THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESENTED BY PROF. CHARLES A. KOFOID AND MRS. PRUDENCE W. KOFOID BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS AN INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF OUR NATIVE LEPIDOPTERA H. T. STAINTON, F.K.S, F.L.S. AUTHOR OF "A MANUAL OF BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS," " THB NATURAL HISTORY OF THE TINEINA," ETC., ETC. SECOND EDITION LONDON LOVELL REEVE & CO., LTD. PUBLISHERS TO THE HOME, COLONIAL AND INDIAN GOVERNMENTS 6, HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN n TO THE REVEREND JOHN HELLINS, M,A, AND TO WILLIAM BUCKLER &f)ts Uolumc is respectfully Befotcatctr AS A TRIFLING RETURN FOR THE VALUABLE AID ITS AUTHOR HAS RECEIVED FROM THEIR NUMEROUS DESCRIPTIONS OF LEPIDOPTEROUS LARV.E WHICH BUT A FEW YEARS AGO WERE UNKNOWN TO US. IN ADDITION THE AUTHOR TAKES THIS OPPORTUNITY OF AGAIN PUBLICLY THANKING THE LAST-NAMED FOR THB VALUABLE ASSISTANCE HE RENDERED TO THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE TINEINA DURING A CRITICAL PERIOD OF ITS EXISTENCE SOMB YEARS AGO PREFACE THE object of the present volume has been to supply one of a series of volumes treating of the various vegetable and animal forms occurring in these islands. The subject of British Butterflies might be thought to be pretty well exhausted, and yet for the young it is a subject ever fresh, and the schoolboy can pore with delight over a book treating of the Butterflies that flit around him, little heeding that what is so new to him is a trite subject to many of his seniors. We have in this country no first-rate standard work treating of our Butterflies and Moths ; we have Yarrell's 'British Fishes' and Yarrell's 'British Birds' and Hooker's ' British Ferns,' but we seek in vain for any analogous work treating of our Lepidopterous Fauna ; we have nothing like Godart and Duponchel's ' Papil- lons de France,' or like Ochsenheimer and Trutschke's Vlll PKEFACE * Schmetterlinge von Europa ; ' but though such a blank exists, it does not follow that it never in to be filled up. Various circumstances have of late years tended to convince me that the time will come when something- will really be done to supply a series of volumes treating of the British Lepidoptera ; in the meantime many will be glad to find in these pages something more readable than the 'Manual,' whilst the attraction of coloured plates, carefully engraved by E. W. Kobinson, may prove an inducement with those who look at plates first, letterpress afterwards. H. T. STAIN TON. CONTENTS CHAPTER I. PAGK WHAT ARE BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS? . . '. , CHAPTER II. ON THE METAMORPHOSES OF BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS . 5 CHAPTER III. ON THE HABITS OF BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS . . .30 CHAPTER IV. APPARATUS REQUIRED FOR COLLECTING AND PRESERVING BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS 42 CHAPTER V. VARIOUS MODES OF COLLECTING . 49 X CONTENTS CHAPTER VI. PAGE ON THE GROUPS AND FAMILIES OF BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS . . . i -57 CHAPTER VII. BRIEF DESCRIPTIVE NOTICES OF MANY OF OUR MOST CON- SPICUOUS SPECIES 89 INDEX LIST OF PLATES PLATE I. 1. Colias Edusa, ^. 2. Anthochariscardamines,^, underside. 3. Arge Galathea. 4. Hipparchia Tithonus, $ . PLATE II. 1. Vanessa Atalanta. 2. Thecla betulse, underside. 3. Chrosophanus Phlceas. 4. Polyommatus Adonis, <$ . 5. Thymele alveolus. PLATE III. 1. Procris globularise, <^. 2. Anthrocera filipendulse. 3. Smerinthus tilise. 4. Macroglossa stellatarum. 5. Sesia bombyliforrnis. 6. Trochilium formicseforme. PLATE IV. 1. Hepialus velleda. 2. Notodonta ziczac. 3. Diloba cseruleocephala. 4. Clostera anachoreta. 5. Pygsera bucephala. PLATE v. 1. Psilura monacha. 2. Orgyia gonostigma, <^. 3. Hyperconipa dominula. 4. Lithosia complanula. 5. Arctia villica. PLATE VI. 1. Thyatira batis. 2. Cymatophora flavicornis. 3. Bryophila perla. 4. Leucania conigera. 0. Hydrsecia nictitans. 6. Heliophobus popularis. PLATE VII. 1. Mamestra persicariae. 2. Miana literosa. 3. Agrotis agathina. 4. Triphsena ianthina. 5. Noctua plecta. 6. Tseniocampa gothica. PLATE VIII. 1. Hoporina croceago. 2. Dicycla Oo. 3. Hecatera serena. 4. Phlogophora empyrea. 5. Hadena rectilinea. 6. Heliothis marginata. PLATE IX. 1 . Rumia cratsegata. 2. Selenia illustraria. 3. Ennomos tiliaria. 4. Nyssia zonaria, $ and $ 5. Hemerophila abruptaria. PLATE x. 1. Pseudoterpna cytisaria. 2. Ephyra omicronaria. 3. Asthena luteata. Xll LIST OF PLATES 4. Acidalia ornata. 5. Bradyepetes amataria. 6. Macaria liturata. 7. Lozogramma petraria. PLATE XI. 1. Fidonia limbaria. 2. Sterrha sacraria. 3. Ligdia adustata. 4. Hybernia leucophearia, I). Eupithecia venosata. 6. Melanippe procellata. PLATE XII. 1. Pyralis costalis. 2. Pyrausta purpuralis. 3. Diasemia literalis. 4. Cataclysta lemnata, 5. Cataclysta lemnata, 6. Botys urticata. 7. Spilodes cinctalis. PLATE XIII. 1. Acrobasis consociella. 2. Cryptoblabes bistriga. 3. Pempelia carnella. 4. Pempelia formosa. 5. Ceambus cerussellus, 6. Crambus hamellus. 7. Crambus pinetellus. PLATE XIV. 1. Antithesia corticana. 2. Siderea achatana. 3. Notocelia Udmanniana. 4. Dicrorampha Sequana. 5. Anchylopera Lundana. 6. Croesia Forskaleana. 7. Sericoris littoralis. 8. Calosetia nigromaculana. PLATE xv. 1 . Exapate gelatella, <$ and $ 2. Chimabacche fagella, . 3. Tinea ochraceella. 4. Adela De Geerella, <^. 5. Prays Curtisellus. 6. Phibalocera quercana. 7. Ypsolophus marginellus. PLATE XVI. 1. Antispila Pfeifferella. 2. Coleophora ochrea. 3. Chrysoclista Linneella. 4. Lithocolletis roboris. 5. Pterophorus acanthodacty- lus. 6. Pterophorus pterotactylug. 7. Alucita polydactyla. BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS CHAPTEK I. WHAT AKE BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS? THIS little volume treats, as its name implies, of 1 Butterflies and Moths.' Now, what do we mean by ' Butterflies and Moths ' ? Butterflies and Moths together form one of the great Orders of insects, tech- nically termed Lepi- doptera (from the two Greek words Xevrt?, a scale, and Trrepov, a wing) of which the most striking character is that the wings are clothed with scales. These scales are im- planted by their roots into the colourless mem- brane of the wing, and overlap each other partially like the scales of fishes or Fig. 1. Portion of wing of moth (Mania maura) partially denuded of scales. 2 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS the feathers of birds ; it is these small scales, which by their varied and gay colouring furnish all that wonder- ful variety of tints we observe on the wings of many butterflies and moths. If the scales be carefully Fig. 2. Plumule-scales of Butterflies. 1, Pierix napi; 2, Aporia crataegi ; 3, Anthocharis cardamines ; 4, Polyommatus Cory d on ; 5, P. JEgon ; 6, P. argiolus ; 7, Erebia Blandina; 8, Argynnis Aglaia; 9, Lasiommata Megara. removed, there remains simply the colourless and transparent membrane of the wing on which they were implanted. Butterflies and moths feed on the honey they find in flowers, which they obtain by extending a long spiral WHAT ARE BUTTERFLIES ANT) MOTHS f proboscis or tongue, inserting it into the flowers, and then sucking up the sweet juices contained in them. This tongue, when not un- rolled, is coiled up into a compact little ball in front of thehead, and is snugly placed between the palpi, which project on each side of it. Butterflies and moths have four wings and six legs, and attached to the Fig. 3. Head of Pieris Irasxica;. head, above the eyes, are two foiled 8 " 8 coile(1 up; 2> Proboscis conspicuous antennas. Now the antennae of a butterfly differ from those of a moth, in having a stiffer, straighter look, and terminating in a little knob ; the an- tennae of a moth have / very rarely that straight position we see in the antennae of a butterfly, and instead of termi- nating in a knob, they taper gradually to a point. All butterflies fly by day ; most moths fly by night, yet some, n 11 ,, i Fig. 4. Antennae of Butterflies and generally such as are Moths (slightly magnified), i, ^. y i. 1 -i T n r Aglaia; 2, Pieris brussiccB ; 3. Gonepteryx gaily COlOUred, Ily by rhamni; 4, Chcerocampa Elpenor; 5, Sesia -i ,. a fuciformis; 6, Siaton hirtarius ; 7, Zenzera day, and SOme teW fly ascuU; 8, OdonnUs potatoria; 9, Arctia caja; 10, Triphaenia orbona; 11, Adeln indifferently at all hours. Thus Plusia gamma, which is most freely on the wing at evening 4 BKITISH BUTTEKFLIES AND MOTHS dusk, may be found flying of its own accord in the early morning, in the forenoon, in the afternoon, and at night long after dark. Most butterflies repose with the wings meeting perpen- dicularly over the back, in which position the upper sides of the wings are entirely concealed from sight. The majority of moths repose with the hind wings folded close to the body and the fore wings covering both them and the body, so that all that is exposed to view is the head and thorax and the upper surface of the anterior wings ; however, there are many moths which in repose display all the four wings, and a few (amongst the Geometrina) rest like butterflies with their wings meeting over their backs. CHAPTER II. ON THE METAMOKPHOSES OF BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS. EVERY butterfly and moth that we see was at one time contained within an egg; from that egg there came forth a worm-like creature termed a caterpillar ; this caterpillar, which was at first very small, fed voraciously and grew rapidly so rapidly that from time to time it cast its skin, the better to accommodate its rapid growth. When this caterpillar had attained its full growth, it again (after making certain preliminary preparations, varying according to the different species) cast its skin and assumed a totally different appearance. Hitherto, however much it might have altered in its external appearance at successive moultings (and in some species these changes are very striking), it had always remained a caterpillar endowed with legs, and therefore capable of walking, endowed with a mouth, and therefore capable of eating ; but when the cater- pillar skin is thrown off for the last time, the creature which remains has neither mouth nor legs, it eats not, walks not, but is a helpless mummy : this we term a chrysalis or pupa. 6 BEITISH BUTTEEFLIES AND MOTHS This chrysalis remains perfectly quiescent and in- active for two or three weeks at least, sometimes for months, and then the skin of the chrysalis cracking towards the anterior part, there crawls out from within, the imprisoned butterfly or moth. At first, though in all other respects perfect and well- shapen, the wings are extremely small, the legs are full size, so are the antennae, but the wings are no bigger than the small space which they had occupied whilst the insect was still inside the chrysalis skin ; but the butterfly or moth crawls to some object, where it can place itself in such a position that the wings can hang- down, when they very speedily grow, and in the space of an hour or less they are fully developed, and we see the butterfly or moth in its perfect or imago state. Nearly all butterflies and moths when in the cater- pillar state feed on the green leaves of living plants ; hence it is necessary that the parent butterfly or moth should deposit her eggs either on the very leaves that the young larvae will eat, or in their immediate vicinity so that the young caterpillars may find food ready at hand when they emerge from the eggs. Having stated the rule of life of a Lepidopterous insect, it may be well to furnish a few special instances as examples, and first let us glance at the metamor- phoses of Pieris brassica?, the Large White Butterfly. The parent butterfly deposits Fig. 5.