapable of taking any nutriment. Moths are occasionally observed to feed on solid substances, such as sugar; this they are enabled to do in the same manner as flies (Diptera), by discharging a liquid from their trunk, which softens and dissolves the particles till they become sufficiently fluid to be absorbed. The palpi generally consists of three joints, but in some cases, as in the genus Lithosia, they are only two jointed. These organs are sometimes very diminutive, but in general they are well developed, 58 INTRODUCTION. and at times so much elongated as to form a length- ened muzzle in front of the head. From this cir- cumstance some of these insects are named Snout- moths. In a group of small species, distinguished by the name Peronea, they aie directed obliquely downwards and much thickened towards the tip, forming a scaly somewhat hatched -shaped mass. One species (Anacampsis longicornis) receives its name from the length and unusual appearance of the appendages in question, which are curved up- wards on each side of the head, appearing like two long divergent horns ; and in another, they are ad- vanced in front of the head and curved towards each other after the manner of a lobster's claws, whence the insect is named the Lobsterclawed-moth ( Chelaria rhomboidella) . These are what are called, from the place of their insertion, the labial palpi, and are the only organs of the kind with which the generality of moths are provided. In certain groups, however, there is likewise a maxillary pair, some- times conspicuous and uncovered, but usually mi- nute and concealed among the frontal hairs. Such is the case with the family TENEITES of Latreille, and a few others allied to them. On the other hand the palpi, like the trunk, are sometimes wholly wanting, as may be seen in the Ghost and Emperor moths. The thorax is shorter, and generally more robust than among butterflies. Besides the patayia or tappets which they possess in common with the latter, many of them have an irregularly shaped INTRODUCTION. 59 appendage on each shoulder, having the appearance of a lappet ; these are named tegulce or base- covers, and are well exemplified in the genus Lithosia and its affinities. This part of the hody often bears one or more conspicuous dorsal tufts of feathery hair- like scales, of which the anterior and posterior are sometimes concave ; in which case the former has the concavity directed forwards, and the latter has it turned in an opposite direction. As appendages of the thorax, the legs next require a brief notice, but they present nothing very peculiar in their formation. An exception to this character, however, is perhaps to be found in the occasional great length of the coxae, which in the anterior legs of certain species (Hypena proboscidalis, for ex- ample) are as long as the tibiae, and not much shorter than the thighs. The two last named divisions of the leg are often densely clothed with long hairs, and the tibiae, in the fore pair, are usually furnished with a strong spine on the inner side, which sometimes assumes the appearance of a rigid compressed lobe. In most cases this is the only projection on the anterior legs ; the intermediate tibiae generally have two spurs at the apex, and besides a similar pair in the hinder ones, there are often two others in the middle. The latter arrange- ment is frequently observed also in the intermediate tibiae. This portion of the leg often bears a pen- dant tuft of loose hair, which probably assists in balancing the body during flight 5 and in some in- stances (as in the genus Alcis) the tibiae have a 60 INTRODUCTION. groove internally which receives the tuft within it when at rest. The tarsi are always pentamerous, the joints usually elongated, the basal one being sometimes longer than the tibiae. Hepialus Hectus is anomalous in this respect, the tarsi being entirely wanting in the hinder legs. It has been already stated that the wings of the night-flying lepidoptera are never held in a vertical position when at rest ; but this negative character is almost the only general one that can, in this par- ticular, be ascribed to them. In other respects, their position and bearing are so varied, that the distinctions arising therefrom have been sometimes employed to divide the whole tribe into separate groups. In many they are parallel to the plain of position, or slightly inclined, and the upper pair folded along the back in such a manner that the one overlaps the other, thus rendering the two an- terior margins parallel with each other and with the body, while the under pair are folded up beneath somewhat after the manner of a fan. It frequently happens, in an arrangement similar to this, that the internal edges do not overlap but are simply applied to each other ; or the internal edges are parallel and more or less remote from each other, leaving a portion of the back of the abdomen exposed, while the line of the anterior edge of the upper wings gradually recedes from the body to the hinder extremity, and thus forms the side of an isosceles triangle. In many instances the upper wings meet at their internal edges, and are elevated above the body in such a way INTRODUCTION. 0 1 as to form a kind of roof over it, the ridge of which is some times sharp, at other times rounded. The Cinnabar-moth (PL 21. fig. 2.) affords an example of the former, the Goat-moth (PI. 14. fig. 2.) of the latter. Many of the smaller moths (Tinice) have their wings convoluted, or rolled round the hody so as completely to embrace it. Others, contrasting with these, keep them always fully expanded, so that the posture maintained in flight is scarcely changed when they alight ; of this description are several of the brindled-moths, common in gardens, produced from geometer caterpillars which feed on fruit trees. In some genera the under wings project considerably beyond the upper, as may be seen in the Lappet-moth. It may likewise be noticed that several of the small Tortricidce are remarkable for having a sudden and deep emargination on the anterior edge of the upper wings, as if a semicircular portion were cut out ; whence they are known to collectors by the epithet of Notch-wing moths. A difference in the port of the wings is sometimes a sexual distinction, but that is often marked in a more decided manner. On this subject it may be regarded as the most general rule, that the female, contrary to what is observed in many of the higher animals, is larger than the male, sometimes even double the size*. The greater or less development of the antennae has been already mentioned as occa- * In" the clouded Buff-moth (Euthemonia Rir9ula), and a few other species, the female* however, is constf iab> small Pa: the other sex. 62 INTRODUCTION. sionally affording an obvious indication of the re- spective sexes. In several cases the colours and the mode of their distribution are so dissimilar, that when taken in connexion with other strongly marked differences, they would lead an observer, ignorant of the relations that subsist between them as proved by other circumstances, to refer the two sexes to entirely different genera. An example of this is seen in the Gipsey-moth (Hypogymna, dispar) and several others. A few female moths are entirely apterous, or have wings of such a rudimentary kind as to be wholly unfit for flight, a peculiarity which may be witnessed in the well-known species named the Yapourer (Qrygia antiqua). In such instances as that just mentioned, it is evident that the sexes would often experience the utmost difficulty in discovering each other, unless they were possessed of some peculiar means for that purpose. The case, indeed, is precisely analo- gous to that of the glow-worm, whose " nuptial lamp " has been long regarded, and to all appearance with perfect propriety, as a special provision to meet this exigency. Even when both sexes are winged, as is usually the case, a speedy introduction to each other's society is too necessary a step to be left to the chances of a casual encounter, as many of them are extremely short-lived, and not very loco- motive in their habits ; and an opportunity might thus be wanting to execute a function for which alone, in many cases, they seem to enter upon their winged state. The males, accordingly, particularly INTRODUCTION. 63 of certain kinds, possess an extraordinary acuteness in the sense of smell (or, it may be, are gifted with some peculiar faculty the nature of which is un- known to us), by the intimations of which they can discover the opposite sex at a great distance, and in the most secret situations. Advantage is often taken by collectors of this circumstance to secure specimens of the rarer kinds, and the following plan, as de- scribed by Mr. Haworth, may frequently be followed with success when most others are unavailing. " It is a frequent practice," he says, " with London Aurelians, when they breed a female of this and some other day-flying species (he speaks of Lasio- campa Quercus)^ to take her, while yet a virgin, into the vicinity of woods, when, if the weather be favourable, she never fails to attract a numerous train of males, whose only business seems to be an incessant, rapid, and undulating flight in search of their unimpregnated females. One of which is no sooner perceived, than they become so much ena- moured of their fair and chaste relation, as absolutely to lose all kind of fear for their own personal safety, which, at other times, is effectually secured by the reiterated evolutions of their strong and rapid wings. So fearless indeed have I beheld them on these occasions, as to climb up and down the sides of the cage which contained the object of their eager pursuit, in exactly the same hurrying manner as honey-bees, which have lost themselves, climb up and down the glasses of a window." The Chinese likewise turn this ardour in pursuit of the female 64 INTRODUCTION. to good account, by fixing individuals of that sex, Dertaining to a species whose caterpillar produces valuable silk, by a thread to a tree in an exposed situation, where they are soon visited by numerous males to the great increase of the proprietor's stock. The eggs produced by these insects present endless variations in their form, substance, and colour. The surface is often very beautifully carved, as was formerly described to be the case with those of butterflies, a circumstance, it has been justly re- marked, which distinguishes these tribes from all other oviparous animals. In general they are of one colour, the prevailing tints being white, yellow, grey, and brown. Sometimes, however, they are speckled like the eggs of birds, and at other times encircled with zones of different shades, a mode of distribution of which those of the feathered race afford no example. Thus, for example, the egg of the Brimstone-moth (Rumia Cratcegata), otherwise remarkable for being covered with hexagonal reti- culations, is yellow spotted with bright red; and that of the Lappet ( Gastropacha Quercifolia) is Mue with three circular bands of brown. In some distances the colours undergo a succession of changes is the egg advances to maturity, an effect which may be produced either by the changing condition of the embryo becoming manifest through the trans- parent integumeift, or the chemical action of air, moisture, and other influences on the substance of which the latter is composed. An example of this description is afforded by the eggs of a rarfe British INTRODUCTION. 65 moth, named by the fancy the Glory of Kent (Endromis versicolor), which are bright yellow on their first exclusion, and then become successively green, rose-colour, and black. The profuse fertility of most insects is well known, and the subjects of the present notice partake largely of this general attribute of their race. The Silk- worm-moth, for example, lays about 500 eggs, the Goat-moth 1000, and the Tiger-moth 1600. They are deposited either singly or in groups, and in the latter case are often arranged in a uniform symme- trical order by the parent moth, a process in which she manifests great ingenuity and prospective care, both for the preservation of the eggs and the welfare of the future young. The insoluble gum with which they are usually covered, protects them from the in- fluence of the weather when they are left exposed. But in many cases they are placed under some kind of shelter, and several species cover them with down, which they pluck from their own bodies by means of a pair of anal pincers with which they are pro- vided apparently for this express purpose. The caterpillars of moths are much more varied in their general forms and in the structure of their parts than those of butterflies, and indeed they may be said to be formed on a greater variety of models than most other animals. Their clothing and ap- pendages are likewise extremely various ; every kind of the former found in butterfly-larvae being ob served among them, besides several others peculiar to themselves. One of their most important varia 66 INTRODUCTION. tions is in the number of feet, a circumstance which necessarily gives rise to different modes of progres- sion, and occasions striking differences in habit and appearance. Before alluding, however, to the num- ber and arrangement of the feet, it will be proper to mention what peculiarities are observable in the structure of these members. In many instances there is no fleshy plate at the extremity of the pro- legs capable of being expanded and contracted to serve the purposes of a foot, the leg being simply a conical fleshy prominence, having the extremity surrounded by a complete coronet of hooks. Ex- amples frequently occur in which the prolegs have very much the appearance of a wooden leg, the upper part being thick, succeeded by a slender cylindrical piece which terminates in a circular expansion sur- rounded with crotchets, and having a small nipple in the centre which holds the place of a foot. Although these small hooks are generally present, this does not seem to be universally the case, for the subcutaneous larvae of a small moth of the Linnean genus Tinea, and a few others, are said to be without them. The true, or pectoral legs, are always six in number, and nearly uniform in figure ; the most remarkable among the few exceptions to this, is to be found in the caterpillar of the Lobster- moth, which has the two posterior pairs greatly elongated and terminating in a kind of claw. The amount of abdominal legs, however, is very variable in different groups, and in the anomalous caterpillars of two small brownish-yellow moths (Heterogenea INTRODUCTION. 67 Asellus and Limacodes Testudo), they are entirely wanting, their place being supplied by a number of small simple tubercles. The larvse of a great pro- portion of the largest and most conspicuous of oar native moths are provided with ten prolegs, like those of butterflies, and placed in the same order. In many others there are only eight, either one of the abdominal pairs, or the anal one, being absent. When the latter is the case, the hinder extremity of the body sometimes bears two caudal appendages (as may be seen in the caterpillars of the Puss and Lobster moths), with the free motions of which a pair of anal legs would probably interfere. Many larvse possess only six prolegs, others four, and a few of the smaller kinds merely a single pair, attached to the anal segment. Such as have a considerable number of intermediate legs generally keep their body, when walking, parallel with the plain of posi- tion, and advance by the rapid and successive motion of each segment, as if, as has been happily remarked, a wave were flowing over or pervading their bodies. But such a mode of locomotion evidently cannot take place when most or all of the abdominal segments $re without legs, as is the case with some of those just mentioned. These accordingly adopt a different method, by means of which they are enabled to move about with ease and celerity. They first fix their prolegs to the plain of position and stretch the body forward to its full extent ; then laying hold with the anterior legs, the tail is let free and drawn towards the head, the intervening portion of the DO INTRODUCTION. body being bent upwards into a loop or arch. Every progressive movement is effected by a repetition of the same manoeuvre, and the ground is thus traversed by regular and measured steps, each of which is nearly equal to the length of the insect's body. These peculiar attitudes have caused the caterpillars to be termed loopers and geometers ; and as they possess the power, from the great strength of their muscles, of fixing themselves by the hinder legs to a branch, and stretching out the body stiffly into the air, a position which they often maintain immovably for a length of time, they are likewise known by the name of surveyors. The kind of locomotion just described is best exhibited by such larvae as have only two or four prolegs, but it is likewise seen in those that have six, and occasionally even in species furnished with the full compliment of ventral legs. In the colour of their bodies these caterpillars are as greatly diversified as in their other properties. Such as live in the interior of trees, and in places where they are little exposed to the influence of light, are frequently of a dingy white or yellowish brown colour; but the kinds which frequent the foliage of plants, constituting by far the largest proportion, are often ornamented with the most vivid and varied tints. Reaumur asserts that they exhibit examples of every known colour, besides an infinite variety of shades, of which it would be difficult to find the like elsewhere. Some are of one uniform hue, but the majority are adorned INTRODUCTION. 69 with several, often very vivid and strongly con- trasted. Sometimes they are distributed in rays or longitudinal stripes, at other times in bands which follow the contour of the rings ; often in waves or spots of regular or irregular figure ; and not unfre- quently in insulated points, and numerous other forms too complex and varied to admit of being here particularised*. It frequently happens that the colours of larvae, before their first moult, are entirely different from those afterwards assumed ; and in some instances they undergo a considerable alteration at every successive change of skin. Dif- ference of colour, in individuals of the same species, sometimes indicates the respective sexes of the future moth ; thus, according to De Geer, the brown caterpillars of a common species, the Yellow Un- derwing ( Triphcena pronuba) produce males and the green ones females. Many of these caterpillars are distinguished by horns and protuberances of various sorts, which add greatly to the singularity of their aspect. The curious caudal appendages of those of the Puss and Lobster moths have been already alluded to, and will be more particularly described hereafter. Several have a kind of horn on the hinder extremity, some- thing resembling that of Hawk-moth Iarva3, but it is never so long and acute as in the latter, at least among British species, but rather assumes the form of an elongated tubercle. An example of this * Reaumur, Memoirs pour servir a Vhistoire des Insectes^ torn. i. page 76. 70 INTRODUCTION. may be seen in the conspicuous caterpillar of the Lappet-moth, which is further deserving of notice under this head, from heing provided with a lateral series of fleshy lobes, hanging one from each segment and giving the creature the appearance of having twenty feet. It is from these appendages bearing some resemblance to lappets that the moth has obtained its English name. The larva of the Twin-spotted underwing (Miselia bimaculosa), of the Coxcomb ( Lophopteryx Camelina), and some others, have the penultimate segment armed with a pair of short horns ; and that of a geometer-moth, named the Lilac-beauty (Pericallia syringaria), has two long recurved ones on the back of the eighth segment. Others of these surveyors have a variety of dorsal prominences, which contribute greatly to increase the remarkable resemblance many of them bear to a withered twig, by representing the knots and other projections of the wood. The curiously formed caterpillar which produces one of the most lovely of our native moths, named, from the rosy spots on its upper wings, the Peach-blossom ( Thya- tira Batis), bears a large tubercle near the head, divided at the top into two short horns. A still more remarkable projection is found in a prettily marked caterpillar occasionally met with in gardens throughout the country. It is an obtuse fleshy pyramid rising from the back of the fourth segment, of a black colour, fringed with hairs, and incapable of motion ; the moth named the Dagger (Acronycta Psi) originates from this larva. Several have the INTRODUCTION. 