-1 bragnicee ; ditt of Pieris tto, Vanessa 3, ditto, V. polychlorosa ; 1, ditto, Selenia ilhuiaria, all highly magnified. METAMOfcPHOSES OF BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS 7 her eggs in little clusters on the under side of the leaves of cabbages. (Eggs are generally laid on the under side of leaves, as being more protected from the weather and from the sun.) These eggs are elongate, and pale yellow. After an interval of a week or ten days, the Fig. 6. 1, Larva of Fieri* brassicce ; 2, ditto, Lophopferyx camelina ; 3, ditto, Sphinx ligustri (young) ; 4, ditto, Ourapteryx aambucaria ; 5, ditto, Diphthera Orion. small caterpillars creep out of these eggs, and commence feeding on the cabbage leaves ; these caterpillars have sixteen legs, six of which, towards the head, are hard and horny, and correspond to the six legs of the perfect insect ; behind these are the eight ventral and two anal 8 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS fleshy prolegs, by means of which the larvae have great power of holding on to any substance on which they are resting. These caterpillars feed voraciously, and soon have grown to such an extent that it is necessary to cast off their skins. When the period for this approaches they cease feeding, and seem dull and stupid. They fix themselves firmly by their hind legs, and in a short time the skin behind the head cracks, and the larva gradually wriggles its way out of the opening, and walks off, leav- ing behind it the old empty skin sticking to the leaf. The larva, when thus freshly moulted, is already con- siderably larger than the skin from which it has escaped ; but it is soft and tender, and it has to wait a little time for its new skin to harden ; but when that has happened, it sets to work vigorously, and eats with renewed appe- tite. After spending some days in the happy state of alternately eating and sleeping, it has again to go through the process of casting its skin a process which is repeated four or five times before the larva is full fed. When quite full fed, the larva crawls away from the plant on which it has been feeding, and creeps up a wall or paling till it finds a convenient nook adapted to its purpose ; it then spins a bit of silk very firmly to the wall or paling, and fastens its hind legs in this silk, and then it passes a narrow belt of silk round the middle of its body, making both ends fast to the wall or paling. These silken fastenings are generally so placed that the larva is in a perpendicular position, with its head upwards ; it then curves the anterior portion of its body a little, and rests quietly waiting for the change that is to come over it. In a day or two the skin of the cater- pillar cracks towards the head, and is pushed down inside the belt and towards the tail, whence eventually METAMOKPHOSES OF BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS 9 it drops to the ground ; and what is left attached to the wall is a curiously angulated creature, having no resemblance whatever to the larva which crept up the wall. This creature is the chrysalis or pupa devoid of eyes, mouth, legs, and capable of no motion whatever except a slight wriggling of the hinder segments. Fig. 7. 1, Pupa of Fieri* brassicce ; 2, ditto, Papilla machaon ; 3, ditt Vanessa urticcB ; 4, ditto, Sphinx ligugtri ; 5, ditto, Sphecia apiformi 6, ditto, Saturnia pavonia-minor (male). If this change has taken place in the month of Sep- tember, the chrysalis remains unchanged till the follow- ing spring ; but some time in the last fortnight in April, if the weather be warm, the final change takes place, and the skin of the upper portion of the chrysalis cracks, and the butterfly crawls out and takes up a fixed posi- 10 BKITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS tion on the wall, whilst its wings grow. When first grown they are quite soft and limp, but the butterfly waits quietly till they have attained the proper degree of firmness, and then takes flight, to disport in our gardens and fields, and rejoices the heart of the en- tomologist, as the " first White Butterfly " is a true harbinger of summer. To turn now to another common but very beautiful insect, the Peacock Butterfly (Vanessa Jo). In this species, the parent butterfly lives through the winter, and comes out from its retreat in the warm sunny clays of spring, just when the stinging-nettles are putting up their young shoots. The parent butterfly deposits her eggs on the under side of the terminal leaves of one of these shoots, depositing a considerable number (if not her whole store) on a single plant. In the course of a week or two these eggs hatch, and there creep out little black caterpillars. These commence gnawing the under side of the nettle-leaf, and then spin a slight web so as to form a common tent over the whole community ; in a short time they crawl out from this tent, to feed on the adjoining leaves, but whilst they continue small they generally return to the interior of the tent in the evening, and remain there till the following morning. These larvae grow rapidly, and cast their skins several times. They completely defoliate a number of stinging- nettles in the vicinity of that on which they were hatched. From the larvae being spiny and black, with numerous very small white dots, when congregated in some numbers on the upper part of a stinging-nettle, they are tolerably conspicuous. When the larvae are quite full fed, they prepare for the final change. For this purpose, each larva seeks some firm object a post, METAMOKPHOSES OF BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS 11 the trunk of a tree, or the main stem of a stinging- nettle, and spins a small surface of silk, into which it fastens its hind legs in such a position that the head hangs downwards ; it then curves the anterior part of its body, and waits for the change to come over it. In due course, the skin of the larva cracks, and is gradually shoved upwards to the extreme tail, whence eventually the larval skin drops off, and we have in its place the angulated pupa, suspended simply by the tail. This change probably takes place in the month of July, and in about three weeks' time the perfect insect is com- pletely developed within the chrysalis; and, the chrysalis skin cracking, the butterfly makes its escape, expands and dries its wings, and flies to the china-asters and other flowers of our gardens, to display its glorious beauties. To turn now to the transformations of the Wall Butterfly (Lasiommata Mey&ra). In this case, the parent butterfly deposits her eggs almost singly on the leaves of several grasses. If the eggs are deposited in the months of August and September, they are hatched in a few days, and the small, pale green larvse which creep out of them proceed to feed on the leaves of the grass. The small green larvae grow very slowly, and their movements are very sluggish. Like all the larvae of the Satyridi, they have a bifid tail, two small peaks projecting from the last segment. By the middle of October they are about half an inch in length, and then cease feeding for the winter ; but in February, if the weather be mild, they wake up from their winter sleep, and again begin feeding on the grass leaves. About the end of April, or beginning of May, they are full fed, and then, spinning a piece of silk to a grass stem or 12 BBITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS some neighbouring object, fasten their hind legs in it,, and hang with the head downwards and the anterior portion of the body rather curved. In a couple of days the skin cracks, and is pushed upwards towards the tail, and the much shorter, stouter-looking object which remains is the chrysalis. In two or three weeks the colouring beneath the thin wing-cases of the chrysalis clearly shows that the butterfly is nearly developed, and, the chrysalis skin cracking, the butterfly creeps out, and, having expanded and dried its wings, flits before us along the road, settling from time to time either on the ground or amongst the herbage. Thus, in the examples already given, we have in- stances of butterflies which pass the winter in the pupa state, or as hibernating perfect insects, or in the larva state. We turn now to a consideration of the metamorphoses of the common Blue Butterfly (Polyommatus Alexis). If the parent butterfly deposits her eggs in September, the larvas soon hatch, but remain small through the winter, and do not begin to feed up till the spring. The eggs are deposited on the leaves of clover and bird's- foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), and if in the month of April we stoop down and examine these plants, we may probably meet with a curious woodlouse- shaped creature, about half an inch in length, of a rather dark green, clothed with short brown hairs, giving it a velvety ap- pearance; along the sides are some short oblique blackish streaks ; the head and legs are placed completely under the body, and quite out of sight : this would be the larva of our common Blue Butterfly. Towards the end of April it is full fed, and spins some silk, in which it fastens its hind legs, and then passes a silken belt METAMORPHOSES OF BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS 13 round the middle of its body, and in due course the larval skin cracks and the butterfly crawls out, expands and dries its wings, and disports itself in fields and lanes, a beautiful, though common, object. Enough has now been said about metamorphoses of butterflies, and we therefore turn to the Hawk-moths, or Sphinges ; and let us, in the first place, consider the transformations of the Six- spot Burnet Hawk-moth (Anthrocera filipendulse) . The eggs are deposited amongst clover and bird's-foot trefoil at the end ot July or early in August. In a short time the larvaB are hatched, and commence feeding on the leaves of clover, etc., but they grow very slowly, and whilst still quite small, they cease feeding for the winter ; in the spring they commence feeding again, but it is not till quite the end of May or beginning of June that they are full fed. They are then nearly an inch in length, very fat and soft-looking, pale yellow, inclining to greenish at the sides, with numerous large black spots, and the black head is entirely retractile within the second segment. This larva then prepares for its change to the pupa state ; for this purpose it spins a complete, opaque covering of silk, termed a cocoon ; the cocoon is elongate, pointed at each end, of a pale yellow colour, and is generally at- tached to a stem of a plant in a vertical position. Within this cocoon, quite concealed from view, the larva under- goes its change, and becomes a brown-black chrysalis. In about three weeks' time the chrysalis pushes itself through the upper part of the cocoon, so that nearly the anterior half of the pupa projects, and then the skin cracks, and the Burnet Hawk-moth creeps out and ascends the stem to which the cocoon was attached, and proceeds to expand and dry its wings. In a few hours 14 -- ;-- -.- - -i, - -- : .-:..;-- METAMORPHOSES OP BUTTERFLIES AKD MOTHS 15 escape, and proceeds to expand and dry its wings. La the evening it takes flight, and with its large, strong wings and powerful muscles is able to fly with extreme speed ; it hovers over flowers, from which, with its long tongue, it extracts the sweets, and then darts away almost with the velocity of light, to hover again over other flowers. Now let us turn to the transformation of one of the smaller Clear-winged Hawk-moths (Trochilium culiei- forme). The parent moth deposits her eggs in June in the stumps of felled birches, or in growing birch-trees. From these eggs are hatched small whitish larvae, which feed in the bark and in the wood of the birch. These larvae grow very slowly, and continuing in the larva state all through the winter, are not full fed till the following spring. Towards the end of April the larva constructs a cocoon near the opening of its burrow in the birch stem, and changes therein to the pupa state ; and about the middle of May, if we have warm weather, the pupa protrudes its anterior half through the end of the cocoon, and the skin cracking, the perfect insect makes its escape, and proceeds to expand and dry its wings. In a short time it takes flight, and delights to bask on flowers in the hottest sunshine, ever and anon flying swiftly away to a different spot. We will now consider the transformations of a larger wood-boring insect (Cossus ligitiperda), the Goat Moth. The parent moth deposits her eggs in July, in crevices in the trunks of willows, oaks, and other trees. In a short time these eggs hatch, and the larvae proceed to eat the wood of the tree, forming large excavations in the substance of the trunk. These larvae grow slowly, and it is reputed to pass at least two winters in the 16 BETTISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS larva state within the tree. The growing larvae are rarely seen, but occasionally, when a tree is cut down, it is found to be infested with these larvae of various sizes. About twenty- six or twenty-seven months after the eggs were deposited, the larvae are full fed, and many of them at that time quit the trees where they have fed, and may be seen crawling on the ground, disagreeable -looking objects, with a very unpleasant odour. The larva is then three inches long, flesh- coloured at the sides, dark, dingy red on the back, with the head black. Those which are thus at large enter the earth, to pass there their last winter in the larval state ; but many do not quit the trees, and change in their burrows to the chrysalis state. When the chrysalis is ready for its change, it forces itself along the burrow to the surface of the tree, and projects its anterior portion, then the chrysalis skin cracks, and the imprisoned moth creeps out, ascends the trunk of the tree a few inches, and there expands and dries its wings. It is rather a sluggish insect, but may be found at rest on the trunks of the trees which it has inhabited when in the larva state. Let us next consider the transformations of the Puss Moth (Cerura vinula). The egg is deposited by the parent moth in May, on the leaves of willows and poplars. The larvae hatch from these eggs in a few weeks, and feed on the leaves of the willows and poplars. They are comical-looking creatures, with two tails stick- ing out behind, and with little protuberances on each side of the head, like ears ; and, as when annoyed they raise up the head and also the hinder segments, holding on only by the ventral prolegs, they have a very gro- tesque appearance. From each of the two tails they METAMORPHOSES Otf BUTTERFLIES ANt) MOTHS 17 can protrude a fleshy filament of a pink colour, and it is supposed this peculiar apparatus is with the view of driving away ichneumon- flies, to the attacks of which these larvae are much exposed. The larva grows slowly at first, but after the second moult it makes more rapid progress, and when it is a little more than half-grown it loses the ear- like appendages to the head, and is a much less quaint-looking object than the younger larva. When nearly full fed, it seems to lose the power of protruding the caudal filaments. The full-grown larva is more than two inches long, dark green, with a broad purplish-brown blotch along the back, and reaching partially down the sides. It then loses its fresh green colour, and seems turning to a dull purple. This is a sign it is ready for its change, and it proceeds to spin its cocoon. Having powerful jaws, it bites off some pieces of wood, and mixes a sort of wood-paste and silk together in forming its cocoon, which is of a dark-brown colour, and so hard that it is not easily cut with a knife. Within this cocoon it changes to the pupa state ; this probably happens towards the end of August, and the pupa remains quiescent throughout the winter and spring, till the month of May arrives. Then the pupa skin cracks, and the moth, by the aid of some solution which it discharges, softens the end of the cocoon, and, pushing itself forward, makes its escape, and, crawling up the trunk of the tree, proceeds to expand and dry its wings. The perfect insect may often be noticed in the daytime sitting on palings or trunks of trees. Let us next consider the transformations of the Figure-of-Eight Moth (Diloba czeruleocephala'). The parent moth deposits her eggs at the end of September c 18 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS or beginning of October. Early in the spring follow- ing, these eggs are hatched, and the caterpillars which come from them proceed to eat the leaves of hawthorn or sloe. The larvae grow quickly, and in a few weeks have become very conspicuous objects, being of a pale yellow, with a broad band on each side, which is either of a slaty -blue or pale green ; they are very plump and soft-looking. About the end of June they are full fed, and then spin a rather firm, whitish cocoon, in which they undergo their change to the pupa state. About the middle or end of September, the perfect insect bursts the pupa skin, pushes through the cocoon, and comes forth to expand and dry its wings. It flies swiftly at dusk, and is frequently attracted by light, and enters cur rooms in warm evenings at the end of September. Now let us turn our attention to the Buff-tip Moth (Pygssiia bucephala). The parent moth deposits its eggs about the middle of July. It deposits a con- siderable number together, near the terminal leaves on the branches of lime, oak, and various other trees. The larvae soon emerge from these eggs, and proceed to eat in company the terminal leaf, and then proceed to the next leaf, gradually stripping the twig on which they are at work. When the larvae are young, we frequently find twenty or thirty employed on a single leaf, so that it is not surprising that the leaf soon disappears We can readily detect their presence as we walk along, by their excrement, which we see lying on the ground, and by the leafless ends of the branches, which we see overhead against the sky. Sometimes they occur in such plenty that the oak bushes in the hedges are stripped perfectly bare in the METAMORPHOSES OF BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS 19 month of September. The larva is not beautiful : it is of a dull yellow, with a broad black dorsal line, and with three black lines on each side ; the head and legs are black ; it is slightly downy, and remarkably limp. Towards the end of September the larvae are full fed, and descending from the trees, may be seen wandering about on the ground, which they then enter, anc descend to the depth of two or three inches. There they undergo their change to the pupa state, and remain quietly till the month of June comes round : then the pupa pushes itself upwards to the surface of the ground, and, the skin cracking, the imprisoned moth escapes, and, crawling up some neighbouring object, proceeds to expand and dry its wings. It is a very handsome insect, very sluggish in the daytime, and may often be noticed on palings, or sitting in the grass. It often enters houses, being attracted rather freely by light. Let us next glance at the transformations of the Vapourer Moth (Orgyiaantiqua). The female deposits her eggs in autumn on the outside of her cocoon. As the young larvae, when hatched, have frequently to wander in search of food, it is providentially arranged that they eat almost anything. In our gardens we perhaps most frequently find them on rose bushes ; we generally first notice them in June, and from that time we have a constant succession of them. These larvae are among the most curious and beautiful larvae that we have ; the ground colour is blackish spotted with pink, but they are covered all over with tufts of hair. In the first place, there are two long blackish tufts behind the head, which point forwards, giving it a long-eared appearance ; then towards the tail end is another long 20 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS blackish tuft, pointing backwards ; then on four of the middle segments there are ochreous tufts on the back, and two of these segments have also tufts on the sides. The larva when full fed spins a rather firm whitish cocoon, and in it undergoes its change to the pupa state. In about two or three weeks, according to the heat of the weather, the final change takes place : the pupa skin cracks, the moth creeps out, and if it is a male it proceeds to expand and dry its wings ; if, how- ever, the moth should be a female, the wings do not grow after its exclusion from the pupa; they are ex- tremely small and rudimentary moreover, the female moth has a very large body, quite disproportionate to that of her partner ; the female is therefore not locomo- tive : she sits heavily on the outside of her cocoon, waiting for the male. The male, on the other hand, is one of the most lively moths we have ; in the most sultry weather in August he may be seen flying in a series of irregular circles in the daytime ; and as few moths are more plentiful in London than this, he may often be seen threading his way along the crowded streets. The male is intently searching for the female, who, unable to fly, is waiting quietly to be found out. The males of this species, and some other allied species, are endowed with peculiar powers of detecting their own females ; they will even enter houses where they are, and congregate round the boxes in which they are imprisoned. Collectors take advantage of this habit, and when they succeed in rearing a female which has these powers of attraction they take her to the natural haunts of the species, and thus frequently obtain a considerable number of specimens of the other sex. Now let ns consider the transformations of the Tiger METAMORPHOSES OF BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS 21 Moth (Arctia caja). The parent moth deposits her eggs at the end of July or in August; the eggs are hatched in a short time, and the small hairy caterpillars crawl out and commence feeding on chickweed, dock, nettle, or other low plants. They grow very slowly, and before they are half an inch long they cease feeding for the winter. In the month of April they commence feeding again, and now make up for their long fast by eating voraciously. They soon require to cast their winter skin, and each time they moult they appear with longer hairs, so that by the time they cast their skin for the last time they are really very handsome. The full-fed larva is about two inches long, black, with reddish-brown hairs along the sides and on the anterior segments, and with long white hairs on the back. When disturbed, the larva rolls itself up in a ball like a hedgehog, and protected by its long hairs it can then fall without injury. The full-fed