71 power of emitting a short retractile vesicle from some one of the abdominal segments; and the caterpillar of the Emperor-moth has a perforated tubercle in front of the pectoral legs, through which, when disturbed, it squirts a transparent fluid. This is evidently given for defence, but with regard to most of the appendages previously mentioned, and others of a similar kind, we are wholly unacquainted with their use. Many of them are almost wholly free from hairs and pubescence, but in numerous instances these form one of the most striking characters belonging to them. Although much more varied in the clothing of their bodies than butterfly larvae, they are devoid of the strong spines formerly described as characterising many of the latter*. These haira are of different kinds, and arranged in a variety of methods. Sometimes they are soft and decumbent : at other times, long, slender, and tortuous, investing the body as with a fleece of wool; while in other instances they are long and stiff resembling bristles. Frequently they are all directed backwards, at other times they are turned towards the head, and in some cases they are nearly all pointed upwards or down- wards so as to cover the back or belly and leave the opposite half of the body almost bare. In some they are scattered promiscuously over the surface, * See vol. x. p. 65. The above remark, however, must be understood as applying only to the caterpillars of British moths ; those of certain exotic species are armed with spines of such a size that Mr. Kirby describes them as " tre- mendous." 72 INTRODUCTION. and in others issue in tufts from rounded tubercles arranged in a certain order. These tufts sometimes assume a very peculiar form, especially in the larvae of Tussock-moths (Qrygia, Laria, &c.) and a few others. Two long fascicles stand out from behind the head and project forwards, the hairs of which are dilated at the point in such a manner as to make them resemble a painter's brush. A similar fascicle springs from the hinder extremity and is directed backwards, and along the back there is a series of short wedged-shaped tufts of equal length formed by thick-set parallel hairs. These elongated tufts are often rendered still more conspicuous by being of a different colour from the other hairs ; the latter also vary greatly in their tints, which are often mingled and diversified so as to produce a very ornamental effect. When the hairs are long and thickly set, as is often the case, they form a very efficient clothing, and tend to save the larva from injury when it happens to fall ; they likewise seem, at least in many cases, to be organs of touch, for the slightest impression upon them produces movements in the animal which indicate that it is felt. Lyonet has shown that those of the Goat- moth caterpillar are partly hollow, and set in a scaly ring somewhat elevated above the skin, through which the root communicates with a soft integu- ment upon which the nerves form a reticular tissue, a structure which renders it highly probable that they perform the function just alluded to. With so much difference in the form, members, INTRODUCTION. 73 and clothing of the body, the caterpillars of moths are adapted to lire in a great variety of situations and circumstances. By far the greater proportion are to be found on the foliage of plants ; many occur only in the interior of the stem or branches; not a few burrow in the earth to consume roots ; and a small number are inhabitants of the waters. Neither are they less varied in the nature of their food. Few kinds of vegetable produce are exempted from their ravages, and unhappily their taste both for these and various sorts of fruits, often coincides with our own. Corn is not only exposed to their depredations while in the blade, but even after it has been laid up in supposed security, the grain is sometimes converted into a tenement for a small worm, the offspring of a moth, which speedily con- sumes all but the outer covering. They eat with avidity the most bitter plants which our fields produce, as well as those replete with a caustic and corrosive juice, which on that account are left untouched by other animals. The stings of the nettle, and the prickles of various other plants, are so far from warding off their attack, that these plants seem to be the resort of a greater number of caterpillars than those that are without any such defence. Wool, feathers, hair, and many other substances which set at defiance the digestive powers of other animals, are well known to form a favourite repast to these anomalous creatures, and as if no limits were prescribed to their voracity, some of 74 INTRODUCTION. them do not hesitate to devour each other whenever they have an opportunity. Most of these caterpillars feed during the day, but many are as exclusively nocturnal in their habits as the moths that spring from them. The geometers especially may often be observed during the whole day perfectly motionless, either stretched flatly along a branch, or projecting from it like a broken twig ; but the gnawed leaves in their vicinity show that they are not always thus inactive. An example of this kind may be seen in a species of pretty large size, common in autumn on cherry-trees throughout the south of Scotland and many parts of England, which so closely resembles the bark, that it is detected with the utmost difficulty. The same circumstance accounts for a fact sometimes mentioned with surprise, that the extent of the injury done to our culinary vegetables is often quite disproportionate to the number of depredators seen upon them — the season of their greatest activity being that in which they are not exposed to observa- tion. Others take their food only in the morning and evening, the middle of the night and of the day being their seasons of repose. Although the enemies of caterpillars are numerous and destructive, consisting of birds, parasitical ich- neumons, &c. and although they are occasionally subject to a kind of epidemic disorder which destroys them in great numbers, yet they often increase to an undue extent, and occasion considerable injury. INTRODUCTION. 75 Instances of their depredations are indeed of such ordinary occurrence as to have fallen under the observation of almost every one, and absolve us from any necessity of giving many details on the subject. Perhaps the species which have proved most in- jurious to the produce of our fields in this country, are those of the Brown-tail-moth (Porthesia auri- flua, Steph., Bom. phceorrhoea, Curtis. Don.), the Gamma-moth (Plusia gamma), the Antler-moth (Charceas gramims), the Lackey (Clisiocampa neustria), the Buff-tip (Pygcera bueephala), the Cabbage-moth (Mamestra BrassicceJ, the small Ermines ( Yponomeuta), and a few others. The first mentioned of these increased to an extraordinary degree in several parts of England in the summer of 1782, and by completely defoliating the trees, occasioned such alarm that prayers were ordered to be read in the churches to avert the calamity. It was apprehended, by those ignorant of their history, that these caterpillars would likewise destroy the growing corn and grass ; but it was soon shown that the leaves of trees and shrubs form their only food, and that these valuable productions would conse- quently escape their attack. So numerous were these creatures, that subscriptions were opened in many parishes, and poor people employed to cut off the webs at the rate of a shilling a bushel, which were burned under the inspection of the overseers of the parish; and it is stated that no less than fourscore bushels were for a while collected daily in 76 INTRODUCTION. some of the parishes*. The caterpillar of the Gamma-moth is common in all parts of the country, and as it feeds indiscriminately on a great variety of vegetables, it probably produces more damage than most of the indigenous species. The larvfc, of Charaeas Graminis has sometimes done much mischief to the pastures in the south of Scotland and northern parts of England, but it is happily of rather rare occurrence in the south. In the conti- nental countries of Europe, the ravages of some of the caterpillars just mentioned are sometimes carried to an extent of which our own country, probably from its insular situation, affords no example. On one occasion those of the Gamma-moth overran great part of France, devouring almost every thing green, with the fortunate exception of the different kinds of corn. The peasantry of Alsace suffered so severely that they went to their priests and entreated them to try the effect of religious processions in ridding them of the plague ; and the people of Paris, under the idea that the creatures were poisonous, ceased for a time to use any kind of vegetable for food. Unhappily no effectual means of easy appli- cation has yet been found to guard vegetables from their attacks or speedily to diminish their numbers. Reaumur suggests that in times of scarcity they might be used as an article of food ! o Of these caterpillars some are solitary during their whole life, appearing to hold no intercourse whatever * Hist, of Brown-tail-moth, by W.Curtis London 1782. INTRODUCTION. 77 with the rest of their kind ; many live in societies for some time after they are hatched, but separate as they grow up ; while others continue together all the time they are caterpillars, even undergoing their metamorphoses in company, and not scattering till they acquire wings. The habitations which they construct, and many particulars in their economy, depend to a certain extent on their habits in this respect, and in noticing this branch of their history, perhaps the most interesting that belongs to it, we shall first describe some of the most remarkable structures of solitary caterpillars, and next advert to those formed by the combined exertions of several. The habitations of the former sort are either formed by the union of separate pieces, sometimes of different materials, or more simply by folding or rolling together the leaves of plants ; and they are designed either for the protection of the caterpillar during its lifetime, or the reception of the chrysalis into which it is subsequently converted. Several form a covering for their bodies similar to that of the Phryganidae, or Case-flies, with which they move about like a snail or any other of the shell-bearing molluscae. Of these one of the most curious is the larvae of a small Tinea, which has not unaptly been named the stone-mason caterpillar. It forms a sheath for its body, or a kind of moveable tent, by agglutinating into a compact structure, small particles of stone detached from the wall on which it lives. This miniature tent is of a conical shape, somewhat curved, open at both ends, and borne rather obliquely. INTRODUCTION. The head and anterior part of the little inmate project, when it moves, from the opening at the widest end, and when the moth is perfected it issues from the other, which has heen previously widened to allow an easy passage. Previous to its change into a chrysalis, the caterpillar fixes its dwelling securely to a stone, by means ot a strong mooring of silk. The gentleman who first described the proceedings of this creature, supposed that it used the particles of stone for food, but more accurate observation soon proved that they are employed only for the purpose above described. Its real food seems to be lichens and minute mosses, which usually abound on old walls. The weight of such a covering may be supposed to impede materially the insect's movements, for never, says Reaumur, was a Roman soldier charged with such a burden. Others accordingly select a lighter material to cover the layer of silk which they invariably place next their bodies. Some kinds (such as Psyche radiella, Curtis B. E. fol. 332) may be said to thatch it, for they invest it with small pieces of withered grass of different lengths, which lie over each other and form a kind of imbricated coating. Others fabricate this outer vestment from fragments of leaves; and a small species described by Reaumur, which feeds on a kind of Astragalus, ornaments its covering with what he, calls furbelows or flounces, resembling those used by ladies in former times*. Similar to these * Reaumur, vol. iii. PI. 11. fig. 1. INTRODUCTION. 79 are the coverings of the caterpillars of the Clothes- moths, in the fabrication of which they show a degree of diligence and ingenuity, which it would be more pleasing to contemplate if less frequently exercised to our disadvantage. Their mantle con- sists of a small somewhat cylindrical tube, open at both ends, and rather widest in the middle. The exterior of this tube is a tissue of wool and silk, but the interior is lined with pure silk, for the greater comfort of the little tenant, whose body is soft and tender. So indispensable to its welfare is a fabric of this kind, that the worm begins to weave it soon after it issues from the egg. The growth of its body, however, renders it necessary that the do- micile should be frequently enlarged both in length and width. The former it readily accomplishes by putting out its head from one end, cutting the filaments of the wool with its scissor-like mandibles, and then, by turning its head backwards, incorpo- rating them with the rest of the tissue; it then turns itself in the opposite direction, which the wideness of its tube in the centre enables it do with facility, and repeats the same operation at the other extremity. The widening of the tube is a more difficult task, and the plan which it adopts to ac- complish it is as ingenious as if it were the result of a process of reasoning. The most obvious me- thod, and that which we would probably adopt in such a case, would be to make a rent the whole length of the garment, and again fill it up by in- serting a new piece sufficient to afford the extension 80 INTRODUCTION. required. But such a proceeding on the part of the worm would expose its body for a time with* out adequate protection, an accident of which it seems to have the utmost dread and guards against it with every precaution. It accordingly makes the rent extend only half way along, and when that fissure is filled up, forms another at the opposite end. There are generally two fissures made in each half, the one being opposite the other, so that the widening of the tube is effected by the insertion of four separate pieces. The colour of the garment is necessarily the same as that of the cloth which affords the raw material, and if the latter be party- coloured it exhibits a corresponding variety of hues. The creature feeds on the same material with which it clothes itself These may be called domestic moths, as they are found only in houses, where they live at the expense of the proprietor. Others, of more innoxious habits, frequent the foliage of trees, and fabricate, with still greater ingenuity, their little moveable tents from the thin membranes which form the outer coats of the leaves. Their proceedings were first accurately described by Reaumur, whose account we shall there- fore follow, using as nearly as possible his own words. One of the kinds which he mentions is found on the leaves of the elm, and its method of working may be taken as an example of the plan followed by the whole tribe. It commences by mining its way into the substance of the leaf between the two enclosing membranes, consuming, as it proceeds,, the INTRODUCTION. 81 parenchyma or pulp which constitutes its only food. In this way it excavates a portion of the leaf, leaving nothing but the thin superficial mem- branes, which it takes particular care not to injure, as they form the material from which the mantle is to be manufactured. The latter is composed of two equal and similar pieces, each forming one-half, shaped and united with as much regularity and precision as if executed by the most skilful artist. The difficulty of the task is increased by the pieces not being of regular figure, each of them being one-half wider at the one end than the other, and each side presenting a different curvature, the one slightly concave and the other convex. When the two pieces are cut into the requisite shape, they still continue to adhere to the leaf by means of the small crenatures left by the operator's teeth, and it now remains only to sew the two portions together. For this purpose it employs the silken thread, which every caterpillar can spin, and attaches the two edges so firmly and neatly, that it is difficult, when the habit is completed, to discern the point of junction even by the aid of a lens. A rounded form is given to it by its being at first moulded, as it were>> on the body of the insect itself, and its dimensions are easily increased by the walls being pushed outwards. The interior is freed from inequalities by the pressure of the insect's head, and then lined and strengthened with a coating of silk ; those parts being made strongest, which, from their prominence* 82 INTRODUCTION. are most exposed to friction. The little dwelling is now complete, but continues attached to the spot where it was formed. In order to disengage it, the insect puts out the anterior part of its body, and fixing its fore-legs to the leaf, drags the case for- wards, retaining its hold of it chiefly by the small hooks on the abdominal legs. It is now in a con- dition to transport itself from one leaf to another, and select the portions best suited to its taste, without incurring the risk, which it seems so much to dread, of exposing itself to the air. Apparently with the view of saving themselves the labour of sewing up one of the sides of their domicile, some of these creatures have the sagacity to mine the leaf close to one of the edges, and thus preserve the membrane unbroken on three of its sides. " Their proceedings," says one of the authors of the Introduction to Entomology, " I had the pleasure of witnessing a short time since upon the alders in the Hull Botanic Garden. More ingenious than their brethren, and willing to save the labour of sewing up two sides in their dwellings, they insinuate themselves near the edge of a leaf instead of in its middle. Here they form their excavation, mining into the very crenatures between the two surfaces of the leaf, which, being joined together at the edge, there form one seam of the case ; and from their dentated figure, give it a very singular appearance, not unlike that of some fishes which have fins on their backs. The opposite side they INTRODUCTION. 83 are necessarily forced to cut and sew up ; but, even in this operation, they show an ingenuity and con- trivance worthy of admiration/' A numerous tribe of small caterpillars feed, like those just described, on the pulp of leaves, but form no tent, contenting themselves with the protection afforded by the walls of their galleries. These have been named leaf-miners, and are very common on a variety of plants. Their tracks appear on the surface of the leaf like white tortuous lines, sometimes ex- panding into areas, and often intersecting each other. They are mostly very diminutive, as may be inferred from the nature of their haunts, many of them finding ample scope and accommodation within the dimen- sions of a leaf "not equal in thickness to this paper. The most cursory observer cannot fail to have noticed that the leaves of trees and shrubs are often rolled together into hollow cylinders, folded in a variety of forms or collected into packets, and that they are held in these positions by a series of silken ligaments. Each of these will be found to contain a small caterpillar, generally belonging to the tribe of insects now under consideration, which has adopted this method of sheltering itself from the weather, and feeding at its ease in concealment from its numerous enemies. Leaves of great strength and elasticity are frequently seen twisted and con- voluted for this purpose, and it is not a little surprising that creatures of such small dimensions, frequently not exceeding two or three lines in length, should be able to overcome the resistance of thg 84 INTEODUCTIOX. fibres and nervures over so comparatively large a surface. This, however, they accomplish with apparent ease, instructed by the same beneficent Power that teacheth man knowledge, and who has conferred even on the lowest of his sentient creatures an instinct which operates with the most salutary regularity, and is perfectly adequate to the supply of all their wants. Before a caterpillar of this sort commences its operations, it seems to take a survey of the leaf, in order to discover the part best adapted to its purpose. By availing itself of some natural inflection or cur- vature, such as may generally be found even in the flattest leaves, its labour is sometimes considerably lessened. It then takes up its position nearly mid- way between the edge of the leaf and the place to which it desires to draw it, — the latter being gene- rally the mid-rib, or some one of the principal nervures, — and spins a multitude of threads between these two points. These threads are the mechanical means by which the operation is to be accomplished. The curvature once formed, they easily prevent the recoil of the leaf, but it is not so obvious in what manner they cause it to roll up. One of the most philosophical observers that ever laboured in this field of natural history, confesses that he was unable to satisfy himself how this effect was produced, although the operation was going on under his eyes. " Le paquet," he says, " ii'est que Tassemblage des fils files successivement. Dans 1'instant que chaque fil vient de sortir de la filiere, pendant qu'il est encore mol, INTRODUCTION. 85 pour ainsi dire, 1'insecte 1'applique contre la feuille, il est asses gluant pour s'y coller : il peut bien avoir &e tire droit d'une partie de la feuille a 1'autre, mais il ne S9auroit avoir ete asses tendu pour faire un effort capable de ramener une des deux parties de la feuille vers 1'autre. Je S9ais que ce fil, quoique extremement delie, a quelque force; je lai vu en bien de circonstances, suspendre la chenille en Tair, mais il n'a pas ete possible, que quand il a ete attache avec le degre de tension necessaire pour forcer une des parties d'une feuille a* s'approcher de 1'autre. Si apres avoir ete file, il se raccourcissoit en sechant, ce raccourcissement le mettroit en etat d'agir; mais ou peut aller le raccourcissement d'un fil si court? Combien seroit petite la courbure qu'il pourrait donner a la feuille* !" It is very likely, however, that the thread suffers some contraction as the moisture evaporates by the action of the air, and however slight that contraction may be, that it co- operates with other causes to produce the curvature. The only other means which the insect has been observed to employ, are drawing the threads towards itself by its fore legs, and hanging upon them with the whole weight of its body. These threads are not placed at random, but arranged in small bundles or fascicles, each of which consists of two parallel rows, crossing each other in the centre. When the insect has formed the lower series, it passes to the other side and spins the second, making use of the former, while so doing, as a kind of platform for the support of its * Reaumur, Mem. ii. p. 215. 86 INTRODUCTION. body. Its whole weight consequently tends to draw the leaf forwards, while every successive thread of the superior set that is fixed, immediately secures the additional curve gained by the continued pressure. The effect of this mode of proceeding soon becomes visible in the appearance of the threads ; the lower ones become loose and floating, and those last spun alone continue tight. One convolution of the leaf being in this manner secured, the laborious little workman proceeds to form a second, by fixing his cords further back on the bent part of the leaf, and managing them as before. When the last roll is completed, the whole is secured by a series of silken bands, one or two of which are placed at each ex- tremity of the cylinder; or it is fastened with irregular threads, which form a kind of thin web along the whole extent of the leaf. The caterpillar now takes up its abode in the interior, and finds ample means of subsistence in the internal layers of its dwelling, without injuring the outermost roll ; or if the latter be likewise consumed, it is under the necessity of constructing another tenement. Reaumur, and several authors who have followed him, assert, that when these leaf-rollers are unable to overcome the resistance of the leaf by the mecha- nism just described, they render it more flexible by purposely gnawing the nervures and the thickest por- tions ; but others are inclined to regard this state- ment as erroneous. As they are often occupied a considerable time in forming their habitations, it is scarcely to be supposed that they always abstain INTRODUCTION. 87 from food till their task is completed, and if they do not, they may frequently increase the suppleness of the leaf, although we do not allow them credit for being sufficiently sagacious to gnaw its fibres for that express purpose. The proceedings of different caterpillars, in forming dwellings of this kind, vary considerably ; but the mechanical means which they employ are in most cases similar to the above. Some roll the leaves from the point down the mid-rib, others from the side towards the centre. Many compose their habitations by rolling two leaves together, while others draw the two sides towards each other and convert the whole leaf into a capacious tube. A few, less laborious than their fellows, select the long and nearly parallel leaves which terminate the young shoots of the willow, and very expeditiously adapt them to their own purposes, simply by wind- ing round them a number of silken cords. Such kinds show a wonderful degree of instinctive fore- sight, in carefully gnawing the bud at the extremity of the shoot, which is enclosed in the centre of the packet, and thereby preventing it from sprouting, as its doing so would have the effect of disarranging the whole tenement, and probably rupturing the bands by which it was held together. A small number take up their abode in the centre of um- belliferous herbs. It is well known, that in many of these plants the little umbels gradually become longer as they recede from the centre, and that consequently when they approyimate to each other, Htf INTRODUCTION. as they sometimes do naturally for the protection of the seed, they form a little hollow or cup in the middle, a circumstance so well exemplified in the wild carrot (Daucus Carota)^ that it has procured for it the name of the bird's nest. Ingeniously availing itself of this tendency, the caterpillar draws the pedicles closely together with ligaments of silk, and thus provides for itself a pretty secure lodge- ment in the interior. The larvae which follow the modes of architecture hitherto described, spend their lives in solitude, each confining himself to his own leafy tenement, as closely as a hermit to his cell. Others, however, are of a more social and convivial disposition, and not only feed in company, but form tents which are common to the whole community. These little commonwealths are the offsprings of one mother, originating from eggs which she has deposited in clusters on the plant best adapted to the nourishment of the young. In some cases, as has been already mentioned, the latter continue together only for a certain time after they are hatched and then separate, probably in order to obtain a more abundant supply of food. But in other instances, it seems essential to their economy that they continue to associate until they reach their perfect condition. Of the former description are the caterpillars, so abundant in some years on fruit trees, which produce a moth of a beautiful snow-white, with the apex of the abdomen bright yellow (Porthesia Chrysorrhcea}, whose nests may be taken as an example of the INTRODUCTION. 89 kinds generally formed by these family associations. When they first issue from the egg, they arrange themselves side by side in regular lines, two or three deep, and eat their way along the surface of the leaf, advancing simultaneously and with as much regularity as if they were executing a military manoeuvre. In this systematic way they speedily consume the leaf for rather more than half its thick- ness ; leaving, however, untouched the inferior epi- dermis and the nervures, as these are to form the canvass and cordage, if it may be so expressed, of a portion of their future tent. At an early period some of them may be seen carrying their lines of silk from one side of the leaf to the other, and as these increase in number^ the latter, now become thin and pliable, gradually acquires a concave shape. By the aid of additional spinners, the threads are multiplied till they form a continuous web or veil, the silk of which is remarkable for its whiteness. Under this, as a kind of roof, they find shelter from the weather, and make little excursions when in want of additional food. Now busily convened, upon the bud That crowns their genial branch, they feast sublime ; And spread their muslin canopy around, Pavilioned richer than the proudest kings. Several leaves, prepared in this manner, are gene- rally necessary to afford accommodation to an entire colony. These slight erections, however, are de- signed merely for temporary protection, and are all abandoned for one of a more durable construction. 90 INTRODUCTION. in which they pass the winter and continue to dwell all the time they remain in society. This they generally form near the extremity of some of the twigs that afforded them food. It presents, when completed, the appearance of a large packet of silk and leaves rudely interwoven, and of no uniform shape, the latter heing regulated entirely by the disposition of the shoots which support it. The whole colony work busily at this new edifice, and stretch their strong nets in all directions till they have enclosed a sufficient space. The different webs divide the interior of the nest into several compartments of very irregular form, but each of sufficient capacity to contain a number of caterpil- lars. When the interior is laid open, a number of cells are visible, forming such a complete labyrinth, that it is difficult to comprehend how the larvas that lodge in the centre find means to reach their quarters. This, however, they are enabled to do by means of doors or passages, which they take care to leave open at convenient places as the structure advances. The texture of these nests is so strong that they withstand all the storms of winter and spring, and protect their little inmates till the beginning of summer, when they disperse in order to undergo their metamorphosis. The nests of other kinds of social caterpillars are frequently formed with less art than the above. Those found in such profusion in certain seasons on apple trees, made by caterpillars which produce a small pearl-white moth, sprinkled with black dots, INTRODUCTION. 91 are of this description, although these larvae are among the species which continue in company till they become pupae, a circumstance which might be supposed to render a secure protection more neces- sary. Their nests appear like an assemblage of irregular webs, very transparent, and almost resem- bling those spun by certain spiders. These form a kind of hammock on which the caterpillars repose, not even leaving it when they feed, but merely stretching their heads over the sides. They seem to be very sensitive, and on the slightest touch draw back or advance on their silken couch. This they are observed to do nearly in a straight line, without turning to the right or left ; and on careful exami- nation, it is found that this is occasioned by each being enclosed in a kind of long sheath of filigree work, of so delicate a texture as to be invisible to the naked eye. In the course of their lives each society makes seven or eight of these nests, a new one being requisite every time they shift their quarters in search of food. These larvae, as well as a large proportion of the species formerly alluded to, are converted into chry- salides in the same abodes they occupied during their reptile state ; but many provide for their safety, while in that comparatively defenceless con- dition, by constructing cells of great strength and solidity. Most pf these will be described here- after, in connexion with the particular history of the species which form them. They are usually 92 INTRODUCTION. composed of particles of earth or sand, agglutinated or held together by an intermixture of silk threads. Such are a few of the structures of these minia- ture architects, and it is impossible to peruse even the most brief and imperfect account of them with- out being struck with the admirable skill and foresight which they manifest. The almost unde- viating uniformity of the cells of the hive-bee has been sometimes adduced as an argument against the intelligence of these industrious insects, their operations, being thought to be thereby assimilated to those of a piece of unconscious mechanism. But this objection, if it be one, does not apply to the creatures we have just been considering. There is always sufficient variety in the circumstances under which they work to require the exercise of con- siderable intelligence. They must discriminate and select, and adapt their plans to new contingencies which are continually occurring in the course of their proceedings. The facility with which they do this has- been often exemplified. We have already men- tioned a small larva which forms a moveable tent of the epidermis of a leaf, and which, to save the trouble of sewing up one of the sides, makes its excavation close to the edge, where it leaves the membrane entire to form one of the walls. While the operation was going forward, Reaumur cut off with a pair of scissors the whole of the outer edge, and left it in a great measure open. Thus unexpectedly exposed and defeated in its object, the worm was INTRODUCTION. 93 not long in determining what steps it would be necessary to take in order to repair the disaster. It almost immediately began to connect the two dissevered membranes by means of silk threads, a task which it completed in a few minutes, and then continued its operations, as if it had experienced no material interruption. The chrysalides of butterflies were formerly de- scribed as being, with very few exceptions, of an angular shape, and suspended either by the tail or a band round the middle ; those of moths, however, are generally of an oval or elliptical form, somewhat inclining to conical, and scarcely ever suspended*. In a few instances they assume the figure of an elon- gated cone, and in others they approach to cylindrical. They have no projections or protuberances on the body, but the head is occasionally armed with one or two sharp points, and the abdominal segments with a series of spines directed backwards. The hinder extremity is sometimes furnished with a number of small hooks, similar to those in butterfly pupae, although they are not employed for the same purpose, fhe colour of these pupae is very uniform, being in general a deep chestnut-brown, sometimes approach - * Among the few instances of suspension afforded by our native species, we may mention, as examples, some of the small plumed moths (Alucitula), and a few Geometers belonging to the genus Ephyra, which have their chrysalides attached to the under side of leaves, &c. by the tail and middle, nearly in the same manner as practised by the caterpillars of the white-cabbage butterfly. 94 INTRODUCTION. ing to black. Occasionally, however, they are of brighter hues ; that of Geometra alniaria is bluish ; that of the dark crimson under wing (Catocala sponsa), lilac; and that of the common Magpie- moth (Abraxas grossulariata), a species remarkable for the similarity of its colours through all its diffe- rent stages, is ornamented with alternate rings of black and yellow. The security which arises to the pupse of butter- flies from being hung out of the way of danger, is provided for among moths, by enveloping them in a dense tissue of silk or extraneous substances, and frequently by burying them in the earth or in the interior of plants. This covering of the chrysalis, of whatsoever materials it is composed, is named the cocoon. Silk is almost always used in its composi- tion, and in very many cases it is the only substance employed. In structure, texture, and many other properties, cocoons vary extremely. Sometimes the caterpillars content themselves with filling a certain space with threads, crossing each other in various directions, and leaving many voids between them : in the centre of this loose web the chrysalis is placed. In other instances the fabric is more closely woven, but still sufficiently open to allow the chrysalis to be seen, and apparently inadequate to protect it from the weather. In such cases, however, addi- tional shelter is often obtained by drawing round it a few of the leaves among which it is usually placed. Many hairy larvae increase the compactness of their cocoons by stripping their own bodies and INTRODUCTION. 95 pushing the hairs into the interstices of the silk. Others employ, for the same purpose, particles of earth, or the raspings and gnawed portions of the wood on which they subsist. Most of the species which retire under ground to pass this inactive period of their existence, form structures of con- siderable strength, in which very little silk is em- ployed ; but in nearly all cases the interior is lined with a fine tapestry of that material, by which it is rendered smooth and warm. In addition to this, some use an internal layer of varnish, and others a soft substance resembling paste, which they apply with their head to the whole of the inside, which is thus coated over something after the manner of a blackbird's nest. But the cocoons most fre- quently met with are composed of pure silk, united into a pretty compact fabric, which renders them impervious to air and moisture. Of these, one of the handsomest and most familiarly known is that of the silk- worm. Such cocoons are formed by a single continuous thread, not wound in a circular direction, but in a succession of zigzags, the vis- cosity of the thread when it first issues from the spinneret enabling it to adhere wherever it is ap- plied. The greater number of the more closely woven kinds are enclosed in a loose web, which is first spun as a kind of scaffolding for the caterpillar, while employed in rearing its interior an>d mora substantial structure. In a few cases, however, this exterior envelope is a compact tissue, closely em- bracing the other, so that the chrysalis appears to 96 be enclosed in two separate cocoons. An example of this may be seen in the Yellow Tussock-moth (Dasychira pudilunda). The perfect insect extricates itself from the pupa- case nearly in the same way as butterflies ; but the majority have the additional task awaiting them of making their way through the walls of the cocoon. The firm consistence of the latter, in many instances, may reasonably be supposed to render this a matter of no easy accomplishment to creatures des*;tute of jaws or other instruments for eroding hard sub- tances; and unless the difficulty were provided against by prospective wisdom, the structures which they fabricate with so much skill and labour to protect them during their state of repose, would often prove their tombs. It is sometimes the moth that is furnished with the means of effecting her own liberation, and in other cases it is provided for by the caterpillar, through some peculiarity in the construction of the cocoon. Of the former descrip- tion are the puss-moth, and several other kinds, which are provided with an acid secretion, which they discharge on the end of the cocoon from which they desire egress, and by its solvent power the com- pact wall soon loses its cohesion and gives way to the slightest pressure. Others possess the means of breaking the threads at one end, employing for that purpose, according to Reaumur's opinion, the minute facets of the eyes, which are the only hard organs in the head, after the manner of a file. Generally however, the texture is loosened by some solvent INTRODUCTION. 9? menstruum acting on the gum which holds the fibres of the silk together, and the animal is able to force itself through without having recourse to any other means. It is found that the cocoons, from which the silk-worm moth has emerged, can occasionally be unwound in an unbroken thread, but in far the greater number of instances this is impossible. When the caterpillar provides for the egress of the moth, it generally does so by making a circular incision near the one end, leaving only a small portion entire to act as a hinge, and this the moth easily pushes outwards when it desires to escape. But sometimes a much more elaborate contrivance is resorted to, of which a curious example is afforded by the flask-shaped cocoon of the Emperor -moth. This has frequently been so well described, that we cannot expect to make it better understood than by using the words of a previous writer. " If you examine one of these cocoons, which are common enough in some places on the pear tree Or the willow*, you will perceive that it is generally of a solid tissue of layers of silk almost of the texture of parchment ; but at the narrow end, or that which may be com- pared to the neck of the flask, that it is composed of a series of loosely-attached longitudinal threads, converging, like so many bristles, to a blunt point, in the middle of which is a circular opening. It is through this opening that the moth escapes. The silk of its cocoon is of so strong a texture and so * In Scotland they are most frequently foumjl on heaths and moor-land, the larva subsisting on the heather. 