larvae may often be seen wandering about (they can crawl very fast) in search of a convenient nook in which to spin their cocoon. The larva commences by spinning a few outer threads for the support of the cocoon, and then com- mences the cocoon itself, into which it spins the greater part of its own hairs, so that by the time the cocoon is nearly completed, if we were to examine the larva it would look very much as if it had been shaved. The larva then undergoes its change to the pupa state, and in four or five weeks the pupa skin cracks and the moth creeps out, and proceeds to expand and dry its wings. The rich colouring of the moth must always strongly impress any one seeing it for the first time. Let us next briefly consider the transformations of the Drinker Moth ( Odones tis potatorid) . The eggs are 22 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS deposited in August ; these are hatched in a few weeks, and the caterpillars commence feeding on grasses. They feed sparingly at intervals throughout the winter, but are still comparatively small in the spring; but after the end of March they feed -more voraciously and grow rapidly, so that by the middle of May or early in June they are full fed. They are then two inches long, of a dull bluish grey, with a line of orange spots on each side of the back, and with short white tufts of hair along the spiracles. The larva then spins an elongate opaque cocoon, pointed at each end, and changes therein to the pupa state. This larva, though not clothed with long hair, is yet one of those of which the hairs are very apt to irritate the skins of some individuals, producing a kind of nettle-rash which is extremely unpleasant. The larvae which are most objectionable in this respect are the Oak Eggar (Lasiocampa quercux), the Fox (L. rubi), and the Drinker (Odonestis potatoria) and the Gold Tail (Porthesia auriflua) when about to moult, the hairs being then rigid and brittle. At other times the larva of the Gold Tail, which is remarkably handsome, may generally be handled with impunity. But as these hairy larvas aifect different persons in different ways, each entomologist must ascertain for himself those larvae he should avoid. The risk in tearing open the cocoon of one of these larvae is considerably greater than in handling the larva itself, from the rigid brittle nature of the hairs, which are spun into the cocoon. Five or six weeks after the Drinker has assumed the pupa state, the skin cracks, and the moth makes its escape, and ascending some neighbouring object pro- ceeds to expand and dry its wings. It flies swiftly at METAMORPHOSES OF BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS 23 evening, and often enters houses attracted by light, when its noisy gambols on the ceiling at once announce its arrival. Now let us turn to another group of moths, and con- sider the transformations of the Common Yellow Under- wing (Tripbsena pronuba). The eggs are deposited in July and August ; in a few weeks these hatch, and the larvae commence feeding on dock, chickweed, and other low plants. During the daytime they conceal them- selves amongst leaves close to the ground, often going underground, and at night they come out to feed on the plants ; in gardens we may find them by examining primrose and polyanthus plants with a lantern. They feed throughout the winter, growing slowly, and are full fed about the month of April ; then they bury them- selves deeper in the earth, and there undergo their change to the pupa state. About the beginning of June the pupa pushes itself up to the surface, and then the skin cracking, the moth makes its escape, and proceeds to expand and dry its wings. This moth is extremely active with its legs, and can run quickly directly it has made its escape from the pupa. Now let us consider the transformations of the Silver Y Moth (Plusia gamma}. Of this there are two broods in the year, and probably more in very warm summers. If we take the case of eggs deposited in June, their career will be as follows : The eggs hatch in a few days, and from them proceed small green larva?, which in walking have this peculiarity, that they hunch up a portion of their body. This arises from the legs on two of the segments, which usually possess legs, being absent ; hence the larva in walking elevates or loops this portion of its body, so as to bring the prolegs of 24 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS the hinder segments nearer to the true legs of the anterior segments. These larvae, which are very om- nivorous, feed on all sorts of plants, and we often find them in our gardens on petunias or geraniums. They do not go underground, hut simply hide, themselves on the under side of the leaves in the daytime ; they grow quickly, and are soon full fed, when they spin a slight white cocoon amongst the leaves of the plant on which they are feeding, and change therein to the pupa state. In a fortnight or three weeks the pupa skin hursts, and the moth comes out and proceeds to expand and dry its wings. It flies at all hours of the day, but most freely at evening dusk, when they may often be seen buzzing by dozens at the flowers of petunias, verbenas, etc. ; a clover field in blossom is almost sure to furnish a number of them. Let us now consider the transformations of Biston hirtaria. The parent moth deposits her eggs at the beginning of May; these eggs soon hatch, and the young larvae crawl out. These are veritable loopers, having only ten legs the six true legs near the head, and the anal prolegs and one pair of ventral prolegs at the other end of the body ; so that the larva in walking- arches the central part of its body in the effort to bring the hind legs close up to the fore legs, thus forming a good imitation of the Greek letter /2. From the ap- pearance that one of these larvae has of measuring the ground as it proceeds, the name of geometers (earth- measurers) has been given to the extensive family of moths which have ten-legged larvae. These larvae feed voraciously on elm and various other trees, and when not feeding they frequently fasten themselves firmly by the hind legs to a branch, and raise the anterior legs off METAMORPHOSES OF BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS 25 the surface, so as to place the entire length of the body of the larva at a considerable angle to the branch, which is firmly grasped by the hind legs. In this position it so precisely resembles a withered twig, that even an experienced collector has frequently to touch the larva in order to satisfy himself whether it is a bit of stick or not. The full-fed larva is about two inches long, brown, with yellowish spots, and with two small humps on the penultimate segment. It then buries itself in the ground, and there undergoes its change to the pupa state ; and at the end of April or beginning of May, the pupa forces its way to the surface of the earth, and the pupa-skin cracking, the moth creeps out, and proceeds to expand and dry its wings. We may often see it sitting on palings and trunks of trees, and it is particu- larly plentiful in the gardens of the London squares. Let us now glance at the transformations of Ephyra prndularia. The eggs are deposited by the parent moth in August on the twigs of birch-trees ; these soon hatch, and the small looping larvae which come from them pro- ceed to feed on the birch-leaves. The larva grows rapidly, and in about a month's time is full fed ; it is rather variable in colour, smooth, with the head slightly bifid. It does not enter the ground or spin a cocoon, but fastens its anal prolegs to some silk which it spins on a twig of birch, and passes a silken girdle round its body, and then changes to a pupa, which thus resembles in its habits the pupa of the common White Butterfly. It remains thus all through the winter, and in the following month of May the pupa-skin cracks, and the moth creeps out and proceeds to expand and dry its wings. Next let us consider the transformations of the large 26 BKITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS Magpie Moth (Abraxas grossulariata). The parent moth deposits her eggs in August on currant-bushes, sloe-bushes, etc., etc.; the eggs arejsoon hatched, and the little looping larvae begin feeding on the leaves of currant, sloe, etc. They feed, however, slowly, and are still quite small when they cease feeding for the winter, and remain without eating till the young leaves begin to expand in the spring of the following year. In April and May, however, they feed voraciously and grow rapidly. The full-grown Iarva3 are about an inch long, rather stout, smooth, white, dotted with black. At the end of May or beginning of June they spin a slight amount of silk underneath a leaf, and fastening them r selves in it, change to a pupa state. In about three weeks' time the pupa-skin cracks, and the moth comes out and proceeds to expand and dry its wings. It is a sluggish, slow-flying insect, but is very conspicuous from its large white wings, spotted with black, and may be often noticed in gardens towards evening. Let us now consider the transformations of the Winter Moth (Cheimatobia brumata). The parent moth de- posits her eggs in the months of November and December, frequently on hawthorn or apple ; in the early spring as soon as the hedges begin to have a greenish tinge, but before the leaf-buds are fully expanded, these eggs hatch, and the small looping larvae begin feeding on the young unexpanded leaves, eating a number of holes in them. They are sometimes extremely injurious from their numbers to apple-orchards and even to hawthorn hedges. A few years ago I had about fifty yards of a hawthorn hedge eaten perfectly bare by the larvre of this insect, and the larvaa feeding on the young unex- panded shoots cannot be expelled by shaking or beating. METAMORPHOSES OF BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS 27 When they attack apple-orchards in numbers the entire crop may be lost. About the end of May these small green looping larvae are full fed, and then descend below the surface of the earth, where they undergo their change to the pupa state. About the middle of November the pupa comes to the surface, and the skin cracking, the moth escapes, and crawling up the hedge or tree- stem, proceeds to expand and dry its wings. It is, however, only the male which has developed wings ; the female has the wings no larger than when it first emerges from the pupa, and is therefore incapable of flight. On a mild November evening the males may be seen flying along the leafless hedges by hundreds, and if we examine the hedges with a lantern we shall see the subapterous females sitting on the twigs. Now let us consider the transformations of the Small Magpie Moth (Botys urticata). The parent moth de- posits her eggs, in July, on stinging-nettles. The eggs are soon hatched, and the glassy-looking larvae, fur- nished with sixteen legs, proceed to feed on the leaves of the stinging nettle, which they wrap partially round them. In a few weeks the larvae are full fed, and in the course of the month of September they go into winter quarters. They seek the crevices under the loose bark of trees, or creep into hollow stems, and there spin a slight transparent cocoon, in which the larva remains unchanged till the following spring ; but towards the end of April it changes to the pupa state, and about six weeks afterwards the pupa-skin cracks, and the moth creeps out and proceeds to expand and dry its wings. The moth may often be seen flying along weedy banks, or hovering amongst stinging- nettles. 28 BKITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS To turn now to the transformations of Simaethis pciriana. The parent moth deposits her eggs in July on the leaves of apples. These eggs are soon hatched, and produce small glassy larvae, furnished with sixteen legs. They feed on the upper side of apple leaves, spinning a slight web over themselves, and curving the two edges of the leaf upwards, bringing them nearly together. The larvse feed up rather rapidly and are of a pale grey- green, with a broad yellowish dorsal line and conspicuous black spots. When full fed they spin a very thick elongate white cocoon, in which they undergo their change to the pupa state, and in two or three weeks the lively little moth makes its appearance, and proceeds to expand and dry its wings ; we often see it in gardens on the flowers of China asters, coreopsis, etc., in the daytime during the months of September and October. Now to consider the transformations of one of our very small moths, Lyonetia Clerckella. The parent insect deposits her eggs on the leaves of apple and cherry trees. The larvae burrow into the leaves, and live their whole lives between the two skins of the leaf. By eating the inner substance of the leaf, and progress- ing forward in the leaf as they feed, they form long, slender, serpentine tracks. When the larvas, which are elongate and have sixteen legs, are full fed, they come out of the leaf and spin a few silken threads on the under side of a leaf, amongst which they suspend them- selves in a horizontal position, so that they are not in contact with the leaf, and there undergo their change to the pupa state. In about a fortnight or three weeks the pupa-skin cracks, and the little white moth creeps out and hastens to expand and dry its wings. METAMORPHOSES OP BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS 29 Let us now consider the transformations of one of the Plume Moths (Pterophorus fuscus). The egg is de- posited by the parent moth in July on plants of Vero- nica Chamsedrys. The eggs are probably hatched in a few weeks, and the larvae probably after feeding for a short time, lay up for the winter. On this point my information is deficient, and I have therefore to supply it by conjecture. In the month of May of the follow- ing year the larvae feed eagerly and grow rapidly, and by the end of the month the hairy, stout, sixteen-legged larvae are full fed ; then they fasten the hind legs to a stem of the plant, and undergo the change to the pupa state. The pupa is smooth, attached only by the tail to the stem of the plant. In two or three weeks' time the pupa-skin cracks, and the moth comes out, and very soon expands and dries its wings. It may often be seen flying in the afternoon and evening on grassy banks, where its food plant, the Veronica Chamsedrys, is plentiful. In conclusion of this chapter we will just glance at the transformations of the Twenty-plume Moth (Alucita polydactyla). The parent moth deposits her eggs at the end of May on the undeveloped flower-buds of the honeysuckle. When these eggs hatch, the larvae creep into the honeysuckle buds and feed within the un- opened buds on the stamens and pistil. The larva is quite smooth, furnished with sixteen legs, and when full fed it spins a slight silken cocoon in which it changes to the pupa state. In a few weeks' time the motli emerges from the cocoon and speedily expands and dries its wings, and it may often be seen fluttering about honeysuckles, and not rarely it enters houses, and we see it on our windows. 30 CHAPTER III. ON THE HABITS OF BUTTEKFLIES AND MOTHS. IT is well known that butterflies remain quietly at rest during the night, and are only to be seen on the wing in the daytime ; indeed, bright sunshine is needed to arouse many into a life of activity, and we all notice that in a sunless summer we are little cheered by the sportive gambols of butterflies. Gardens, fields, woods, and lanes are the places for butterflies, a meadow at the edge of a wood, or an open glade in a wood, being the best localities. There in the summer time from soon after sunrise till about 5 P.M. a constant succession may be seen settling on flowers of thistles, brambles, etc., to extract their sweets. After 5 P.M. few butterflies will be noticed on the wing, and then the only chance is of finding them at their sleeping places. Some of the Little Blues and the Small Copper may be found sleeping on the flowers of rushes in sheltered places, and the female Orange Tip may frequently be found asleep on the umbels of the wild chervil (Anthriscus sylvestris). The neighbourhood of London is far less prolific in butterflies than it used to be, and the collector needs to go further into the country, which, thanks to the numerous railways, he can easily do. ON THE HABITS OF BUTTEEFLIES AND MOTHS 31 Some species are only found on chalk or limestone soils, the larvae feeding only on flowers that grow in such localities, others prefer sand. The very best places for collecting in the south of England are on the edges of the greensand and chalk formations, where you have the advantage of all the species attached to both soils. The handsome Swallow-tail Butterfly is only now to be obtained in the still undrained fens of Cambridge- shire and Norfolk. The Clouded Yellow Butterflies frequent lucerne and clover fields in the south of Eng- land. In some seasons they are tolerably common, but in ordinary seasons they occur but seldom. The Marbled White Butterfly (Arge Galathen] is extremely local, but generally very plentiful wherever it does occur. The bold flying Hipparchia Semele frequents stony places on heaths, and at the borders of woods. Amongst our British butterflies we have but two mountain species, Erebia Elandina and Cassiope. The former occurs in many parts of the north of England and Scotland, not at great elevations ; Cansiope, on the other hand, occurs further up the mountains, and some- times in great profusion. Csenonympha Dauus, though often found on boggy mountain-tops, occurs also on low mosses and moors, but has not hitherto been found with us south of Derbyshire. One of the most graceful of our butterflies is the White Admiral (Limenitis Sibilla). It occurs only in a few woods in the south of England. The Purple Emperor (Apatura Iris) is more generally distributed, though also confined to woods in the south of England ; it delights to fly over the summits of lofty oaks. It is extremely pugnacious, and if another approaches the spray on which one of these sylvan monarchs is seated, 32 BKITISH BUTTEKFLIES AND MOTHS a contest ensues, and the two battle, rising in the air sometimes to a considerable elevation. The Purple Eni- peror sometimes descends to the ground to drink from a muddy pool, but a dead rabbit nailed to a tree will prove a most attractive bait for this splendid insect. The Painted Lady (Cynthia cardui) is another butter- fly of uncertain appearance ; in some years it is toler- ably common all the country over, but sometimes years may elapse without our meeting with it. The Comma (Grapta C. album) is common in certain parts of the west and middle of England. Three of the species of Vanessa namely, the Bed Admiral (V. Atalanta), the Peacock (V. Io\ and the small Tortoise-shell (V. urticse) are common garden insects ; and in August and Sep- tember the two former may often be seen displaying their beauties on China asters and other flowers. The Camberwell Beauty (V. Antiopa) is on the other hand a great rarity in this country, though it has occurred singly in a great variety of localities from Cumberland to the Isle of Wight. The large Fritillaries are all handsome wood-frequent- ing insects, of powerful flight, soaring over the trees, and descending in the glades to suck the honey from flowers. The small Fritillaries frequent woods that have been thinned, where the underwood is still low. One of our Fritillaries (Argynius Latlionia) is a rarity, and few entomologists have had the pleasure of seeing it alive in this country. The concave hind margin of the anterior wings will attract the attention of the observant entomologist even whilst the insect is on the wing. The Hair-streak Butterflies delight to fly along coun- try lanes, settling from time to time on the bushes and trees. The Purple Hair-streak (Thecla fjuercuff} is not ON THE HABITS OF BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS 33 unfreqnently found in the localities frequented by the Purple Emperor. Of the blue butterflies, the common Blue (P. Alexis) is very generally distributed, occurring in every lane and meadow throughout the country. On sandy heaths P. jffigon is equally plentiful. In chalky localities we meet with the loveliest of all our blues, P. Adonis, also P. Cory don, and P. Agestts ; the Scotch form of the latter insect (P. Artaxcrxes) is to be found on the slopes of many Scotch hills amongst Helianthemum vulgare. Of the Skippers, some, as Thymele alveolus, Pamphila sylvanus, and P. linea, are common wood-insects ; whereas Thanaos Tages and Pamphila comma are most fre- quently observed on the dry slopes of chalk hills. Pamphila Actseon still occurs in its headquarters at Lul worth, in Dorsetshire, and we trust those who go in search of it will remember to leave a few to keep up the brood. Of the Sphinges, or Hawk Moths, the Foresters and Burnets frequent dry grassy slopes, flying heavily in the sunshine. The species of the genus Smerinthus (the Eyed Hawk Moth, the Poplar Hawk Moth, the Lime Hawk Moth) fly at dusk, but in the daytime they may frequently be noticed at rest on palings or on the trunks of trees. The true Sphinges (S. convol- vuli and 8. ligustri) fly with extreme velocity at even- ing dusk, and with their long tongues extract the honey from tubular flowers, without settling on them, whilst poised in the air above them. The species of the genera Deilephila and Chserocampa have similar habits. The Humming-bird Hawk Moth buzzes in a similar way at the flowers of honeysuckle, etc., in the bright sunshine, as well as in the evening ; and the two Bee D 34 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS Hawk Moths are likewise diurnal in their habits. The Clear-winged Sphinges of the genera Sphecia and Tro- chilium are rarely seen on the wing, but may be observed at rest on the trunks of trees, on flowers, or on leaves. In the tribe of moths termed Bombycina, the Swifts (Hepialus) fly at dusk; the Ghost Moth (PL humuli) and the Golden Swift (H. Hectus) have a peculiar os- cillating flight, keeping at one spot, as though attached to an invisible pendulum. The other Swifts (H. lupu- linus, velleda, sylvinus) fly with extreme rapidity, with an irregular, mazy flight near the surf ace of the ground. The Wood Leopard and the Goat Moth are rarely noticed on the wing, but may be found at rest on the trunks of trees and on palings. The Wood Leopard, from its conspicuous contrast of colours, is very liable to be picked up by small birds, and we often find on the ground the wings of devoured specimens. The Pale Prominent (Pterostoma palpina) may be noticed at times at rest on palings, and sometimes it enters houses, attracted by the light. The Swallow Pro- minent (Leiocampa dictsea) may be frequently observed at rest on the trunks of willow-trees ; and in the first half of May Lophopteryx carmelita may be occasionally found on palings or trunks of trees. The various species of Footmen (Liihosidte) fly in the dusk of evening, and may be sometimes met with in