98 INTRODUCTION. closely gummed, that had both ends been similarly closed, its egress would have been impracticable ; it finds, however, no difficulty in forcing its way through the aperture of a sort of reversed funnel, formed of converging threads that readily yield to pressure from within. But an objection will here probably strike you. You will ask, Is not this facility of egress purchased at too dear a rate? Must not a chrysalis, in an open cocoon, be exposed to the attacks of those ichneumons of which you have said so much, and of numerous other enemies, which will find admittance through this vaunted door ? Our caterpillar would seem to have foreseen your dilemma; at least, under heavenly guidance, she has guarded against the danger as effectually as if she had. If you cut open the cocoon longitudinally, you will see that within the exterior funnel-shaped end, at some distance, she has framed a second funnel, composed of a similar circular series of stiff threads, which, proceeding from the sides of the cocoon, con- verge also to a point, and form a sort of cone exactly like the closed peristome of a moss; or, to use a more humble though not less apt illustration, like the wires of certain mouse-traps. In this dome not the slightest opening is left, and from its arched structure, it is impenetrable to the most violent efforts of any marauders from without; whilst it yields to the slightest pressure from within, and allows the egress of the moth with the utmost facility. When she has passed through it, tne elastic threads resume their former position, and INTRODUCTION. 99 the empty cocoon presents just the same appearance as one still inhabited. Rosel relates, with amusing naivete, how this circumstance puzzled him the first time he witnessed it ; he could scarcely help think- ing that there was something supernatural in the appearance of one of these fine moths in a box in which he had put a cocoon of this kind, but in which he could not discover the slightest appearance of any insect having escaped from it, until he slit it longitudinally. But from an observation of Meinec - ken, it appears that these converging threads serve a double purpose ; being necessary to compress the abdomen of the moth as it emerges from the cocoon, which forces the fluid to enter the nervures of the wings, and give them their proper expansion. For he found, that when the pupa is taken out of the cocoon, the moth is disclosed at the proper time, but remains always crippled in its wings, which never expand properly, unless the abdomen be com- pressed with the finger and thumb, so as to imitate the natural operation*." Although moths may be characteristically said to be nocturnal insects, i* must not be understood that their appearance is exclusively confined to the night, or even the twilight. The Gamma-moth, the majority of the male Bombyeidae, and others too numerous to mention, may often be seen " floating amid the liquid noon," associated with the multitude of other tribes wilich the sunshine awakes to active * Int. to Entom. iii. p. 279. 100 INTRODUCTION. life and enjoyment. But with far the larger propor- tion, night is the chosen and appropriate season of activity. During the day they conceal themselves in clefts of trees, among tangled vegetation and under leaves, and seldom issue from their retreats till the light is beginning to fail. Some are on the wing only in the earlier part of the night, others are later in appearing, and continue their flight till the morning is far advanced. During these ex- cursions, many fall a prey to bats and night-birds of various kinds, which delight to capture their insect food when on the wing, seldom searching for it when at rest, according to the general practice of their day-feeding companions. The great beauty of many of these insects, the almost infinite variety of their colours and markings, as well as their curious habits and economy, have long rendered this a favourite branch of study with the generality of Entomologists. A large proportion of the works relating to insects, especially works of the illustrated class, are devoted to the elucida- tion of this tribe ; and in almost every collection of indigenous specimens, they occupy a prominent place. The zeal with which the rarer and more beautiful kinds have been sought after, and the estimation in which they have been held when obtained, is sufficiently evinced by the high-sound- ing names, by means of which collectors have attempted to express their admiration. Such de- signations as the Emperor, Nonpareil, Kentish Glory, Richmond Beauty, £c. have been applied to INTRODUCTION. 101 them almost as liberally as similar names are used by the fanciers of gigantic gooseberries and peer- less tulips, in reference to the objects of their predilection. In proportion to the eagerness shown in the pursuit, has been the variety of plans adopted to obtain specimens with the greatest ease and in the best possible condition. One of the most satis- factory methods is to rear the larvae, when these can be obtained, till they change to pupa?, and the moths are thus secured as soon as they emerge, with the beauty of their plumage unimpared. Mr. Kirby mentions, that the seasons in which the London amateurs repair to the woods in search of larvae, are the beginning of April, June, the begin- ning of July, and September ; and they dig for the pupae late in July, and in January and February. The perfect insects are to be found all the summer and autumn, and certain kinds even in winter. The attractions of a youthful female of their own species have been already mentioned as affording a likely means of procuring several of the larger Bombycidae, even in places where they might not previously be supposed to exist. Advantage is often taken of the propensity which these insects show, in common with many other nocturnal ani- mals, to repair to a light, when they may be readily seized as they continue to flutter around it in a kind of bewildered state. As the most effectual means of employing a light, it is recommended that it should be placed in a lanthorn, and the latter fixed on the breast by means of a belt round the 1 02 INTRODUCTION. waist, both hands being thus left at liberty. If indisposed, however, to make much personal ex- ertion, the Aurelian may often reap a rich harvest merely by opening the windows of a lighted apart- ment, especially if his dwelling be in the vicinity of woods, and securing such visitors as make their appearance within. The following extract shows with what success this plan has been attended. " My success in obtaining lepidoptera, to which I am particularly attached," says the Rev. C. S. Bird, " I owe to the use of a lamp to attract moths. During the moonless nights of summer, I sit with a Sinumbra-lamp, and perhaps one or two smaller lamps, placed on a table close to the window. The moths speedily enter the room, if the weather be warm. I have had a levee of more than a hundred between the hours of ten and twelve. In the spring, too, and autumn, I have been frequently fortunate, though generally having my patience sufficiently med. In March, for instance, I have taken many specimens of Blston prodromarius in one evening ; Glcea rubricosa and Lytcea leucographa have accom- panied them. In April and May, Cucullia fissina and Peridcea serrata have visited me. "When No- vember has arrived, Petasia cassinea and Pcecilo- campa populi have crowded into my room. Of course, at such cool times of the year the window must be kept shut till the moths knock for admit* tance. If at any time of the year a warm mist pervade the air, there is almost a certainty of success. But should any one be induced by this account INTRODUCTION. 103 to try the lamp, he must make up his mind to expe- rience more of unfavourable evenings than favour- able* There is, however, this advantage in my sedentary plan of mothing, that it can be combined with reading or writing ; and the intervals between the arrivals need not be lost " Moths are extremely sensible of any keenness in the air ; a north or east wind is very likely to keep them from venturing abroad. Different species have different hours of flight. Thus, on a, mild and dark November evening, Pcecilocampa populi will occupy from seven to ten o'clock, after which it will make way for Petasia cassinea, which will fly till one or two in the morning, I have, for experi- ment's sake, sat up in the summer till three o'clock, when the whole heaven was bright with the rising sun, and moths of various kinds have never ceased arriving in succession till that time. Some of them must come from a considerable distance. Scoto- phila porpkyrea, being a heath moth, must come nearly a mile. " Moths, like butterflies, have their peculiar modes of flight, by which I can generally distin- guish them on their entrance, before I can see their colours. Some announce themselves by a loud knock on the floor ; this is the case with Leiocampa dictcea. Some ascend instantly to the ceiling, as Agrotis cortlcea. Many, I might say the majority, pass the lamp rapidly ; and this shows the compara- tive inutility of using the lamp out of doors, where only those that loiter about it can be taken. Some ] 04 INTRODUCTION. hare a soft and gentle flight ; as, for instance, Cos- mia pyralma, one of my most welcome visitors, whose entrance I am usually made aware of by see- ing something drop down on the table, as quick as hail, but as light as a fleece of snow ; whilst, on the contrary, the conceited vagaries and absurd violence of Clisiocampa neustria are absolutely amusing; and cratcegi and populi are nearly as bad. It is not the Nocturna alone that come to me in the night—- many of what Mr. Stephens calls the Semidiuma, the Geometridce^ accompany them at all hours. It may likewise be worth while to say a word on my method of securing my prey. Suppose that, either with or without a bag-net, I have imprisoned a moth under an inverted wine-glass, I then light a small piece of German tinder, half the size of a sixpence, or less, and introduce it under the edge, and by means of the smoke the insect is stupified almost immediately. It is then wholly in my power, though it would quickly revive : — I pierce it ; and, by means of a pin dipped in oxalic acid, and thrust into the body beneath the thorax, I prevent its revival, and fix it on the settling board. The Ger- man tinder does not injure the colour, as brimstone would, whilst it puts the moth so completely in my power for a few moments, that the specimens I thus take and kill are often as perfect and beautiful as if I had bred them. Of course, I use it for insects taken in the day, or bred, as well as for those cap- tured by the lamp*." The locality to which the * Entomological Magazine for January 1834, page 39. INTRODUCTION. 105 above account refers is the vicinity of Reading, in Berkshire. The list given by Mr. Bird of the spe- cies taken in the manner described, includes many of the rarer and most beautiful kinds found in this country. Another method of capturing moths has recently been practised in the north of England by P. J. Selby,Esq. of Twizel, and has been attended with so much success, that we have much pleasure in being enabled to subjoin the following account of it as communicated by that distinguished natu- ralist. " In the course of my entomological pursuits — for that fascinating department of Zoology has for the last year engrossed a great part of my leisure, — my attention was first directed to the mode I have since adopted for the capture of nocturnal lepidoptera, by the extraordinary success that I understood had attended the exposure of a sugar-cask, recently emptied, in a favourable situation ; and by means of which attraction a great variety of moths, some of them of very rare occurrence, had been secured. As sugar casks are not easily procured in this country, I bethought myself of some succedaneum, and it presently struck me that a beehive, or as it is generally called here, a skep, recently emptied of its honey, or well anointed with the same, might answer the purpose, as it was evident the insects were attracted by the saccharine matter and smell. I accordingly had one prepared, and the very first evening was convinced that it would prove a very efficient trap, as several moths of different species 106 INTRODUCTION. were seen and taken upon it. Unfortunately, the best part of the season was nearly over hefore I commenced operations, as it was not exposed till after the middle of August ; but from the success I have had up to the present time, I am convinced it is one of the most effectual modes of obtaining the noctuidae, and that many which would otherwise escape observation are thus to be obtained. Indeed, some of those I have already procured, I had never before met with in this district ; and I dare say, but for this attractive trap, they would have remained long undiscovered, as some of them are in their force or full flight at a much later period than we are generally accustomed to look after moths. I anticipate a rich harvest during the ensuing spring and summer, not only of the noctuidae, but also of the other large moths ; the Geometridas and smaller species I know come to it, as some of them have already been taken upon it. By this mode also, many interesting particulars relating to their natural history are likely to become known to us, such as the period of duration of different species, the pro- portion of males and females, &c. I find that in the early part of the season their duration is much shorter than at a later ; in many of those occurring in August and September, it seldom exceeded two or three weeks ; whereas such as did not appear till towards the end of October have continued till the present period, that is, nearly three months; as I have taken every mild evening specimens of Glcea Satellitia up to the 26th of January, and INTRODUCTION. 107 Calocampa exoleta as late as the 7th of the same month. " The skep should he well anointed on the exterior with honey (the refiise will answer perfectly well), and should he supported on a forked stake ahout four feet from the ground, or so that, the insects can he easily got at and enclosed in the flappers as they alight and settle upon it. In this way they may he taken in as fine and perfect condition as if they had heen hred from the larvaa within doors. I generally select a sheltered situation and near to wood; of late I have had it near a service tree, whose herries I had previously observed attracted the moths. " The following are a few of the species taken : — Agrotis suflusa, Pyrophila Tragopogonis, Pyrophila tetra, Glsea Yaccinii, Gla3a spadicea, Apamea nic- titans, Polia occulta, Polia Chi, Xanthia fulvago, Xanthia gilvago, Phlogophora meticulosa, several species of Hadena, Caradrina glareosa," &c. &c. HESPERID7E. ALTHOUGH the HESPERID^E are usually classed with the diurnal lepidoptera, they recede in many im- portant characters from that group, and become considerably assimilated, both in structure and habits, to the crepuscular and nocturnal kinds, and are therefore not improperly regarded as forming the connecting link between these two tribes. Like butterflies, they have the antennae strongly clubbed at the summit (where they are generally furnished with a hook), and the anterior wings are directed upwards in repose but diverge from each other, while the under pair are horizontal, and the hinder tibiae furnished with two pair of spurs ; attributes which are common to them with moths and hawk- moths. The season of their flight is most commonly towards the evening, which led Fabricius to dis- tinguish them by a generic name bearing reference to that circumstance. But they are likewise ob- served on the wing during the whole day, and their mode of flight, which is only for a short distance at a time, and performed with frequent and sudden jerks, has caused them to be well known in this country by the name of Skippers. They are insects HESPERID.E. 109 below the middle size, and no way distinguished for beauty of colouring or variety of markings. In these respects, indeed, such a general similarity prevails, that in several instances the greatest diffi- culty is experienced in determining the species, and much complexity and confusion is consequently to be found in their synonymy. They formed a part of the fifth great section into which Linne divided the diurnal lepidoptera, and were distinguished in his system by the appellation of Plebeii Urbicolce. The head and thorax are very large and robust, and the wings are thick and strong. The caterpillars of many of the species are imperfectly known. Some of them protect themselves by rolling together the leaves on which they feed, in a manner similar to that practised by the leaf-rolling caterpillars of certain moths. The chrysalides are without any eminence except at the head, which is notched or acuminated, and they are enclosed in a web of loose texture. 110 GRIZZLED SKIPPER. Thymele Alveolus. PLATE I. Fig. 1. Pap. Alveolus, Hubner. — Pap. Malvse, Letvin^ PI. 46, figs. 8, 9. — Hesperia Malvse, Jermyn. Id Edition, 154. — The Grizzled Butterfly, Wilkes The Grizzle Butterfly, Harris"1 Aurcl. PI. 32 — Thymele Alveolus, Fabr. Steph. THYMELE is known by having antennae slightly elongate, the joints upwards of thirty in number, with the club curved, but not terminating in ai hook. The palpi are rather longer than the head, and thickly clothed with hair; the anterior wings rather short, and rounded on the hinder edge. The Grizzled Skipper is a small species, seldom \ much exceeding an inch in the expansion of the wings. The ground colour of the surface is brownish- black, the anterior wings from before the middle to i the apex marked with straw-coloured spots, most of i them of a quadrangular shape ; the fringe the same colour as the spots, and barred with brownish-black. The under wings have some straw-coloured spots towards the middle anteriorly, and an irregular macular band not far from the hinder margin ; th* GRIZZLED SKIPPER. Ill latter having the whitish fringe interrupted with narrow dusky spots. The under side is grey tinged with green, with spots nearly corresponding to those on the surface, but many of them somewhat en larged. The Pap. Fritillum of Lewin and some other writers, according to the opinion of Mr. Stephens, is merely a variety of the above. It has an oblong whitish mark towards the middle of the upper wings not far from the anterior margin, and the other light-coloured spots are larger and of a more oblong shape than in the form already described. It has been occasionally regarded as a distinct species, and is thought to be synonymous with Hesperia Lavateras of Fabricius. This insect is found in some plenty in many parts of England, and occasionally in the south of Scotland. It appears about the end of May. Woods and meadows in the neighbourhood of London. " Hartley Wood, Essex," Miss Jermyn. " Fre- quent near Newcastle," G. Wailes. Esq. " Occa- sionally noticed near Durham/' A'jr. Andrews. THE DINGY SKIPPER. Thymde Tages. PLATE I. Fig. 2. Pap. Tages, Linn. ; Letuin, PL 54, figs. 3 and 4 Hesperia Tages, Leach, Jermyn — The Dingy Skipper, Harris'' Auret, PI. 34 — Thymele Tagee, Siepk. THIS species is generally a good deal larger than the preceding ; the colour of the surface rather dark brown faintly clouded with ash-grey, with a few scattered white points, and a continuous series along the margin of all the wings. The fringe is greyish- brown, indistinctly denticulated ; the under side tawny-grey, with ill-defined white spots, especially towards the hinder side of the inferior wings. The antenna? are black, ringed with grey. The caterpillar is bright green, with a yellow stripe dotted with black along the back, and others of a similar description on the sides ; the head brown. It is said to feed on the Eryngium cam- pestre and birds'-foot trefoil (Lotus comiculatus), the latter being probably its most ordinary food, as the insect is frequently found in districts where the THE DINGY SKIPPER. 113 former plant does not grow. The butterfly first appears in May, and occurs not unfrequently on dry heaths, commons, &c. Near London, at Dart- moor in Devonshire, in Suffolk, and Norfolk, it has been observed in plenty ; as well as in more north- ern localities, particularly heaths in the vicinity of Newcastle and YorK. We have likewise seen ex- amples which were taken in the south of Scotland ; and it occurred near Tain and Cromarty, in June 1 834, in considerable abundance : so that its range in Britain, from north to soutn, is widely extended. 114 CHEQUERED SKIPPER PampW.a, Panisctts. PLATE I. Pi? 3. Hesperia Paniscus, Fair Pap. Paniscus, Don. viii. PI. 254, fig. 1 — Pap. Brontes, Hubner Chequered Skipper, Ha~ worth, Jermyn. — Pamphila Paniscus, Steph. IN PAMPHILA the palpi are short and compressed, covered with scales and hairs ; the antennae rather short, the joints not amounting to thirty ; the club straight, abrupt, and spindle-shaped, without a hook at the extremity in P. Paniscus and Linea, but having an acute hook in P. Sylvanus and Comma. The anterior wings are somewhat longer than in the preceding genus, and the hinder pair have a slight projection at the anal angle, like a rudimentary tail. The head and thorax are equally robust as in Thymele, or rather more so ; and the males of some of the species are distinguished by having an oblique abbreviated black line on the disk of the anterior wings. The Chequered Skipper expands about an inch and two or three lines. The surface is brownish- black, marked with numerous bright fulvous spots. CHEQUERED SKIPPER. 115 those on the anterior wings consisting of a large patch before the middle, then an irregular curved band intersected by the black nervures, and lastly, a faint row of tawny dots parallel with the hinder margin. On each of the secondary wings are three discoidal spots, one of them larger than the others, and a posterior band of small dots. The fringe of all the wings is tawny at the tip. The under side is yellow, inclining to grey, the upper wings with several marks, and the extremity of the nervures black ; the under pair with seven rounded yellowish- white spots, and a posterior macular band of the same colour. Antennae pale beneath, the tip of the club reddish yellow. The caterpillar, which feeds on the Greater Plan- tain, is described as being dark-brown on the back, with the sides lighter, and ornamented with two longitudinal yellow stripes; the head black, and the segment behind it with an orange-coloured band. This prettily marked insect is regarded as very local, but its localities are pretty widely scattered, and many of them afford it in tolerable plenty. It frequents meadows and damp woods, usually ap- pearing in the end of May and June. It is found in Devonshire, near Bedford, in Northamptonshire, Oxford, &c. 116 SMALL SKIPPER. Pampnita Linea* PLATE I. Fig. 4. Heeperia Linea, Fair. — Pap. Linea, Don. vii. 236, fig. 2, (?.— Pap. Thaumas, Lewin, PI. 45, figs. 5, 7 The Small Skip- per, Harris* Aurel. PI. 42. — Pamphila Linea, Stepli* RATHER of smaller size than the following, to which in general appearance it bears a good deal of resem- blance. The surface of the wings is fulvous, rather glossy, without spots; the hinder margin and the nervures black. The under side of the primary wings is paler than the surface, shading into grey at the tip and brown at the base ; of the secondary wings, tawny ash-grey, the anal angle with a fulvous patch. The fringe is pale, and the antennas blackish, ringed with pale yellow. The male is distinguished by having a conspicuous black oblique line on the disk of each of the anterior wings. The caterpillar, according to Hubner, is deep green with a dark line along the back, and two whitish lines on the sides margined with black. It feeds on the mountain hair-grass (Aira montana) SMALL SKIPPER. J 1 7 and other graminwe. The chrysalis is of a yel- lowish-green colour. The fly appears in July, and is frequent in many parts of the country, both in England and Scotland. LARGE SKIPPER. Pampliila SyivaniAS. PLATE II. Fig. 1. Hesperia Sylvanus, Fabr. — Pap. Sylvanus, Lewin, PI. 46, figs. 1—3 ; Don. viii. PI. 254, fig. 2 green with a silky gloss, inclining in certain places to blue. Both sides of the under wings, and the under side of the superior pair are brown, which is likewise the colour of the fringe. The body beneath is glossy green, rather deeply tinged with blue ; the trunk and pectinations of the antennas black. The caterpillar tapers at both ends, and the body is somewhat depressed : the colour green, with the head and anterior legs black, the other legs whitish ; two rows of black spots run along the back, and on each side there is a series of red dots. It feeds on the Cardamine prat&nsis, common dock, &c. The insect appears in June, and is of frequent occurrence 124 THE GREEN FORESTER. in England, although it seems to be somewhat local. Neighbourhood of London, Coombe and Darenth woods : " Neighbourhood of Durham, plentiful in some places," Mr. Andrews. Near Newcastle, York, &c. It probably does not extend much further northwards than the places last mentioned. SIX-SPOTTED BURNET-MOTH. Anthrocera Filipendulce. PLATE II. Fig. 4. Sphinx Filipendulse, Linn. ; Don. i. PI. 6 Zygaena Filipen- dulae, Fdbr. ; Haworth Burnet Moth, Wilkes ; Harris* Aurd. PI. 1.— Anthrocera Filipendulae, Scopoli ; Stepk. IN the present genus the antennas are simple in the two sexes, of great length, slender at the base, and thickening at the top into a spindle-shaped club which is considerably curved. The palpi are longer than in Ino, projecting a little from the head, and terminating in a point, the joints thickly clothed with hair. The species are pretty numerous, even although it be admitted as probable that several kinds regarded as distinct are mere varieties. All of them are remarkable for the brilliancy of their colours, chiefly consisting of bluish black and bright red, the latter generally occupying nearly the whole of the inferior wings and forming spots on the SIX-SPOTTED BUR>-ET-MOTII. 125 upper pair. They are gregarious in their habits and sluggish and inactive in. their movements, and may sometimes he found in dull weather clinging to plants in considerable numbers, and remaining quite motionless for a length of time. The most common species to be met with in this country is that mentioned above. It measures from fifteen to eighteen lines across the wings ; the upper pair are of a fine greenish-black with a high degree of lustre, each of them with six red spots, arranged in pairs, two at the base (sometimes united or separated merely by the intersecting nervure), two in the middle placed obliquely, and two towards the apex nearly parallel with the last. The under wings are carmine-red on both sides, the hinder margin with a narrow blue-black border. The body is velvet-black with a blue or greenish gloss ; the antennae of a similar hue. The caterpillar is yellow, with three rows of black spots along the back, and others on the sides ; the head very small and black. It feeds on grasses and a variety of common plants, such as Speed- well, (Veronica), Mouse-ear hawkweed, Dandelion, Spirasa filipendula, &c. ; from the latter it has ob- tained its specific name. The perfect insect appears about the end of June and continues till the end of August. It is plenti- ful in most parts of England, and likewise occurs abundantly in certain parts of Scotland, but in that country it is somewhat local. In the vicinity of Edinburgh, it is found on the shores at Cramond, 126 SIX-SPOTTED BURIfET-MOTH. and in profusion on the northern shores of the Firth of Forth, between Pettycur and Burntisland. " In profusion on Guillon Links — equally plentiful on Southerness Point on the coast of Galway, where the caterpillar feeds on the Ononis arvensis or Rest- harrow." — Sir W. Jardine. Bart. FIVE-SPOTTED BURNET-MOTH. Anthrocera Lotl. PLATE IL Fig. 5. Zygaena Loti, Fabr — Sphinx Lonicerae, Esper and Hvbner — Zygene du Chevrefeuille, Godart. LESS than the preceding ; the anterior wings blue- black, with less of the green reflection, each of them with five red spots, which are as distinctly marked on the under side as on the upper : the two basal spots oblong, the others rounded. The hinder wings bright red, with a rather wide black-blue border somewhat sinuated on its inner edge; in other respects not differing from Anth. Filipendulce. The caterpillar is green, with two longitudinal macular bands on each side, the lower one nar- rowest; and a yellow dot on each segment be- tween these bands. It feeds on the honeysuckle, bird's-foot, trefoil, and many other plants. The perfect insect is found occasionally in many parts of Britain. Of THE tjK.IV-EB8.IJ? 127 EYED HAWK-MOTH. Smerinthus Ocellatus. PLATE III. Fitf. 1. Smer. Ocellatus, Latreille ; Stephens. — Sphinx Ocellata, Linn. ; Don. viii. PI. 269. — Sphinx Semipavo, De Geer Sphinx Salicis, Hubner — Eyed Hawk-moth, Harris1 Aurel. PI. 5. Curtis' B. E. xi. PI. 482. THE Smerinthi have frequently been confounded with the Sphinges, but they present a sufficient number of distinctive marks to entitle them to be regarded as a separate generic group. Of these the most important are the shortness of the pro- boscis, which is scarcely perceptible, the angulated or dentated margin of the anterior wings, and the serrated antennae. The species are not numerous ; most of them are of sombre colours ; and they are dull inactive insects, seldom appearing on the wing, and when they do so, displaying none of the vivacity and rapid movements of the kinds >to which, in other respects, they bear a close affinity. The shortness of their trunk renders them incapable of feeding while on the wing like the Humming- bird Hawk-moth; the little food which they re- quire during their brief existence, is therefore 1*28 EYED HAWK-MOTH. obtained by settling on flowers. The body of the larva is granulated or covered with small prominent points, and the anal segment bears a pointed horn which is almost straight. The contour of the head forms a curvilinear triangle, and is not rounded as in the true Sphinx. Perhaps the most beautiful of the three species inhabiting Britain is that named the Eyed Hawk-moth. The male expands about two inches and a-half, and the female often exceeds these dimensions by an inch. The anterior wings, which are very acute at the apex, are grey, tinged with rose-colour, and variegated with brown and dusky clouds and waved streaks ; the centre with a pale curved transverse streak. The posterior wings are carmine-red, with the anterior margin entirely grey, and the hinder one tinged with that colour ; the anal angle bearing a large ocellus with a blue iris, and large bluish-brown pupil, placed in a patch of deep black, which emits a stripe in the direction of the anal angle. The head and thorax are nearly of the same shade of colour as the surface of the upper wings, the latter with a deep brown mark on the back ; the abdomen brownish-grey. The caterpillar is of a fine green on the back, the sides and belly tinged with blue. Most of the segments are ornamented with a white oblique stripe on the sides ; the stigmata are white, circum- scribed by a brown line; the membraneous legs rose-colour, and the head bordered with yellow. It feeds on various trees, such as the willow, poplar ajid apple. EYED HAWK-MOTH. J 29 The perfect insect is not rare in England, but it becomes scarce further to the north. Some places have afforded it in great abundance — such as Ep ping Forest, several places in Devonshire, and the vicinity of York — and it seems to be found occa- sionally in all the English counties. It is very rare in Scotland. POPLAR HAWKMOTH. Smerinihus Popidi. rLAlK 111. Fig. 2. Sphinx Populi, Linn. ; Donovan, viii. PI. 241. — Poplar Hawk- moth, Wilkes, PI. 25 ; Harris'1 Aurel. PI. 63. LARGER than the preceding, and differing consider- ably from the other species in having the external border of all the wings pretty regularly dentated. The colour is generally greyish-brown, occasionally inclining to obscure rusty-red, and sometimes grey- ish-white, with bands and transverse rays of a deeper hue than the ground colour ; each of the upper wings having a white crescent near the middle. At the base of the hinder wings there is a ferruginous patch, and near the middle a pale whitish lunule, always indistinct and sometimes not observable. The body is nearly of the same colour J30 POPLAR HAWK-MOTH. as the wings ; the antennae reddish internally, and yellowish- white on the outer side. The caterpillar bears much resemblance to that already described, being usually green, with oblique yellow or white stripes. The stigmata are yellow or rose-colour, with a white centre ; the membran- ous legs often ornamented with a curved orange spot externally. The head is bordered with yellow, and the anal horn is of that colour, with the base blue. It eats the leaves of poplars and willows. (PI. in. fig. 3). This plainly coloured insect is by far the most common of the Sphingidae, being frequent in all parts of England, and generally distributed over the southern division of Scotland. It is found about midsummer and in autumn. 1 . Lime //,/«•/•-//,„/// . - . />7/r/ ffa*k-motfi • >.< aterpitlar of 'PrivctflaAk moth . J31 LIME HAWK-MOTH. Smerinthns Tilue. PLATE IV. Fig. 1. Sphinx Tiliae, Linn. ; Donovan, x. PI. 325 — Olive Shades, or Lime Hawk-moth, Wilkes, PI. 23 Lime Hawk-moth, Harris* Aurd. PI. 20. A VERY variable insect both in colour and the form of the markings: the anterior wings are usually greyish, with an interrupted band of olive -green or olive-brown in the middle, formed by two spots, of which the anterior one is the largest; the outer margin has a broad band of the same colour, edged externally with ferruginous, and having a white mark at the tip of the wing. The hinder wings are grey, with an ill-defined brown band running obliquely from the anterior edge to the anal angle, where the colour deepens and sometimes becomes greenish. The thorax is marked with three longi- tudinal bands of olive green which unite in front, and the abdomen generally has a green tinge. — The colour of the surface is occasionally obscure red, with the outer extremity of the anterior wings and the central spots deep rust-red : at other times the 132 LIME HAWK-MOTH. two central spots are united, and sometimes one of them is wanting. The caterpillar feeds on the lime, elm, birch, &c. It is pale-green, with seven oblique whitish stripes on each side bordered anteriorly with red or yellow. The head is smaller than in others of the genus, the body more attenuated in front, and there is a granu- lar protuberance over the anus*. The rarest of the three, being found only occa- sionally ; but it seems to be pretty generally distri- buted throughout England. It occurs near London more frequently than in most other places; also near Exeter, York, &c. It does not seem to be a Scotch insect. * Godart'i Potions iXog attenuated, slender. referring to the form of the caterpillar. METOPSILUS. 155 segments. The caudal horn is short, very slightly bent, sometimes almost obsolete. The chrysalis is enclosed in a loose cocoon formed of leaves, and is never buried beneath the soil. The perfect insects are very beautifully coloured, and it is observable that the abdomen is always longitudinally or obliquely striped, an arrangement different from what ob- tains in the two preceding genera, which have that part of the body ornamented with transverse bands sometimes of different colours. Viewed in relation to the form of the larvae, as well as to the appearance of the perfect insects, the species which we have placed together, under the above name, form a very natural group. 156 OLEANDER HAWK-MOTH. Metopsilus Nerii. PLATE IX. Sphinx Nerii, Linn.—Rosers Insecten-bdustigung, vol. iii. tab. XV. larva xvi. imago — Sphinx du Laurier-rose, Godart ; Pap. de France, vol. iii., Crepuscidaires, p. 12. THE primary wings of this conspicuous and elegant species expand upwards of four inches. The surface is of a fine deep olive- green, variously shaded with white and rose-colour, distributed in undulating lines and transverse streaks. At the origin of each of the upper wings there is a whitish spot with a dot in the centre and a small transverse streak of olive-green; heyond this are three whitish waved lines running somewhat obliquely across the surface, dilated at the inner margin into a rose-coloured patch, succeeded by a broad oblique rosy ban4 extending from one side of the wing to the other : beyond this there is a broad patch of a violet-colour bounded anteriorly by a white zigzag line, and surmounted by two whitish curved lines drawn to the anterior edge; the apex bears a white figure having some resemblance to the letter Y reversed. OLEANDER HAWK -MOTH. 157 The under wings are dusky from the base nearly to the middle, and green on the hinder border, the two colours separated by a white waved band, extending from the anal angle to the anterior edge. The thorax is deep green, with a pale cross line in front ; the abdomen likewise green, whitish on the first and second segments, and having oblique olive- coloured streaks on the sides of the others. When the caterpillar is full grown, it is green 01 greyish-green, with the four anterior segments pale yellow ; a white line along each side, extending from the fourth segment to the anal horn and numerous white dots scattered over the surface. On each side of the third segment there is a large blue eye- shaped spot with a double white pupil and a black iris. The anal horn, which is short and decumbent, is ochreous ; the anterior legs blue ; and the mem- branous ones green with the extremity yellow. The head is green, the stigmata black bordered with yellow. When immature the colour of this cater- pillar is sometimes a pretty uniform ochreous yellow, and in all cases, a few days before it becomes a pupa, the four anterior segments and the anal one assume the colour just mentioned, while the re- maining parts of the body become dusky black, the white lateral line, dots, and ocellated spots always, however, remaining unchanged. Its appropriate food is the leaves of the shrub named Nerium oleander^ nor has it recourse to any other when that can be obtained. As that plant, however, is not a native of this country, nor of the north of Germany lb8 OLEANDER HAWK-MOTH. and some other parts of the continent where the insect is found, it no doubt feeds on others of more common occurrence, perhaps, as has been conjec- tured, the Vinca major, V. minor, or some species of Cynanchum, all of which belong to the same natural family of Apocyneas* This magnificent moth, which we have now the pleasure to figure for the first time as a British species, has been taken at least on two different occasions in this country; once in the yicinity of Dover, as intimated by Mr. Stephens in the Ento- mological Magazine for October 1832 ; and a second time, in the larva state, in a garden at Teignmouth, Devon, in the autumn of the same year.t As the insect is occasionally found in the neighbouring continental countries, extending as far northwards as the northern regions of Germany, the propriety of admitting it into our native Fauna cannot be attended with the same doubts that apply to such kinds as have their principal seat in the new world. It is strictly a European species, and from what we know of its occurrence elsewhere, it might reason- ably be inferred that the southern parts of England should fall within the range of its distribution. It is observed from time to time in the vicinity of Paris, but its principal resort seems to be the neighbour- hood of Genoa, Turin, and Nice, where it is said to be common. * London's Mag. of Nat. Hist. v. 155. + -Ent. Mag. ii. p. 116. win; !f&. 1. Narrow bordered Vvffavk rrwti HUMMING-BIRD HAWK-MOTH. 16o wings are rust-yellow, slightly suffused with dusky before and behind. The body is nearly concoloroujs •with the upper wings, and the abdomen is variegated with tufts of black and white at the sides of the segments, the anal tuft being black. The ground colour of the caterpillar is green, sprinkled with numerous white points, and having two white rays along the sides. The anal horn is rather long and acute, perfectly straight, yellowish | at the tip and blue at the base ; the membranous ? legs each marked with a shining black lunuje, the coronet of spines of a rosy tint. (PL xn. fig. 2.) It feeds on verticillate or stellate plants (whence !. the specific name), and is most commonly found on lady's-bedstraw and goosegrass ( Galiwm verum and G. aparine). It sometimes enters the earth when about to be transformed, and at other times con- structs a cocoon on the surface, composed of par- ticles of earth, pieces of leaves, or portions of the stems of plants. This curious insect is of frequent occurrence in most parts of England, and is found occasionally in the southern and even the more northern counties 'of Scotland. It frequents gardens and cultivated grounds, appearing on the wing in the morning and afternoon, and concealing itself among the foliage during the heat of the day. It darts about from flower to flower with amazing rapidity, and poises itself, like a Humming-bird, over the blossoms, tijj it extracts their nectareous juices by means of its ) long spiral proboscis. "While thus suspended, the 166 HUMMING-BIRD HAWK MOTH. ribration of the wings is so rapid as to occasion a considerable humming noise, whence it has been termed the Humming-bird Hawk-moth. The fol- lowing is an agreeable and accurate account of its manners : — " The Humming-bird Hawk-moth visits us annually, and occasionally in some numbers, frisking about all the summer long, and in very line seasons continues with us as late as the second week in October. The vigilance and animation of this creature are surprising, and seem to equal those of its namesake, the splendid meteoric bird of the tropics, ' that winged thought,' as some one has called it; though our plain and dusky insect can boast none of its glorious hues. Our little sphinx appears chiefly in the mornings and evenings of the day, rather avoiding the heat of the mid-day sun, possibly aroused from its rest by the scent, that ' aromatic soul of flowers,' which is principally exhaled at these periods ; delighting in the jasmine, marvel of Peru, phlox, and such tubular flowers ; and it will even insert its long, flexible tube into every petal of the carnation, to extract the honey- like liquor it contains. It will visit our geraniums and greenhouse plants, and, whisking over part of them with contemptuous celerity, select some com- posite flower that takes its fancy, and examine every tube with rapidity, hovering over its disk with quivering wings, while its fine hawk-like eyes survey all surrounding dangers. The least move- ment alarms it, and it darts away with the speed of an arrow ; yet returns, and with suspicious vigilance HUMMING-BIJID HAWK-MOTH. 167 continues its employ, feeding always on the wing. Nature seems to have given this creature some essential requisites for its safety ; its activity, when on the wing, renders its capture difficult ; and when it rests, it is on a wall, the bark of a tree, or some dusky body, that assimilates so nearly to its own colour, as to render it almost invisible, though watched to its settlement : the larva is seldom found. We sometimes see it enter our rooms, attracted by flowers in the open windows ; but it seems to be immediately aware of its danger, dis- appears in an instant, and is safe from capture. Wild and fearful as this creature is by nature, yet continued gentle treatment will remove much of its timidity and render it familiar to our presence. Perfectly free from any annoyance as they are when ranging from sweet to sweet on my borders, and accustomed to a close inspection of all their opera- tions, I have frequently touched their wings with my fingers, while hovering over a flower, and dip- ping their long tubes into the corolla of a geranium : they would retire a little, confused with such free- doms and interruptions, but, experiencing no harm, they would return and finish their meal, unmindful of such petty annoyances. I have known this creature, like some other insects, counterfeit death when apprehensive of danger, fall on its back, and appear in all respects devoid of life when in a box ; and, as soon as a fit opportunity arrived, dart away with its usual celerity *." * Journal of a Naturalist, p. 284. 