the daytime by beating the branches of trees on which they repose. The pretty Philea irrorella, when caught, drops down in the net as though dead. In the handsome family of CTielonidtf, two, the Clouded Buff (Euthemonia russula) and the Wood Tiger (Nemeophila plantaginis), are complete day-fliers, and ON THE HABITS OF BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS 35 several, like the Cream-spotted Tiger (Arctia villica), fly readily in the afternoon ; others fly at dusk or after dark. Amongst the Bombycidse, the Oak Eggar (Lasio- campa quercus) is a true day-flying insect, whereas the nearly-related Fox Moth (L. rubi) flies a little before dusk ; both have a very bold flight, swooping in circles, and the males fly vigorously in search of the females ; most others of the family fly after dusk, and come readily to light. The handsome Kentish Glory (Endrowis versicolora) flies swiftly by day in the first half of April, frequenting woods. The showy Emperor Moth (Saturnia Pavonia- minor) is so freely obtained in the larva state that the imago is rarely collected. The species of the family Platypterygidss all fly at dusk; and one of them, Cilix spinula, is very common, flying along lanes at the end of May, with a wild irre- gular flight ; others may be occasionally startled from their haunts by beating bushes, in the afternoon. The insects of the family PsycMdse are peculiar in this re- spect ; in the first place, the larvae construct portable cases, which they carry about with them all their lives, and in which they change to the pupa state ; and, in the second place, the females are wingless. The females of the genus Fumca possess legs and antennae, and sit on the outside of the case awaiting the arrival of the males. The females, however, of the genus Psyche are far more helpless ; they never quit the case, have neither legs nor antennae, but are worm-like sacks, and literally egg- bags. In this genus the males are extremely vivacious and restless, and those who breed a male of Psyche nigri- cans must promptly secure him after his escape from the chrysalis, or he will soon batter himself to pieces. 36 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS It lias lately been observed that several of the females of the genus Orgyia, which occur in the south of Europe, approximate in their habits to these females of Psyche, having short and useless legs, and not emerging from their cocoons. (See ' Journal of the Linnean Society of London,' Zoology, vol. vi., p. 156-164, ' On the Abnor- mal Habits of some Females of the genus Orgyia.') In the great tribe of Noctuina, or Night -flying Moths, we meet with several individual species which fly freely in the daytime, such as Leucania conigera, which may be seen buzzing at flowers in the daytime; Charseas graminis, flying over heaths at all hours of the day ; Miana furuncula, which flies in numbers in the after- noon ; Celaena flaworthii, which flies both in the after- noon and evening; Agrotis porphyrea, A. Incernea, Tri- phsena lanthina and T. interject a. All the species of Heliothis fly by day and also at dusk, whereas the species of Anarta are true sunshine-lovers, and the little Helio- des arluti is never seen on the wing except in full day- light. All the pretty little NoctuaB which constitute the section Minores are day-fliers, and Plusin gamma and P. interrogationis are freely on the wing both day and night. The species of Toxocampa are also true day- flies, and the showy Catocala nupta flies freely in the daytime, but is also on the wing after dark ; Euclidia Mi flies in meadows in the daytime, E. glypliica in open places in woods, and Phytomctra &nea may be noticed disporting itself on heaths. The remainder of the large group of Noctuina are at rest in the daytime, and must be sought for on palings or trunks of trees. The species of Bryophila may be found on walls; Polio, chi on the stone walls of our midland and northern counties ; and the curious Dasy- ON THE HABITS OF BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS 37 polia templi takes shelter under heaps ol stones, to re- ward the patience of those who carefully turn them over one by one. The night-flying species may be taken buzzing at flowers, or flying along hedges, those which have light-coloured hind wings attracting most readily our attention. There are two special devices for obtain- ing them, light and sugar, which will be mentioned more in detail in a subsequent chapter. In the large group of Geotnetrina, many species fly very readily in the daytime, but some only do so then when disturbed, flying of their own accord at dusk and after dark. A very much larger proportion, however, of these insects are on the wing before dark than in the group of the Noctuina. Those species which naturally rest in the day, such as Phigalia pilosaria, Nyssia his- pidaria, Biston Mrtaria, the Oak ^Beauty (Amphidasis prodromaria), the Peppered Moth (A. betularia), the Waved Umbre (Hemerophila abruptaria), and the species of Boarmia and Tephroxia, may be found sitting on palings or trunks of trees. Many others rest on the leaves of trees and bushes, and these may often be dis- lodged and made to fly by beating the branches where they are concealed. The common heath-flying Fidonia atomaria, and the clover-frequj i iug Sfrenia clathrata, as also the species of Aspilates, a regular day-flying insects. The wingless females of the IJyber?ndse must be looked for on palings or trunks of trees, in the day- time, or sitting on the twigs of hedges after dark. The group of Pyralidina are nearly all ready to fly in the daytime ; some, as the Purple-and-Gold (Pyrcmsta punicealis), the Silver-barred Sable ( Ennychiacingulalis), and their allies, are true sun-lovers, sporting themselves on flowers in the hottest sunshine. The Hydrocampidze 38 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS are all water-frequenting insects ; the larvae feeding below the surface of the water on aquatic plants, such as duck-weed, water-aloe, water-lily, and pond-weed. The perfect insects maybe found flying over the surface of ponds and sluggish streams towards evening. Many of this family frequent weedy hedgebanks or open places in woods, and are readily started from their places of repose by the approach of the collector. The Nettle- tap (Simaethis Fabridana) abounds among stinging- nettles, flying freely in the daytime, with a peculiar, mazy flight. In the Crambideous section of the Pyralidina, the species of the genus Eudorea rest in the daytime, on the trunks of trees or palings ; Aphomia colonella, of which the larva occurs in the nests of humble-bees, flies freely at dusk ; most of the Knot-horns (Phycid&) also fly at dusk, though some may be readily started from the herbage in the daytime : the night-flying species come very readily to light. The species of the genus Crambus occur amongst grass or moss ; one pretty species (G.falsellus) being partial to the moss which grows on walls or old thatched roofs, and the perfect being often found flying over such localities at dusk. Nearly all the genus fly very readily in the daytime ; we see them start up at our feet as we walk across a field ; they fly a few yards before us, and settle again on a grass stem, to be again disturbed by us in our progress, but most of the species fly more continuously at dusk, and that they fly long after dark is shown by the number that are attracted by light on a still summer's night. The species of the genus Chilo occur in marshy places and the edges of ponds, all feeding, in the larva state, on aquatic plants. ON THE HABITS OF BTJTTEEFLIES AND MOTHS 39 In the extensive group of Tortricina we meet with a few species which delight to fly in the blazing sun- shine, such as Anchylopera comptana, Hemerosia Rhee- diella, Semasia lanthinana, S. nanana, Eucelis aurana, Stigmonota internana, Asthenia strobilella, Grapholita ulicetana, and Cnephasia nubilana. The last-named species swarms by hundreds on hawthorn hedges, and G. ulicetana is equally plentiful amongst furze bushes ; but the great bulk of this family fly towards dusk. If we look along a hedge on a summer's evening we shall be perfectly amazed at the prodigality of insect life shown by the countless myriads of Tortricina dancing in endless mazes along the hedge. Some, however, are more sluggish in their habits, and are rarely to be seen on the wing. We may perhaps see them sitting on flowers or on the stems of plants. In the extensive tribe of the Tineina, we have many instances of day-flying species. Those of the genus Ochsenheimeria fly between noon and 2 P.M., low, amongst grass. Incurvaria masculella flies in the sun- shine along hedges ; and all the species of Adela and Nemotois fly in the brightest sunshine over flowers. The species of Hicropteryx are also sun-loving insects ; and Swammerdamia pyrclla flies quite freely in the afternoon. The gay-looking Harpella Geoffrella and Dasycera sulphurella delight to fly in the early morning- hours. Pancalia Lewenhoekella flies briskly among flowers in grassy places in the sunshine ; and the species of Acrolepia are often to be seen flying of their own accord in the afternoon. The species of the genus Glyphipteryx are all freely on the wing in the bright sunshine, and it is pleasant to see the neat little G. equitella flying over the flowers of Stonecrop 40 BEITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS (Sedum acre) and G-. Fischeriella hovering over and settling on the flowers of Umbelliferao ; whilst the larger G. Thrasonella we are sure to see amongst rushes flying from tuft to tuft, and then pausing awhile to fan itself, as though the heat of the summer's day were almost insupportable. Merry little day-fliers are the brilliant and shining species of Antispila and Tinagma. In the genus Gracilaria we may often see that garden pest Syringella flying freely in the daytime, and some of the genus Or nix are sure to be seen active on the wing as we walk along a hedge in early summer. Though most of the genus Coleophora are quietly at rest during the day, some of the tree-feeding species may be observed flying on the sheltered side of trees during the daytime ; and in the genus Elachista many of the more brightly marked species may be noticed sporting in the afternoon sunshine, whilst those of more sober colours are freely on the wing before sunset. Few can have been so unobservant as not to have noticed as they walk along a grassy lane in the evening at the beginning of May, little white moths threading their way amongst the grass close to the hedgebank, pausing on a grass blade for a moment, and then going forward again ; these are the males of Elachista rufo-cinerea flying in search of their partners. Early in the morning in May and August, many of the species of Lithocolleti* and Nepticula may be noticed flying in the sunshine along hedges and near trees. Very many species, however, of the Tine inn, repose during the day, sitting on trunks of trees, palings, in grass, or among bushes, and only come forward to gambol of their own accord in the dusk of evening. ON THE HABITS OF BTJTTEKFLIES AND MOTHS 41 Most of the Plume Moths (Pterophorina) fly freely in the evening, but may be readily started from flowers in the daytime as we walk along. The Common Plume, P. pterodactylus, attracts our attention as it sits on palings, from its resemblance to the letter T, the anterior wings stretched out at right angles, concealing the hind wings, and appearing narrower than they really are, from being partially folded, and the legs being brought down close to the body, and at a first glance almost escaping observation. The little Twenty-plume Moth (Alucita polydactyla] flies freely amongst honeysuckle in the evening, but when at rest during the day is a very inconspicuous- looking insect. 