168 BROAD-BORDERED BEE HAWK-MOTH. -Siesta Fudformis. PLATE XII. Fig. 3. Sphinx Fuciformis, Linn. ; Donovan, iii. PI. 87 Sesia Bom- byliformis, Stephens' Illus. — Clear-winged Humming-bird Sphinx, Harris. To the short and robust body of the preceding genus, Sesia adds the distinctive character of clear transparent wings ; and is easily distinguished from the two following genera, with which it has this property in common, by the ovate hairy abdomen and sphinx-like form, as well as by the caudal horn of the caterpillar. The antennae thicken from the base nearly to the apex, which terminates in an oblique two-jointed seta ; and the proboscis is very long and spiral. The species named fuciformis, from the resemblance of the body to that of a drone- bee, expands from eighteen to upwards of twenty lines. The colour of the body is yellowish or olive- green, the third and fourth segments of the abdo- men deep-red, and the two following yellow ; the tuft at the extremity black at the sides, and yellovr in the middle. The wings are vitreous and irides- BROAD-BORDERED BEE HAWK-MOTH. 169 cent, with the nervrires, a band round the outer margin, and a discoidal streak on the upper pair, purplish-hrown ; the base more or less tinged with green. The antennaa are blue-blacki The caterpillar feeds on the honeysuckle and yellow bedstraw. It is pale green, with the legs, under side of the body, and anal horn, reddish brown; the stigmata black, with a white centre. The perfect insect is found occasionally in Kent, Surrey, Essex, and other southern counties, and was once taken, as mentioned by Mr Stephens, in con- siderable plenty near York, by W. C. Hewitson, Esq. This seems to be nearly its northern limit, as neither it nor the following species, as far as we know, have hitherto been detected in Scotland. 170 NARROW-BORDERED BEE HAWK-MOTH. Sesia Bombyliformis. PLATE XII. Fig. 4. Sesia Bombyliformis, Fabr. ; Haworth's Lep. Brit. p. 68.—, Curtis' B. E. i. 40 — Sesia Fuciformis, Stephens' Illus Sphinx Fuciformis, Ochsen. IN this species, which is about the same size as the foregoing, the body is tawny-olive inclining to green, the second and third segments of the abdo- men nearly black, and the two following bright orange, the anal tuft black at the sides and orange in the middle. The wings are narrowly edged with dark-brown, the rest of the surface vitreous and transparent, the anterior pair without any discoi- dal streak. The antennas are glossed with blue. When young, the caterpillars have a few branched spines on each segment, but as they increase in size these disappear. The colour varies much, but is most commonly green, with a pale line on each side surmounted by a purple one ; and most of the segments have an oblique purple stripe over the stigmata. It feeds on the devil's-bit scabious (Sca- biosa succisa) and some other plants. It is a rare ;.- | ' : • "-'- T/ •^ ;3> NARROW-BORDERED BEE HAWK-MOTH. 171 insect in this country, but has been found in some plenty in one or two places, and occasionally in others. Mr. Curtis mentions Enborne, near New- bury, Berkshire, as one of its localities, and it is said by Mr. Stephens to have been taken in the New Forest. BEE CLEAR-WING. Trochilium Apiforme. PLATE XIII. Fig. I. Sphinx Apiformis, Linn. ; Donovan, i. PI. 25 ; Linn. Trans. iii. PI. 3. figs. 1* — 5. — JEgeria Apiformis, Leach Hofnet- moth, Harris"1 Expos. PI. 3, fig. 7. — Trochilium Apiforme, Curtis" B. E. viii. 372. THE two genera which next present themselves to our notice constitute the family of the ^Egeridse. Their affinity to the Sesise will at once be traced in the transparency and similar neuration of the wings, while the absence of the anal horn in the caterpillar evinces a considerable aberration from that group, as well as from the typical structure of the Sphin- gidse. They possess a pair of simple eyes, or stem- mata, placed on the hinder part of the head, similar to what are observed in many Hymenoptera and Diptera. Other points of analogy to the insects just named may be discovered, and this general resemblance is attempted to be indicated by naming 172 BEE CLEAR-WING. the ^Egeridse after the kinds to which they are thought to make the nearest approach. They fly during the heat of the day, many of them with great rapidity, and alight upon the flowers from which they extract their nourishment. All of them are rather scarce insects in this country, with the exception of the little IE. Tipuliformis, which is plentiful in gardens in many parts of England, hut does not seem to come far north. The larvae, which are soft, fleshy, and of a pale colour, subsist on the pith and wood of trees and shrubs, in the interior of which they also undergo their metamorphosis. The cell is constructed so near the surface as to leave only a thin exterior covering, and when the chrysalis is matured, it pushes itself through this frail barrier, chiefly by the aid of a series of fine spines on the abdomen inclining backwards, which serve, when the body is agitated, as a point of sup- port for advancing the head, which terminates in a point to make the perforation more easy. Trochi- lium is chiefly distinguished by the shortness of the proboscis and antennae, the latter being slightly serrated and terminating in a tuft of hair ; by the transparency of the tip of the anterior wings, and the comparatively thick and robust body. The species named Afiform* (from its resemblance to a bee), is yellow on the head ; the thorax brown, •with four yellow spots, the two anterior ones large and triangular, the posterior two smaller and rounded. The abdomen is yellow, with the first and fourth segments black and clothed with brown pubescence BEE CLEAR- WING. 173 the others edged with black, the fifth and the poste- rior two brown on the back and having a line of the same colour on the sides. All the wings are transparent, with the edges, the nervures, and a transverse stripe on the primary pair rust-brown; the fringe tawny -brown. The thighs are yellow on the outer side and dusky internally, the rest of the leg yellow. The caterpillar is pubescent and whitish, having a dusky line along the back and a dark-brown head. It lives in the stem and roots of willow and poplar trees. Its perfect insect likewise frequents these trees, and is riot scarce in certain situations ; such as Epping Forest, Coombe Wood, &c. It is usually found in June and July. — Only one other species besides the above seems to inhabit Britain, viz. T. crabroniforme, Hornet Clear-wing, which has the head and thorax brown, the latter with a rust- brown spot on each side behind, and the abdomen cinctured with two black bands. 174 BREEZE CLEAR-UNDERWING. JEgeria Asiliformis. PLATE XIII. Fig, 2. Sphinx Asiliformis, Donovan, xi. PL 384 __ Sesia (Estrifonnis, Kirby and Spencers Intro, i. PI. iii. fig. 2 __ jEgeria Asilifor- mis, Fabr., Stephens, Curtis. has rather long antennae, very slender at the hase, and thickening gradually almost to the tip, which terminates in a minute joint bearing a tuft of hair. The suctorial trunk is likewise of considerable length ; and the palpi, which are tri- articulate and densely clothed with hairs and scales, stand out from the head and diverge from each other. The abdomen is slender and cylindric, and terminates in a slightly trilobed anal tuft. Nearly a dozen different kinds are included in our indi- genous lists, of which one of the most conspicuous is that of which the synonymy has been given above. It differs from all the rest, in having the superior wings opaque or almost entirely clothed with scales : the body is blue-black, somewhat shining, the head with two white spots before the eyes and a yellow belt behind ; the thorax with a yellow mark on each side, and a point of the same colour at the origin of the primary wings ; the BREEZE CLEAR- ITNDERWING. 175 abdomen with three yellow belts at equal distances from each other. The anal tuft is deep black with wo yellow longitudinal lines ; the thighs dark blue, the rest of the leg yellow, the tibias having a black spot on the outer side. The above description applies in part only to the female ; the male is dis- tinguished by having pectinate antennas, and four yellow belts on the abdomen. It is a scarce insect in northern countries. It has been occasionally taken in the vicinity of London, and several other places in the south of England. It frequents poplars, both in its winged and reptile fltato. BLACK AND WHITE HORNED CLEAR-WING. JEgeria Spheciformis. PLATE XIIT. Fig. 3. Sphinx Spheciformis, Esper ; Hubner. — Sesia Sphegiformis, Fabr. — jEgeria Spheciformis, Curtis^ Stephens, &c. EXPANSION of the wings about thirteen or fourteen lines ; the general colour of the body glossy-black, the thorax with a yellow longitudinal line on each side, and a spot of the same colour on the sides of the breast ; the abdomen with a yellow belt on the third ring above, and another on the fifth beneath ; there is likewise a yellow spot on the surface of the 176 BLACK AND WHITE HORNED CLEAR-WING. basal segment. The wings are transparent ; the upper pair with the nervures, the margin, the apex, and a broad transverse stripe not far from it, blue- black ; the posterior pair having the hinder edge, the nervures, and a cross mark near the middle of the anterior edge, likewise blue-black. The fringe of the wings is brownish-ash. The thighs and tibiae are blue-black, the former yellow externally in the fore-pair; the tarsi yellow, sprinkled with black ; antennae yellowish- white at the apex. Still rarer than the preceding, both in this country and on the continent. The few British examples preserved in cabinets have been found chiefly in the neighbourhood of London and in the Isle of Wight. It frequents birch-trees, on the wood of which the larvae probably feed. .(UNIVERSITY RUBY-FLY CLEAR-WING. JEgeria Chrysidiformis. PLATE XIII. Fig. 4. Sphinx Chryeidiformis, Fiery Clear-wing, Haworth, 69 ; Hvbner. CONSIDERABLY less than either of the preceding, the extent of the wings seldom exceeding ten lines. The colour of the body is bluish-black, the forehead and collar yellowish-white, the thorax having a single white point at the insertion of the wings, and the abdomen two white belts, one on the fifth, the other on the terminal segment. The anal tuft is black at the sides and reddish-yellow in the middle ; the thighs blue-black, whitish externally, except in the hinder pair, the rest of the leg yellow. The anterior edge, apex, and nervures of the upper wings, as well as a cross mark in the centre, are black ; a triangular area extending from the base to the central mark, and a rounded space beyond it, are clear hyaline, the remainder of the surface being bright yellowish-red ; the hinder wings are also hyaline, with a minute black spot bordered with red in the middle of the anterior edge. 1C 178 RUBY-FLY CLFAR-WING. Although an abundant species in the northern parts of France and in Germany, only one instance is recorded of this insect having been taken in Britain ; it was found by a very indefatigable col- lector, and is now in the possession of Mr. Haworth. We now come to the extensive tribe named LEPIDOPTERA NOCTURNA, or Moths, which form the third great division of the class. For an account of their distinctive properties and general history, which embraces many curious and interesting sub- jects of inquiry, reference may be made to the introductory portion of the volume, in which we nave attempted to present what seems most de- serving of notice in relation to them. 1. Granite Swift - (./o£ the mn)^ is recognised by the antennae being long, robust in the males and sometimes slightly serrated : thr maxillae about the length of the antennae; the palpi with the radical joint rather robust, the second long and not so thick, the third shortest and ovate, all of them thickly clothed with scales except the THE APRIL MISELIA. 227 terminal one which is nearly naked ; the head tufted on the crown ; the thorax robust and quadrate, and the abdomen tufted on the back towards the base. All the wings are rather narrow, the anterior pair roundish on the hinder margin. The larva? have the head and pectoral segments a little depressed, and the head is considerably retracted in repose. They have two protuberances on the back of the penultimate segment ; their abode is usually between the bark and on the trunk of trees. The species named Aprilina, from the usual period of its first appearance, has the upper wings of a fine green, thickly marked with transverse black streaks and spots, the apex with two rows of spots shaped like the head of an arrow, one of the rows placed upon the hinder margin. The under wings are dusky brown, with a faint light-coloured streak on the inner side rather behind the middle, and another along the hinder edge ; the fringe of the wings whitish spotted with brown. The head and thorax are the colour of the upper wings, the latter with some black marks on the back and a line of the same colour on each side ; abdomen grey ; legs ringed with black, the posterior wings having a black spot in the middle on the under side. The caterpillar varies in appearance according to its age, and even full grown individuals are often very dissimilar. It is commonly ash-grey, with dark spots and lines on the back and sides ; sometimes the back is spotted with white, and the sides more or less striped with that colour. It feeds on dif- 228 THE APRIL MISELTA. ferent kinds of forest trees, such as the ash, ^elm, beech, &c. The moth first appears in the middle of April, and there is another hatch in Octoher. " This," says Mr. Haworth, "is at once a plentiful, well known, and beautiful insect ; but it is remark- able that none of our collectors ever take it in the winged state, and very rarely in that of a larva. The usual mode of procuring it being by digging about the roots of oaks an inch deep for the pupae, which are annually found in that manner in con- siderable numbers." The insect is not plentiful in Scotland, but is found occasionally throughout the southern counties. PEACH-BLOSSOM MOTH. Tliyatira Batis.m PLATE XXIII. Fig. 2. Curtis, Steph. THYATIRA has the antennae simple in both sexes ; maxilla as long as the antennae ; palpi placed siderably apart, the radical and terminal joints equal length, both of them short, the intermediate one very long and thick, the apical one with sucl small scales that it appears nearly naked ; the head transverse ; the superior wings moderately wide, PEACH-BLOSSOM MOTH. 9 with the tip acute ; the body rather robust, and the thorax furnished with a transverse crest, which is forked posteriorly. When obtained in perfection, the species above referred to, named the Peach-blos- som from the colour of the spots on its upper wings, is one of the most lovely found in this country. The upper wings are brown with dark transvers waved lines rather darkest towards the base, each of them with five rose-coloured spots, a large one at the base, clouded with brown, two towards the tip (sometimes united), a third on the posterior angle having a brown spot in the middle, and a smaller one on the inner margin ; there is likewise a minute rosy spot on the hinder margin adjoining that on the posterior angle. The hinder wings are dusky inclining to ochre-yellow, and having a pale waved line near the middle ; the abdomen of a similar colour. The caterpillar is of a very peculiar form, having a large gibbosity on the back a little behind the head cleft at the summit into two branches, and triangular elevations along the back marked with a pale zigzag line ; the colour rust-brown or blackish. It feeds on the common bramble. The moth ap- pears in June and July, and is usually found in the evening in the "vicinity of woods ; it is not however of very frequent occurrence, although it seems to inhabit all the southern counties of England, and has occasionally occurred pretty far north. " Five or six specimens have been taken at Jardine Hall.*1 Sir W. Jardine, Bart. 230 BUFF ARCHES. Thyatira Derasa. PLATE XXIII. Fig. 3. Phal. Noctua Derasa, Linn. ,• Don. vii. PI. 223, fig. 1 Noctua derasina, Haworth. — Buff Arches, WUkes^ Hani* Thya- tira Deraea, Ochsen, Steph. ABOUT the size of the preceding, or a little larger; the prevailing colour light yellowish-brown ; the upper wings with two white oblique bands, one of them extending from the tip to the inner margin, the other continued from the inner margin to the anterior one, and terminating not far from the base, the space between it and the base generally more or less denuded of scales. The triangular space between the two bands is clouded with brown and white, and there is a transverse series of several parallel fine brown zigzag lines, forming very acute angles on a whitish ground ; the hinder margin of the wing brown, with two rows of small white arches, surmounted by a white ill defined line ; the fringe likewise whitish. The hinder wings are some- what dusky with a slight ochreous tinge, the fringe white. PLATE 24. 1 1. ///•/ •///// Mt.ll, '1. .I/,////,-,/ Or.mii,' J//////. .3 . . /////// ^ •///////-. »-. ;////// . BUFF ARCHES. 231 Tlie caterpillar, which seems to be a general feeder, is yellowish-green, with dark -brown spots and lines on various parts of the body. The moth, which is prized for its beauty as well as its congener T. batis, is much more common than that species* being frequently found in most parts of England, near woods and in shady lanes. It becomes scarce in the north, but has been taken near York and in Northumberland. July and August are the periods of its flight. THE HERALD-MOTH, SooUopteryx Ltftatrix. PLATE XXIV. Fig. 1. Phal. Bomb. Libatrix, Linn. ; Don. vi. PI. 216. — Bomb. Li- batrus, Furbelow-moth, Haivorth. — Herald-moth, //arm.— Calyptra Libatrix, Ochsen, Steph. THIS beautiful moth occurs in great profusion in the more southern parts of England, but becomes rarer as we advance northwards, and cannot be said to be common in any quarter of Scotland. It fre- quents places where willows and poplars grow, it being upon these trees that the larvae feed. It first appears in July, and is likewise found plenti- fully in October, whence Aurelians have culled it 232 - THE HERALD-MOTH. the Herald, from an idea that its appearance gave indication of the approach of winter. The expan- sion of the wings is from an inch and a half to an inch and a quarter ; the thorax and anterior wings reddish-grey, with an irregular red patch at the base, a round white spot on the disk of each, and two oblique transverse white bands, one a little below the middle, the other a little behind it : from the outer band to the apex the colour is grey with minute dusky points, the space traversed by a very faint waved whitish streak. The rufous patch is sprinkled with minute yellow dots, and there is a distinct row of small white marks along the central nervure. The underwings are brownish, becoming darker towards the hinder margin; the abdomen inclining to red with a few faint dorsal marks ; the thorax with a dusky line on the back and a trans- verse streak of the same colour. Legs greyish ; the tarsi white, spotted with rust-red. The caterpillar, which is slender and naked, is green with a white line on each side, and red stigmata. — The principal generic distinctions of Scoliopteryx are the lengthened palpi clothed with long capitate scales, the radical joint shortest, the other two rather long and stout and nearly of equal length ; antennae short and strong, bipectinated to the apex in the males, slightly serrated in the females ; proboscis rather short, kead and thorax each with a crest anteriorly ; anterior wings deeply emarginate on the hinder edge and somewhat dentate ; the hinder pair very slightly dentate. 233 MOTTLED ORANGE-MOTH. Gortyna flavago. PLATE XXIV. Fig. 2. Plial. Noct. Lappae, Don. x. PI. 340 — Noctua Flavago, ner. — Noct. Ochraceago, Haworth, 234 __ Noct. rutilago, Fabr __ Mottled Orange, Harris* Aurel. PI. 35 __ Gortyna flavago, Ochsen, Curtis, StepA* GORTYNA has antennas of moderate length, setace- ous, clothed with scales above, and pubescent be- neath; the proboscis slender and not so long as the antennae ; palpi with the basal joint short and curved upwards, the second long and attenuated, the terminal one distinct, somewhat oval and com- pressed at the apex; thorax broad, with a conical tuft anteriorly, and trilobed behind; all the wings entire, the upper pair sublanceolate, with the tip acute. The larva is fleshy, furnished only with a few short and scattered hairs. It feeds on the pith and internal parts of vegetables, and bears a good deal of resemblance to those of Zeuzera, Cucullm, and others of similar economy. Only two British species have been hitherto detected, of which that named G. flavago is by far the most handsome. It 234 MOTTLED ORANGE-MOTH. expands from an inch and a quarter to nearly an inch and a half; the upper wings are rich yellow, variegated with reddish-brown, the latter colour enclosing several spots of a lighter yellow than the rest, each wing with two broad transverse bands of reddish-brown, one near the base the other near the hinder margin, from which it is separated by a yellow band undulated on the inner side; fringe long and thick, the colour reddish-brown. The hinder wings are dirty white, glossy, with a dusky crescent-shaped mark on the disk, and an obscure band posteriorly ; the fringe ash-brown. The thorax and abdomen are reddish-brown, the former slightly tinged in certain places with yellow. The cater- pillar feeds on the pith of the common burdock (Arctium Lappet)^ and likewise attacks other thick stemmed plants, such as Verlascum Thapsus, Scro- phularia aquatica, the spear thistle, &c. It under- goes its metamorphosis in the interior, where the pupa likewise remains till the moth is ready to emerge, which usually takes place towards the end of autumn. The insect is not rare in many parts of England, bat seems to become very scarce as we advance northwards. The only Scotch specimen we have seen was taken near Ttosslyn. 235 THE ANGLE SHADES. PJiioyophora Meticulosa. PLATE XXIV. Fig. 3. Phal. Noct. meticulosa, Linn. ; Don. iv. PL 139 — Angl*- Shades-Moth, Wilkes, PI. 3, Harris' Aurel. PI. 41 Phlogo- phora meticulosa, Treitschke, Ochsen, Steph, IN Phlogophora (from pXog flame, and $tpn to carry, in allusion to the shape of the markings on the anterior wings) the antennas are long, slender, and ciliated ; the abdomen tufted at the hase ; the anterior wings rather narrow, with a sinuosity on the hinder margin and several ragged teeth ; the hinder wings very slightly dentate on the edge. The only British species is that figured. The upper wings, which usually measure nearly two inches across, are pale rosy-white, more or less clouded with olive-brown, each of them with a large tri- angular purplish mark in the centre, beyond which there is a white band, the margin more or less marbled with olive-brown. The hinder wings are whitish, sometimes with a faint rosy tinge pos- teriorly, having a dusky central crescent, and two or three faint transverse waved dusky lines. 236 THE ANCIX SHADES. The caterpillar is usually green, with a row of oblong white spots on the back, and a continuous white line on each side just over the legs. It feeds on culinary vegetables and many of our common field plants. The moth may be said to be common in most parts of the country, but is much scarcer in Scotland than further south. April, June, and September are the months in which it appears most plentifully, there being apparently three broods in the season. PEASE-BLOSSOM MOTH. Chariclea Delphinii. PLATE XXV. Fig. 1. Phal. Noct. Delphinii, Linn.; Don. x. PI. 331. — Pease-Blo&- som Moth, Wilkes, (PI. 3.) Harris Chariclea Delphinii, Steph. ; Curtis, vol. ii. 76. THE beautiful insect for the reception of which the genus Chariclea has been established, fcears con- siderable affinity to Cucullia both in the state of moth and caterpillar. The antennas are covered with scales above, and are hairy beneath ; the pro- boscis nearly as long as the body ; the palpi entirely covered with long thick-set hair, upon the removal of which the radical joint appears longest, the ter- minal one small and ovate. The upper wings are pillar of £? PEASE-BLOSSOM MOTH. 237 narrow, veiy slightly notched on the hinder margin, and furnished, as well as the under wings, with a yery long fringe : the anterior tibiae very short, and hearing two naked horny spines at the extremity. The Larkspur or Pease-blossom Moth expands about an inch and a quarter ; the upper wings with a broad three-lobed band at the base, and a narrow one behind the middle, of a purple colour ; the space between these bands, which is bounded on each side by a pale sinuated line, variegated with pale rose-colour and purple; the hinder margin likewise pale rosy, with a black line next the fringe ; the latter yellowish- white. The under wings are whitish, tinged with rose-colour behind, and having a transverse dusky spot near the middle yellowish-white. The caterpillar is yellow, tinged with lilac on the back and belly, where it is likewise marked with numerous rows of black spots ; each side with a line of rather bright yellow. It feeds on the wild Lark- spur (Delphinium Consolida), a plant which grows pretty abundantly in some of the southern counties of England, but which is not found in a wild state in Scotland. " This charming moth," says Mr. Curtis, " is no less esteemed for its rarity than for its lovely colours ; the specimens in Mr Stephen's cabinet, as well as those in the British Museum, are from Windsor ; and it has once been taken by the late Mr. Jones in his garden at Chelsea. Its favourite food is the larkspur ; it therefore ought to be met 238 PEASE-BLOSSOM MOTH. with in Cambridgeshire, and districts where that plant abounds in a natural state. It is, however, probable that this is one of those insects, which, if not periodical, appears in very small numbers ; which opinion is strengthened by the fact, that it is very rare upon the Continent, where it fetches very high prices ; and we are informed by Mr. Haworth, that the great patroness of Natural History, the late Dui chess of Portland, possessed only a wing of the moth, found in a spider's web at Bubtrode. In Wilkes' days (1773), it was bred, he says, by the Honourable Mrs. Walters, and by Nathaniel Old- ham, Esq."* THE GAMMA-MOTH. Plusia Gamma. PLATE XXV. Fig. 2. Phal. Noct. Gamma, Linn. ; Don. viii. PI: 265. fig. 2.— Noc- tua Gamma, Hvbner. — Silver Y Moth, Wilkes. — Plusia Gamma, OcJisen, Steph. ANTENNA simple in both sexes, of moderate length ; palpi longer than the head, the radical joint nearly of the same length as the terminal one, the latter linear and obtuse at the apex, the intermediate joint double the length of the others and tapering * Brit Entoin. vol. ii. fol. 76. THE GAMMA-MOTH. 239 towards the tip ; proboscis long ; head and thorax both crested; the abdomen, which is rather long and thick, likewise bearing tufts at the base and along the back ; fringe of the anterior wings slightly emarginate, that of the posterior entire : caterpillars half loopers, possessing only four ventral legs and the usual posterior pair. Such are the distinguish- ing characters of this handsome genus, which con- tains about a dozen indigenous species. All of them are remarkable for the rich metallic marks on the anterior wings, which sometimes assume the appearance of written characters. They fly during the day, skipping about from one plant to another in a restless manner, and with much rapidity, keeping their wings, while feeding, in con- stant vibration, somewhat like the Humming-bird Hawk-moth. The most common and best known of these insects is represented on the adjoining plate. It measures from an inch and one-third, to upwards of an inch and a half; the upper wings grey, varie- gated with dusky brown, having a pale blotch ante- riorly towards the apex, and a few transverse slightly waved dark lines ; the disk of each inscribed with a silvery character, resembling the letter Y, or rather the Greek y ; fringe somewhat dentate, greyish, spotted with dusky brown. Hinder wings ash- brown, the nervures and hinder margin deep brown; the fringe light-coloured with dark spots. The head and thorax are ash-grey ; the abdomen rather of a lighter hue. The colour varies considerably in intensity, and 240 THE GAMMA-MOTH. the character on the anterior wings is sometimes of a golden hue. The caterpillar is green, with a faint yellow streak along the sides, and white ones along the back ; it feeds on almost any of our common field plants, and is well known for the extensive depredations it sometimes commits/ (PL xxv. fig. 3.) The moth is found from April to September, and, even so late as the beginning of November it may sometimes be seen in fine weather hovering about the few flowers that retain their blossoms till that season. It seems to inhabit all parts of Britain : we have seen speci- mens from the most northern quarters of Scotland BURNISHED-BRASS MOTH. Plusia Chrysitis. PLATE XXV. Fig. 4. Phal. Noct. Chrysitis, Linn. ; Don. iv. PI. 137 — Phytometra Chrysitis, Haworth. — Burnished-Moth, TT^y&es..— Burnished- Brass Moth, Harris' Aurel. PI. 22 Plusia Chrysitis, Och- sen, StepJi. THIS elegant species is about the size of the pre- ceding, but differs from many others belonging to the same genus in the shape of the wings. The ante- rior pair are pale fuscous, ornamented with a broad band near the base, generally of a golden-green BURNISHED-BRASS MOTH. 241 colour, but variable in the tint; the green sometimes predominating, at other times the yellow ; and a second of a similar colour behind the middle, placed obliquely, and frequently united to the other by an oblong patch on the inner margin. Near the apex there is a transverse line of deep brown, and the nervures are likewise of that colour. Posterior wings dusky-brown, the fringe of both pairs red- dish-brown. Head and thorax yellowish, the latter brownish-grey on the sides ; abdomen brown, tinged with yellow, the hairs on the sides and hinder extremity inclining to rust -red. The caterpillar, which feeds on a variety of com- mon plants, is green, with a longitudinal white line on the sides, and oblique streaks of the same colour on the back. The moth frequents lanes, the rank vegetation found among rubbish, &c. and is very common in the vicinity of London and other places in the south of England. It becomes scarce in the north, and is not frequently observed in Scotland, although occurring at times in the southern counties, as we have seen examples from Roxburghshire, Dumfries-shire% Peebles. &c. 242 THE CL1PDEN NONPAREIL. Catocala Fraxini. PLATE XXVI. Fig. 1 Viial. Noct. Fraxini, Linn. ; Don. v. PI. 171 and 172.— Clifden Nonpareil, Wilkes (PI. 90), Harris* Aurd. PI. 31.— Catocaia Fraxini, Shrank, Steph. Curtis' B. E. fol. 217. THE genus Catocala of Shrank contains several of the largest and handsomest moths indigenous to this country. The wings are large, and extended by means of very strong nervures, the upper pair some shade of grey on the surfece, finely mottled and waved with dark brown spots and streaks, forming a striking contrast with the under wings, which (except in the species named above) are bright red, with transverse black bars. The cater- pillars are what are called half-loopers, because in walking they partially assume the attitude of the kinds which are without abdominal legs ; and con- formably with this circumstance, the first pair of legs are found to be smaller than the others, snowing a tendency to become obsolete, and thus indicating a certain degree of affinity with the geometers properly so called. They are densely ciliated on the •\xi . Ctifilm X,, ii/nii: ,7 TIIE CLIFDEN NONPAREIL. . 248 sides, attenuated before and behind, and furnished with a caudal prominence. These insects may be distinguished as a genus by the length of the trunk, which is equal to that of the antennae ; by the palpi, which have the middle joint nearly one half longer than the two others, and so densely clothed with scait^ as to appear double the thickness of the terminal one, the latter being short and slender ; by the abdomen being attenuated posteriorly, and the fringe of the wings, especially in the hinder pair, being long and rather deeply indented : the thorax slightly crested, large, and strong ; the head small, and the antennae long and setaceous, covered with scales externally, and short hairs on the inner side. The species named C. Traxini is the largest moth found in this country, the expansion of the wings sometimes reaching four inches. The thorax and upper wings are light grey on the surface, the latter variegated with transverse undulating lines of brown. The under wings are brownish-black, with a broad curved band of light blue across the middle. The fringe of all the wings is pure white, deeply indented, and preceded by a row of dusky triangular marks, having the point turned outwards, which is most distinct in the hinder wings. The under side of the body and legs are white, the tarsi of the anterior pair spotted with brown above. The caterpillar lives on the ash, poplar, oak, elm, birch, &c. It is ash-coloured, more or less yellow- ish, and sprinkled with minute black dots, Tha 244 THE CLIFDEN NONPAREIL. head is greenish, with two frontal black crescents ; the eighth segment having a dorsal protuberance of a bluish-black colour, and marked with a few yellow spots. On the ninth segment there is an oblique black line extending to the hinder stigmata; the latter are all surrounded with a black ring. It spins a very loose cocoon among a few leaves, and changes into a reddish-brown chrysalis, powdered with pale blue, and having two small blue tubercler on each side of the fourth and fifth segments. It is a rare insect in this country, and indigenous specimens in good condition may still be regarded as a valuable addition to a cabinet. It was first figured by Wilkes as a British insect, and is said by him to have been found at Cleifden, in Bucking- hamshire; whence the English name he has as- signed to it. It has since been observed in Suffolk, Kent, Surrey, and a few other places ; the vicinity of York is the most northern locality that has been cited. In France, Germany, and other continental countries, it occurs much more plentifully. BED UNDERWING. Catocala Nupta. PLATE XXVI. Fig. 2. Phal. Noct. Nupta, Linn. ; Don. vii. PL 224 Red Under- wing, Harris'' Aurel. PI. 18 Hemigeometra Nupta, //in- worth, 268. EXTENT of the wings about three inches or up- wards; the surface of the upper pair dark grey, with transverse waved streaks and spots of brown and obscure yellow, the hinder border with a series of transverse lunulated spots, and two waved dusky lines on the fringe. The underwings are of a deep and beautiful blood-red inclining to carmine, with a curved sinuated band of deep black near the middle, which tapers and disappears before reaching the inner edge of the wing, and a broad marginal band sinuated internally; the fringe pure white, with vestiges of ferruginous spots at the base. The thorax and abdomen are brownish-grey above, but white beneath ; the legs brown, ringed with white on the tarsi. The under side of the upper wings is black, with a faint bluish play of colour, and three white transverse bands, the central one abbreviated, 246 RED TJNDERWING, and the outer one attenuated and forming an acute V-shaped angle towards the inner margin; the apex and the fringe greyish-white, each tooth of the latter bearing a- transverse dusky arc. The caterpillar is attenuated at both extremities ; the colour grey, inclining to white, and variegated with brawn; having two rows of small tubercles along the back, and a callous protuberance on the eighth segment. The belly is greenish, with a lon- gitudinal series of black spots in the middle; the head bordered with black. The chrysalis is reddish- brown, and covered with a kind of bloom of a blue colour. The caterpillar feeds on the poplar and willow ; and the moth continues to frequent these trees,, and may often be seen reposing on their stems, particularly of the willow. It occurs very frequently in the southern parts of England, and is not rare even in the more northern counties, although we are not aware that it extends to Scotland. We now come to that section of the nocturnal lepidoptera which includes the extensive family of Geometrine moths, the peculiar characters of which have already been alluded to. They constitute the Phalamce geometrce of Linne, and the Lepidoptera semidiurna^ Phalcenites, or Arpenteuses, of more recent writers. The caterpillars are remarkable for their mode of progression and long narrow bodies, which are generally free from hair, but not unfre- quently furnished with knobs and protuberances. RED UNDERWING. 247 The majority have ten feet, six of which, placed upon the pectoral segments, are scaly and conical ; the other four are memhranous, a pair of them situate near the hinder part o£ the abdomen, the other at the extremity. The abdominal legs are sometimes wholly wanting, hut the anal pair is indispensably requisite to enable the animal to execute its peculiar movements. Many of these caterpillars feed only in the night, and may be observed during the day, if the eye happen to dis- tinguish them from the surrounding twigs which they often strikingly resemble, with their bodies suspended in the air perfectly motionless, forming an angle with the branch to which they cling by their hinder prolegs. The moths, however, are by no means exclusively nocturnal, and several of them may occasionally be noticed on the wing even in the heat of the day. Their bodies are generally slender, the abdomen of the male terminating in a small tuft : the antennae in that sex frequently pec- tinated, at other times simple ; the palpi short and somewhat cylindrical ; the proboscis occasionally ob- solete,— when developed, not very long and nearly membranous; the wings ample, and extended almost horizontally during repose. The first species selected to illustrate this division is named 248 THE BRIMSTONE-MOTH Rumia Cratcegata, PLATE XXVII. Fig. 1. Phal. Geom. Crataegata, Linn. — Geom. Crataegaria, Haivortk. Brimstone-moth, Wttkes, PI. 80 Yellow or Brimstone, Harris. — Rumia Crataegata, Duponchel, Steph. IT expands from an inch to an inch and two-thirds ; the colour deep sulphur yellow, the anterior edge of the upper wings with two narrow reddish-brown spots towards the base, a third near the middle produced internally and having a white mark in the centre, and a pretty large one on the apex ; behind the middle there is a transverse row of faint dusky marks, and two or three others near the base. The hinder wings hare a small dusky spot on the disk, sometimes with a white centre, and several evanes- cent dusky marks, some of them forming a kind of band posteriorly. The fringe is nearly the same colour as the wings, and marked in certain places with reddish-brown spots. The caterpillar, which is elongate and cylindrical, is pale brown, with a bluish spot on each side of the neck, and the spiracles on the sixth segment I .