42 CHAPTER IV. APPARATUS REQUIRED FOR COLLECTING AND PRESERVING BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS. CONCEIVE a fine bright, warm day in May, the lilacs and laburnums in bloom in the garden, the hedges white with May-blossom, and the horse-chestnuts in all their glory ; the fields yellow with buttercups, and the growing grass waving under the influence of a slight south-westerly breeze, such a day that all nature seems happy and insects are enjoying and disporting themselves in all directions. There on the blossom of the lilac sits the Large White Butterfly ; yonder in the field, amidst numbers of the Small White Butterfly, are specimens of the gay-looking Orange Tip ; and Little Blues and Small Coppers settle on the flowers to display their charms to us. Who does not wish to photograph this fleeting pic- ture? If we gather the plants and dry them, their colours fade and their form alters, and it requires a strong effort of imagination when we see a dried flower in after years to remember what it looked like, when growing it waved to and fro in the wind, and wafted its scent towards us ; but the insects may be preserved in all their freshness and all their glory for years, and APPARATUS FOE COLLECTING AND PRESEKVING 43 every time we look at them, we shall be reminded of the entire scene in which we took them. Let us therefore begin, and catch of these various butterflies that this pleasant May day has brought out. For this purpose we prefer a ring net a -ring about fifteen inches diameter, made of cane or metal, and fixed on to the end of a walking-stick, the ring bearing a net made of net, lino or book-muslin of such length that the arm of the collector can just reach to the bottom, and the net must on no account terminate in a point, but its apex should be rounded, lest when any insects are caught they should be forced into the narrow end of the net, and there damage themselves in their efforts to escape. Armed with this net, we sally forth, and catch an Orange Tip. But stop ! what are we to do with it now it is caught ? We must have with us a sufficient provision of pill-boxes into which we transfer the insects captured. Bringing the pill-box over the Orange Tip in question, as it flutters at the bottom of the net, we press the pill-box against the side of the net and then adroitly slip the lid on. Proceeding in this way we return to the house in a short time with sundry White Butterflies, two or three Orange Tips, some Little Blues, and one Small Copper. To kill the insects so captured, take four dozen young- laurel leaves (common laurel, not Portuguese laurel) bruise them by hammering two at a time on a flat stone and cut them with a pair of scissors into small shreds, and place them at the bottom of a wide-mouthed jar (a glass jar with a ground glass stopper is best). Into this jar drop the pill-boxes containing the captures, and close the jar tightly by the glass stopper or cork. In 4A BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS an hour or two, according to the amount of active prussic acid in the laurel leaves, the insects will all be dead.* The butterflies being now defunct, the next process is to pin them. Entomological pins, such as are in general use by British collectors, may be obtained of Messrs. Edelsten and Williams, 17, Silver Street, City, or of Messrs. Kirby, Beard, and Co., of 18, Cannon Street, City, the latter supplying the japanned pins which are so necessary for those insects which have a tendency to corrode the pins. However, for butterflies, the usual white entomological pins will be found to answer every purpose, and a most useful size is the No. 8 of Messrs. Edelsten and Williams. Most butterflies, when turned out dead from the killing-bottle, will be found to have the wings meeting- over the back, as we see them when sleeping on a flower. Perhaps, however, some one of the. lot will have died with its wings expanded. If we turn it out on a rough tablecloth, with its upper side towards us, we take the pin and with it pierce the middle of the thorax, as nearly as possible in a vertical position. (The rough tablecloth is convenient in preventing the insect slip- ping away from us when we attempt to pin it, which it certainly would do were it on a smooth surface ; if a rough table-cover is not at hand, we would recommend several thicknesses of blotting paper as furnishing a convenient surface on which to pin the insects.) Then remove the butterfly sticking on the end of the pin to a piece of soft cork, and push the pin in till from * A killing-bottle, if kept well corked or stoppered, will retain its efficacy for months. We have sometimes used them for two years before their virtue was quite exhausted. APPAKATUS FOR COLLECTING AND PRESERVING 45 a quarter to half an inch of the pin projects through on the under side of the butterfly it is now pinned. In the case of those specimens which have died with their wings over their backs, however unwilling we may be to touch the specimens with our fingers for every touch must cause a certain amount of injury the simplest plan is to take the insect by the under part of its body, between the thumb and first finger of the left hand, and to hold it there whilst we stick the pin through the thorax. i Butterfly (Argynnit Euphrosyne) set with upper and under braces. The insect being pinned, has next to be set, and unless we place them in a relaxing-box on damp cork, they should be set out immediately, otherwise they very soon become stiff. A setting-board may be made of a sheet of cork glued to a flat piece of wood, the surface of the cork being covered with paper. A number of stout pieces of card, cut in the form of elongate triangles, having stout pins stuck through their broader ends, form the braces which are used in setting out the wings of butterflies and moths. Place two of these on the setting-board, about an inch apart, but in a sloping position, like the outer strokes of 46 BBITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS the letter W, and these will serve for the under braces ; put the insect midway between them, and then, with a setting-needle, hold out the wings whilst the upper braces are brought down upon them, taking care that the wings on each side are put out symmetrically, and that the ends do not turn up. There are various elaborate contrivances for facilitating the labour of setting out butterflies and moths, and some entomologists have special corks rounded to the curve which they prefer for the wings, and with grooves for Section of cork setting-frame, and method of setting on ditto (Spilosoma menthastri) . the bodies ; those who adopt the plan of setting their specimens with the wings flat, have simply grooves cut for the bodies of the insects. Insects, when set out, require to be left on the setting - board two or three days, till they are quite stiff and dry, before the braces are removed. The setting-board should be kept in a box with a perforated metal side, and must on no account be left perfectly exposed, otherwise the collector's best specimens will be liable to the attacks of marauders, viz, mice, cockroaches, wasps, earwigs. Even shut-up insects, especially if left for any time on APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING AND PRESERVING 47 the setting-board, may suffer from the attacks of Psoci, or " dust-lice," generally, though improperly, termed mites. When the insects are quite dry, they can be removed from the setting-board and be placed in store boxes pre- paratory to being placed in the collection. A collection may be kept in boxes or in a cabinet ; perhaps it is as well to begin with boxes, and not to indulge in an ex- pensive luxury like a cabinet till we have something to put in it. Store boxes, tight-fitting and corked top and bottom, are supplied by most dealers in entomological apparatus ; they should be of sufficient depth, that when the insects are placed in them there may be no risk of the pins in the top coming in contact with those in the bottom of the box. It is of extreme importance that a journal or diary be kept of all the captures made, and each specimen should bear a number referring to this journal, by means of which at any time the collector can ascertain precisely when and where such an insect was caught. Beginners sometimes have extraordinary luck, and catch rarities ; and yet it may often happen that, having supposed this rarity was some common insect, they have misnamed it, and not discovered their mistake for years. Now, if the specimen bears a number referring to a journal written at the time of capture, when they discover the prize they have caught they can at once give the date and locality. What a mass of errors and blunders would have been avoided if every one had done this ! Our Continental friends use very much longer pins for their insects than we do, and one great advantage of this is, that they can attach to each insect a legible notice of its locality and date. If we, with our short 48 BKITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS pins, and with our insects in contact with the bottom of our cabinet drawers, attach any similar label, it is out of sight, and we have to lift the insect up to see when and where it was caught. A collection in which each insect could speak for itself, and say whence it came and when captured, would be a vast improvement on any of our existing collections. 49 CHAPTER V. VARIOUS MODES OF COLLECTING. THE collector of Lepidoptera is able, by means of two different devices, to obtain with comparative ease a vast number of species ; these two modes may be briefly termed sugar and light. The system of sugaring, as now practised, dates only from the year 1842. Before that date, it is true, the partiality of night-flying moths had been observed, but we were gravely recommended to take an empty sugar hogshead and place it in the vicinity of a wood; now the collector carries in his pocket a tin-can filled with the sugaring compound, and by means of a painter's brush spreads it on the trunks of those trees that seem to him best adapted for his purpose. He does this just as it is getting dusk, and then, lighting his hand-lamp, proceeds to examine the sugar trees as darkness comes on ; and if the evening be favourable to his pursuit, before two hours have elapsed he has his pockets well filled with Noctuse taken " at sugar." To make this sugaring compound, all that is required is coarse brown sugar, dissolved in water arid beer till it is sufficiently thick but yet still fluid enough to allow of its being spread on the trunks of the trees by the painter's brush already mentioned ; each evening, before t; 50 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS leaving home, a teaspoonful of rum should be added, to improve the flavour of the compound. When the hunting-ground is reached, the collector, having first ascertained the direction of the wind, will apply the sugar on the opposite or sheltered side of the trees, covering a strip of the surface of the trunk, about the level of his own eye, with the luscious compound. Some few drops of the sugar are sure to trickle down- wards, and the object being to sugar as many trees as possible in a limited time, it does not answer the col- lector's