///•////. N-A//// Mull, '2. ,\ u ,///,/ti •-///// Mnih. THE BRIMSTONE- MOTH. 249 tinged with red ; the back with two horn-like pro- tuberances. Its favourite food is the hawthorn, but it likewise frequents the sloe, apple-tree, bramble, &c. The moth is one of our more common species, and is distributed over the whole island. It is found from ^pril to October or November, there being several broods in the year. SWALLOW-TAIL MOTH. Ourapteryx Sambucaria. PLATE XXVII. Fig. 2. Phal. Geom. Sambucaria, Linn.; Don. v. PL 170 Swallow- tail Moth, Wilkes, PI. 7 8 ; Harris. — Ourapteryx Sambucaria, Leach, Zool. Mag. i. PI. 35, fig. 2. THE most characteristic feature in the present genus is that to which both the generic and English names refer, namely, the prolongation of the hinder wings into a pretty lengthened acute tail. The anterior wings are likewise very acute at the tip, and some- what falcate, the margin entire. The antenna are of moderate length and simple in both sexes ; the palpi short, the proboscis nearly as long as the antennae. The caterpillar has six pectoral legs, and four prolegs at the hinder extremity. The Swallow- tail is one of the largest of our native geometrine moths? the extent of the wings frequently measuring 250 SWALLOW-TATL MOTH. two inches and a half. The colour is delicate sul- phur-yellow, shaded at the base of the wings into satiny-white, and deepening towards the hinder extremity ; the surface marked with numerous dark evanescent streaks, placed transversely ; two lines of deep yellow run across the anterior wings, and a single one across the under pair, the latter forming a continuation, when the wings are expanded, of the innermost of the two anterior lines. At the base of the tail there are two small blackish spots, the larger one with a reddish centre, and the fringe is ochrey-yellow, inclining in some places to reddish- brown. The colour of the caterpillar is reddish-brown, with darker longitudinal lines ; the head flat and oval. It feeds on the leaves of various shrubs and trees, but prefers the elder, willow, and lime. It changes to a long narrow pupa of a brown colour, with darker spots and streaks, which is inclosed in a thin spinning among leaves. The moth appears on the wing in June and July, and is not scarce in many parts of England, especially in the south ; but it appears to be somewhat rare in Scotland. 251 LARGE EMERALD-MOTH. Hipparchus Papilionarius. PLATE XXVII. Fig. 3. Phal. Geom. Papilionaria, Linn. ; Don. viii. PL 287. — Geo- metra Papilionaria, Hubner^ Haworth. — The Large Emerald, Harris. — Hipparchus Papilionarius, Leach, Steph. THIS genus was first characterized by Dr. Leach, and has been adopted with some modifications by most succeeding writers. The species which it formerly embraced are noted for their beautiful tints of green, which caused them to be known by the appellation of Emerald-moths. These, however, are now distributed in other genera, and the only one left under the old designation is the fine insect represented on the adjoining plate. The wings generally exceed two inches in extent, and some- times are two inches and a half in the female ; the surface deep grass- green, with two rows of whitish spots extending across both wings, rather behind the middle ; on the disk of each there is an obscure crescent-shaped spot of a deeper green than the rest ; the fringe is gree'nish -yellow, and the antennas reddish-brown, particularly in the male. 252 LARGE EMERALD-MOTH The caterpillar has six pectoral, two abdominal, and two anal feet. It is green, with a yellow line on each side and reddish warts on the back ; and feeds on the elm, lime, alder, birch, &c. The moth appears in the end of July, frequenting woods and meadows, but is not very frequently met with in any part of Britain. It has, however, been found in Askam Bogs Yorkshire, in Kent, Surrey, near Reading, in Warwickshire, and many other parts of England, and on two or three occasions near Rae- hills in Dumfries-shire, as well as at Cramond near Edinburgh. As a genus, Hipparchus is distinguished by the following characters : antennae pectinated in the males almost to the apex, the pectinations ciliated ; antennae of the female simple ; proboscis spiral, much shorter than the antennae ; palpi pro- jecting nearly in a horizontal direction, and approxi- mating at the tip ; the radical joint very short, the second very long, the terminal one lanceolate, free from hairs, and somewhat pointed; upper wings covering the under pair when at rest, the latter with the hinder margin dentate. rr* ofD* tied Beauty. 263 MAGPIE OR GOOSEBERRY-MOTH, Alrcutas Grossulariatot. PLATE XXVIII. Fig. 1. Phal. Geom. Grossulariata, Linn. ; Don. i. PI. 4. — The Mag- pie, Haworth — Large Magpie or Moth, Wilkes, PI. 85.— Currant Moth, Harris"1 Aurel PI. 12. — Abraxas Grossula- riata, Leach, Steph. THE establishment of this genus is due to Dr. Leach, who assigns as its distinctive characters the shape of the wings, which are broad and rounded at the tip, the outer edge entire ; expanded during repose. The antennae are of moderate length, and simple in both sexes. The palpi are very short, the radical joint short and robust, second longer, third globose and concealed by scales. The maxillae are long, the thorax and abdomen slender, especially in the male. It contains three British species, all of which are somewhat scarce, except that which we have figured, which may be regarded as one of the most abundant of our native moths. The upper wings, which measure from an inch and one-third to nearly two inches, are white with two bright yellow bands, one at the base, the other a little beyond the middle, 254 MAGPIE OR GOOSEBERRY-MOTH. and six transverse rows of rounded black spots ; the first consisting of a single spot or two at the base, the third irregular and interrupted, the fourth and fifth enclosing the outermost of the yellow bands formerly mentioned, and the sixth on the hinder margin : these spots vary much in size and position, and some of them are generally more or less con- fluent. The under wings have a few scattered spots on the disk, and a continuous series of larger size round the posterior border. The body is yel- low, with rows of black spots; the head and an- tennae of the latter colour. Varies greatly in the marks, being sometimes nearly all black. The caterpillar is very similar in its markings to the perfect insect, the prevailing colour being white, slightly tinged with blue, the back with numerous black spots of various dimensions, and the lower parts of the sides, and the belly, yellow, sprinkled with black dots. (PL xxvm. fig. 2.) The chrysalis is pitchy-black, with yellow bands on the segments. The moth appears pretty early in the summer, and abounds wherever the appropriate food of the cater- pillar (the common currant and gooseberry-bushes) is to be obtained. 255 THE MOTTLED BEAUTY. Melanippe Hastata. PLATE XXVIII. Fig. 3. Phal. Geom. Hastata, Linn. ; Don. iv. PI. 129 — Phal. Hastata, Hatvorth The Mottled Beauty, a Moth, Wilkes. — Argent and Sable, Harris* Aurel. PI. 15.— Xerene Hastata, Treitschke, Steph. BEARS considerable affinity to the preceding genus but the anterior wings, instead of being much rounded off at the tip, are but slightly so and almost come to an obtuse point. The proboscis is rather long, the antennas slender, simple in both sexes, and the palpi short, slender, and acute, the terminal joint small and pointed. The species above named differs slightly from the species with which it has usually been associated, and forms the type of Duponchel's genus Melanippe. It measures from an inch to nearly an inch and a half across the wings ; the ground colour white, with a broad irregular black band round the hinder margin of all the wings, continuous externally, but spotted and inter- rupted on the inner side : across the middle of the upper wings is another black band very irregular, being nearly divided in the middle, and interrupted 256 THE MOTTLED BEAUTY. behind the middle by the ground colour ; the base occupied by another band, similarly interrupted, and nearly divided by a white crescent. The under wings have a cross band of black angular spcts, rather before the middle, in continuation, when the wings are expanded, of the central one on the upper pair. The fringe is rather long and thick, and consists of regularly alternating tufts of black and white plumelets ; body and antennae black, spotted with white. The caterpillar, which feeds on the birch, is dusky- brown, with undulating yellow lines on the sides. The moth is found in June and July, but is by no means of frequent occurrence. It is met with oc- casionally, however, in most of the southern counties of England. CLIFDEN BEAUTY. Zerene Albicitlata. PLATE XXVIII. Fig. 4. Phal. Geom. Albicillata, Linn. ; Don. iv. PI. 202 The Beau- tiful Carpet, Haworth. — Clifden Beauty, Harris Xerene Albicillata, Ochsen, Steph. ABOUT the same size as the preceding ; the ground colour milk-white ; all the wings with a small dusky-black spot in the centre : the anterior pair with the base brown, variegated with transverse CLIFDEN BEAUTY. 25? waved streaks of pearl white or leaden colour ; a large dark-brown three-cornered patch on the an- terior edge near the tip ; and the whole of the hinder margin tinged with dusky-brown and varie- gated with faint waved lines of white or lead colour ; this dusky border bounded internally by a pretty distinct geminated undulating brown line. Hinder wings likewise dusky on the hinder margin, that colour more or less interrupted with white, and bounded internally by a faint waved brown streak. Head, thorax, and base of the abdomen pitch-brown, the rest of the abdomen whitish. The caterpillar is green, with a series of brown crescent-shaped spots on the back, and a streak of that colour on the sides of the first and last seg- ments. It fe'eds on the raspberry and probably other species of Rubi. The moth, which is prized by collectors on account of the delicacy of its mark- ings, is very scarce ; but has been found neai1 London, at Reading, in Kent, at Tunbridge Wells, and a few other places. The present genus differs from Melanippe chiefly in the proportions of the joints of the palpi, the two first joints both robust, the radical one especially, the terminal joint minute and ovate ; the whole organ very short, and not visible • from above. The proboscis is long, the forehead prominent. The wings entire and rounded, but not so broad as in Melanippe. As at present const*, tuted, the genus contains five British species. 258 THE BEAUTIFUL CHINA MARK. Hydrocampa NympTueata. PLATE XXIX. Fig. 1. Phal. Geom. Nymphaeata, Linn Phal. Stagnata, Don. Ji. PI. 363, fig. 2.— Pyrausta Nymphealis, The Beautiful China Mark, Haworth. — Hydrocampa Nymphaeata, Latr.^ Steph. THE genus Hydrocampa ( Water-caterpillar ) w« have given as an example of the pretty numerous family of the PYRALIMJ. It belongs to a section of that group, the species of which are somewhat remarkable for possessing four distinct palpi, the maxillary pair being likewise developed, contrary to what is observed in the generality of moths. The labial palpi are, as usual, tri-articulate ; the two lowest joints densely clothed with scales, the ter- minal one acute. The proboscis is rather long, the antennae moderate, and simple in both sexes. All the wings have the hinder margin entire, the ante- rior pair elongate, the posterior ovate-triangular ; the surface reticulated with dark lines upon a white ground. The legs are long and slender, the hinder tibiae with two pair of long spurs. The larva, which has six scaly and ten membranous legs, feeds upon PLATE 29 . / TJNIVERS1T T THE BEAUTIFUL CHINA MARK. 259 aquatic plants, from which it cuts out a portion in order to form its cocoon. The species figured on the adjoining plate measures from ten lines to an inch across the wings ; the latter white and shining, the anterior pair with two hrown stripes extending from the hase to beyond the middle, the remainder of the surface reticulated with hands, formed by two brown approximating lines ; the hinder margin with a continuous band, the fringe pure white, brown at the base. The posterior wings are likewise white, with two brown transverse bands. The arrange- ment of the bands varies much in different indivi- duals, and, in some instances, they are almost wholly obliterated. The caterpillar, of which we have seen no de- scription, feeds on the common duckweed, and the moth frequents the borders of ponds and marsh) places. It occurs not umfrequently both in England and Scotland. 260 GREEN SILVER-LINES. Hylophila Prasinana. PLATE XXIX. Fig. 2. Phal. Tortrix Prasinana, Linn Phal. Fagana,Z)o». viii. PL281. — Green Silver-lines, Harris'' Aurel PI. 10,/ t. m — Chloe- phora Fagana, Steph. Cat. — Hylophila Prasinana, Hubner, Steph. Him. THE present genus is usually placed at the head of the great family of the TORTRICID^:, so called from the larva being in the habit of twisting or rolling leaves in order to form an abode for itself. The aspect of these insects, when at rest, is somewhat peculiar, the anterior wings being very broad near the base, the humeral angle forming a wide curve ; towards the middle they are somewhat contracted, and again dilated at the hinder extremity ; the whole figure of the outline, as Mr Stephens remarks, thus bearing some resemblance to that of a bell. This peculiarity of form has caused them to be frequently termed 'Broad-shouldered Moths. With a few ex- ceptions, they are small insects considerably below the middle size, very agreeably coloured, and fre- -juentlv marked with metallic spots. The cater- GREEN SILVER-LIN Ed. 261 pillars are usually naked, and much attenuated behind, which gives them some resemblance to a fish ; whence some of them are described by Reau- mur as Chenilles en forme de Poisson. They have sixteen legs, and run with great activity, seemingly with equal ease either backwards or forwards. The species above referred to expands from somewhat more than an inch to an inch and a half, the colour light-green ; each of the anterior wings with three oblique stripes of silvery-white, the costa likewise of that colour. The abdomen and hinder wings are yellowish-white; antennaa reddish-brown; the an- terior margin of the upper wings, the hinder margin and the fringe, as well as the legs, tinged more or less with bright red in the male. The caterpillar is light-green, with a yellow line on each side, and two red streaks behind. (PL xxix. Fig. 3.) It feeds on a variety of common trees, and changes into a reddish-brown pupa, which it encloses in a closely woven cocoon, nearly boat- , shaped. The moth is not rare in England, and is likewise found not unfrequently in the south of Scotland. MS* SCARCE SILVER-LINES. Hylophila Quercana. PLATE XXIX. Fig. 4. Phal. Tort. Prasinana, Linn. ; Don. ii. PI. 40 Scarce Silver- Lines, Harris* Aurel. PI. 30. — Hylophila Quercana, Hubner. Steph. Illus. THE largest insect belonging to this group, the wings sometimes extending to two inches : the colour of the thorax and anterior wings deep grass-green, the latter traversed by two oblique white lines ; poste- rior wings and abdomen glossy-white; palpi, an- tenna?, and legs tinged with red. The caterpillar is very like that last described, but is larger and has a dorsal tubercle on the second segment. It frequents various trees, but seems most partial to the oak. The moth appears about the middle of June. It is a rare insect in this country ; most of the specimens in collections have been obtained from the vicinity of London. PLATE 30. 1 . 7///' Hurl.- pun v////// .//«///. i>. /.wtmrr/.f ' A'///// ////;//•/ y v . 3 . II 7//A- iilnmnl Mutli . 4 . Many pliunr',1 Mntli . THE DARK PORCELAIN. Argyromiges Sylvella. PLATE XXX. Fig. 1. Tinea Sylvella, Haworth Phal. Blancardella, Don. xi. PI. 392. fig. 2. — Argyromiges Sylvella, Curtis, Steph. THE family YPONOMEUTID^J, to which the present genus belongs, is constituted by a numerous assem- blage of small moths, the largest not exceeding an inch in the expansion of the wings, while several do not equal the tenth part of these dimensions. The palpi are in general long and slender, and usually only two in number, a character which distinguishes them from the allied group, TINEID^, which possess two pair of these organs. The name of the present genus bears reference to the metallic markings which are conspicuous in many of the species. It is known by having the palpi very short and drooping, nearly filiform, with the terminal joint compressed and obtuse, and longer than the two others taken together. The antennae are about the length of the wings, the basal joint robust. "Wings rolled round the body 264 THE DARK PORCELAIN. when at rest, the anterior pair nearly linear, the hinder pair of a similar shape and very slender, all of them with a very long fringe. Twenty-five British species have heen described, one of which is represented on the adjoining plate. It expands ahout three lines and a half; the anterior wings white, having a short ash-coloured hand at the base, a rectangular one near the middle, hoth of them edged with dusky and glossed with golden-yellow ; and towards the apex there is a cruciform mark of a similar colour, and a minute eye-like spot, with a black oblique pupil at the tip. The hinder wings are white, inclining to cinereous. Apparently not generally distributed : it has oo» tarred near London and elsewhere. 263 LINNAEUS1 GLYPHIPTERYX. PLATE XXX. Fig. 2. Phal. Linea Linneella, Linn. — ^Ecophera Linneella, Zofr.— . Glyphipteryx Linneella, Hub?ier9 Curtis, iv. PL 152. PALPI longer than the head, somewhat curved, the radical joint short, second long, the third nearly 01 equal length to the second, but more slender ; pro- boscis short ; antennae as long as the wings ; thorax without a crest ; the wings nearly lanceolate, with very long fringes, the anterior pair adorned with elevated tufts of metallic scales ; are the principal distinctive marks of Glyphipteryx. It includes about ten British species, of which the 'beautiful example figured may be regarded as the type. It sometimes expands nearly half an inch, the anterior wings tawny-orange, with three round silvery spots on the disk of each, rising considerably above the surface, and placed in the form of a triangle ; the base and apex of the wing are black with a metallic gloss, and there is likewise a metallic line anteriorly and a small spot at the base. The fringes and hinder 266 LINNJEUS* GLYPHIPTERYX. wings are dusky, the latter glossed with steel-blue ; antennae black, whitish at the apex. Occasionally found in some plenty," but by no means general. It has been most frequently found near London, probably because that neighbourhood has been more carefully examined than most other places. WHITE-PLUMED MOTH. Pterophoms Pentadactylus. PLATE XXX. Fig. 3. Phal. Alucita. Pentadactyla, Linn. ; Don. iv. PI. 110 — The Large White Plume, Haworth Plumed Moth, Harris* Aurel. PI. 15 fig. o — q Pterophorus Pentadactylus, Latr., Steph. THE last section of the Nocturnal Lepidoptera is chiefly composed of such moths as present the very remarkable peculiarity of having their wings divided from near the base to the apex into separate plume- lets or feathers; thus bearing much resemblance to the wings of birds. Their bodies are long and slender, the legs likewise of great length and deli- cacy, whence they are not unlike some kinds of crane-flies, and were in fact from that circumstance designated by De Geer, phalcenoB- tipulce. In Pte- rophorus the anterior wings are variously divided in different species into from two to six branches, but the posterior pair are always trifid. The larvae, WHITE-PLUMED MOTH. 267 which are described by Reaumur, have sixteen legs, and are furnished with hairs sometimes of consider- able length placed on rows of tubercles. The pupas, which are likewise hairy, at least in some species, are occasionally suspended by a band round the middle. The White-plume Moth is the largest of the British kinds, the wings sometimes measures rather more than an inch across ; the anterior pair rather ample, deeply cleft, with the apex somewhat acute, the whole snow-white with a silky gloss; the eyes alone being black. The caterpillar, which feeds principally on nettles, is white tinged with green, marked with dusky spots, and having a yellow line on the sides. The moth is common throughout England on hedge banks, weedy lanes, &c., and appears to be by no means rare in Scotland. MANY-PLUMED MOTH. Aludta Hexadactyla. PLATE XXX. Fig. 4. Phal. Alucita Hexadactyla, Linn. ; Don. iv. PI. 136 — Twenty- Plumed Moth, Harris. — Pteroph. Hexadactylus ; The Six- cleft Plume, Haworth. AT once distinguished from all its associates by the beautiful structure of the wings, which are regularly divided into equal plumes, composed after the maa- 268 MANY-PLUMED MOTH. ner of a feather, of a central shaft, and fine diverg- ing cilia on two of its sides. Each of the anterior wings contains eight of these fringed rays, and each of the hinder ones four only. The palpi are long, slender, and recurved ; the terminal joint very long and acute, and turned upwards. The antennae are rather short, the thorax not crested, and the bodj scarcely extends beyond the hinder edge of the wings. The species figured usually expands ahoul half an inch or upwards, and is of an ashy gre^ colour, with an irregular hrown hand near the middle of the anterior wings and another on the hinder margin, both of them with a whitish line adjoining. The posterior wings are variegated with brown and white, and a small black spot is visible on the tip of all the plumes. The moth is found not unfrequently in houses, towards the close of autumn, most "commonly on the inside of windows creeping on the glass. 2-&6BZ jv \t •mam , • •••' '•-,•-,: mtjittt Pills