purpose to stop too long at a single tree. Trees at the edge of a roadway, or path through a wood, or on the borders of a heath, are often very productive, and if trees happen to be scarce in the selected hunting- ground, the sides of palings, wooden posts, rocks, and stones may be made use of; the foliage of young fir-trees is also handy for sugaring in default of larger objects. When a sufficient area has thus been covered with the sugar, the collector lights his bulPs-eye lantern, and proceeds to examine critically the sugared stems. Many of the Noctuse which come to the sugar sit there sluggishly, and may be easily boxed ; others are more wary, and sit with their wings half raised, ready for instant flight, so that the collector has to be prepared with his net ; and the Geometridas, which occasionally come to the sugar, are generally very much on the alert. Some few of the smaller tribes of moths may not unfrequently be found also at the sugar, but it is the Noctuina which are the chief votaries, and which come in the greatest numbers. Twenty or thirty on a single tree is no unusual sight, but then the probability would be great of their being nearly all common species. VARIOUS MODES OF COLLECTING 51 To the inexperienced, a few words of caution are necessary. Sugar does not prove always equally attrac- tive : in spring, when the sallows are in bloom ; in summer, when the lime-trees are in blossom, and in autumn, when the ivy is in bloom, these natural sweets compete with our artificial mixture, and it is better to seek on them for the insects which visit them nightly in troops. A dull, balmy evening at the end of March or beginning of April, will often enable the collector visit- ing the sallows to reap a rich harvest from the various species of Noctuse regaling thereon ; and in July, when the lime-trees are in blossom, if a position be taken where the moths can be seen against the clear evening- sky, they can be readily captured as they come flying to the lime blossoms. In October the ivy blossom should be carefully examined with a lantern, and the autumnal Noctuse will be found busily engaged in sucking the juices from the flowers. Mr. Barrett has lately called attention, in the pages of the ' Entomologist's Monthly Magazine ' (vol. iii., p. 113), to the partiality of moths for blackberries, and the mode in which some species swarm on the flowers of Glyceria fluitans and other grasses, has already been noticed more than once. That moths are attracted by light is a fact sufficiently familiar to most people, but the experienced collector wishes to develop a systematic mode of availing him- self of the partiality of moths for light. To do so with effect depends very much on the situation and adjuncts of the collector's residence ; if in full sight of a wood or heath, or of only an ordinary piece of country land- scape, he may reasonably expect success, but this method of collecting is more costly than sugaring. 52 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS In the first place, the collector should be provided with two argand lamps, one of which is to be placed outside on the window-sill of the room, the other inside the room on a table opposite the open window ; the outer lamp attracts the moths from all directions, and when they are opposite the window they are attracted by the inner one into the room. On very still evenings, an argand lamp will burn out- of-doors without protection well enough, but if there is wind even a very little it will be very soon blown out, and therefore it is desirable to have it enclosed in some case or frame, so that while the light streams out from it the wind may be kept away from it. Next, two particular points have to be borne in mind : 1st. You cannot collect by light on bright moonlight nights. You must notice when the moon rises and sets, and light up accordingly. 2nd. You cannot collect by light if your window faces the wind, for moths fly against the wind ; and if the wind is west you must put your light on the east side of the house, or if the wind is east you must have your attracting room on the west side of the house. Moths begin to come to light as soon as it gets dark, and continue coming for some time ; indeed, occasional stragglers will come throughout the night ; the collector might, therefore, with advantage remain in his collect- ing room till daybreak, ready to secure every specimen the moment it appeared, for some only remain for a short time in the vicinity of the light and then fly away, and others which remain quietly enough half the night fly away before daybreak. However, if the collector does not wish to sacrifice his whole night's rest at the shrine of science, let him go to bed about midnight, and VARIOUS MODES OF COLLECTING 53 let him revisit his collecting room an hour or two before daybreak to secure any specimens which have come in during the night. On some nights moths come veritably in troops to the light Bombyces, Noctuse, Geometrse, Pyrales, Tor- trices, Tmese, and Pterophori, it is a mad race which shall come in ; but these gala nights are very scarce sometimes there will not be above three such nights in a year ; and here is shown the necessity of the collector, who wishes to attract insects by light, attending syste- matically, for the good nights cannot be distinguished by our senses from the bad ones, and if he only lights up now and then, instead of regularly, he will be almost sure to miss the good nights. I once knew a con- tinuous fortnight of good nights. When the small Psychodse come in great numbers, so as to blacken the windows and ceiling of the collect- ing room, it is almost an infallible sign that the moths are coming in numbers. Those who have not opportunities of collecting by light from their own windows must console themselves, if they live in suburban localities, by visiting the gas lamps. A graphic account of the pleasures of collecting- moths at gas-lamps, from the peri of Mr. Barrett, will be found in the 'Entomologist's Monthly Magazine' (vol. iii., p. 42). It is by no means improbable that beneficial results might ensue from taking a good light apparatus into a wood, in which case it might be desirable to place the light upon some white surface, such as a sheet, so as to increase the dazzling surface which is to operate on the optic nerves of the woodland moths. The American moth-trap, described in the 'Entomologist's Monthly 54 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS Magazine' (vol. ii., p. 199), is constructed on a prin- ciple which seems theoretically perfectly correct ; but on a very " good " night it might become so filled with moths that they would mutually spoil one another. In some species of the Bombycina, if the collector be fortunate enough to breed a female moth, he may obtain any number of male specimens by simply taking the female to a locality in which the insects occur. This is best shown, perhaps, in the genus Lasiocampa, all the males in that genus " assembling," as the phrase is, very vigorously. In the genus Orgyia the apterous female may be turned to a similar profitable account. Individual instances will occur of other moths, not of the Bombycina, being apparently attracted in numbers by means of a female specimen. Once I found a dozen or more of Smerinthus tilise in a summer-house in which a female specimen of that insect had recently emerged from the pupa. On another occasion I found a cluster of eight or nine specimens of Mania maum in an out- house actually overlapping one another. Other ento- mologists could probably furnish analogous instances from their own recollections. Further, it must never be forgotten that many species are best obtained in the larva state, and the faculty of finding larvae is best acquired by constantly searching for them. Larvae resemble, sometimes very closely, the substances on which they feed, and though we may often obtain them in quantity by the simple use of a beating-stick, yet it is worth spending a little extra time to find them by the eye, as by so doing we have a better chance of learning something of their habits. Of late years, much (indeed, thanks to the Rev. J. Hellins, I may say very much) has been done in rearing VARIOUS MODES OF COLLECTING 55 moths from the egg, and species for which we might have waited long enough before finding the larvae, have thus been observed through all their stages. In rearing larvae, it is essential that they should be kept supplied with fresh food ; plants keep fresh by being placed in water (in which case the larvae only too frequently crawl down the stem into the water and so drown themselves), or by being shut up in tight -fitting- tins or glass vessels ; in the latter case a few larvae might live together comfortably, but if too many be placed together in a tight-fitting vessel suffocation may ensue. It has been well remarked by Dr. Knaggs when treating of " the caterpillar state " in his ' Notes on Collecting' (' Entomologist's Monthly Magazine,' vol. ii., p. 38), that " many an entomologist, who has of late years devoted both time and energy to ' breeding,' as it is termed, will bear me out in the statement that it is, perhaps, the most deeply interesting of all the charm- ing occupations to which the student of entomology is liable ; for whether we regard it in an instructive point of view, or pursue it from the simple love of contem- plating creation's wonders, or whether we have an eye merely to quantity and quality of ' specimens,' it is, in either case, an equally profitable employment." 56 BUTTERFLIES.-RHOPALOCERA, 66. 1. PAPILIONID.E, 11. J^apilionidi, 1. Pieridi, 10. ,'_ . .N YMPHAIJID- 2 !^, -,.'. Satyridi, 11. Nymphalidi, 2. Vanes sidi, 7. Argynnidi, 9. 3. ERYCINIK.E, 1. 4. LYCLENIDzE, 18. 5. HESPERID^R, 7. MOTHS.-HETEROCERA, 1910. I. SPHINGINA, 38. 1. ZYG^GNID^, 7. 2. SPHINGID^, 14. 3. SESIID*:, 3. 4. .^GERID^E, 14. II. BOMBYCINA, 105. 1. HEPIALID^E, 5. 2. ZENZERID.E, 3. 3. NOTODONTID^, 27. 4. LIPARID^E, 12. 5. LITHOSID^, 17. 6. CHELONIDJE, 14. 7. BOMBYCID.E, 11. 8. ENDROMID^:, 1. 9. SATURNID^, 1. 10. PLATYPTERYGID^E, 6. 11. PSYCHID^, 6. 12. CocHLiopODiDjE, 2. III. NOCTUINA, 316. 1. NOCTUO-BOMBYCID^, 2. BRYOPHILID/E, 3. 3. BoMBYCOIDytf, 15. 4. LEUCANID.E, 30. 5. APAMID.E, 46. 6. CARADRINID^C, 7. 7. NOCTUID^E, 50. 8. ORTHOSID^, 34. 9. COSMID.E, 8. 10. HADENID.E, 46. 11. XYLINID^;, 19. 12. HELIOTHID^E, 10. 13. ACONTIM;, 3. 14. ERASTRID.E, 3. 15. ANTHOPHILID^E, 3. 16. PHAL^NOID^E, 2. 17. PLUSID.E, 11. 18. GrONOPTERID/E, 1. 19. AMPHIPYRID^,;4. 11. NOLID/I':, 5. 20. TOXOCAMPID^, 2. 12. CHOREUTID.E, 4. 21. STILBID.E, 1. 13 EUDOREID^;, 17. 22. CATEPHID^, 1. 14. GALLERID.E, 4. 23. CATOCALID^, 4. 15. PHYCID^, 35. 24. OPHIUSID^E, 1. 16. CRAMBID^;, 34. 25. EUCLIDID^, 2. 26. POAPHILID^, 1. CHLOEPHORID^, 3. VI. TORTRICINA, 299. IV. GEOMETRINA, 282. 1. TORTRICID^, 36. 1. OURAPTERYD^E, 1. 2. PLICATE, 59. 2. ENNOMID^E, 21. 3. ANCHYLOPERID/K, 38. 3. AMPHIDASID^E 6. 4. PERONEID/E, 21 . 4. BOARMIDJC, 21. 5. STIGMONOTID/E, 46. 5. BOLETOBID^, 1. 6. CARPOCAPSID.E, 19. 6. GEOMETRID^, 8. 7. CNEPHASIDJ?, 13. 7. EPHYRID^E, 6. 8. SERICORID/E, 22. 8, ACIDALIDJC, 34. 9. LOZOPERID.E, 45. 9. CABERID^E, 6. 10. MACARID^E, 5. TOCTRICODID^:, 1. 11. FIDONID^E, 17. VII. TINEINA, 669. 12. ZERENID^E, 5. 1. EXAPATIT3/E, 6. 13. LIGID.E, 1. 2. TINEID^:, 69. 14. HYBERNID^:, 6. 3. MlCROPTERYGII)^, 12. 15. LARENTID.-E, 132. 4. HYPONOMEUTID.K, 18. 16. EUBOLID., 13. 5. PLUTELLID.^, 18. 17. SIONID^E, 1. 6. GrELECHlD^;, 173. 7. CEcopHORiD^, 32. V. PYEALIDINA, 167. 8. GLYPHIPTERYGID.IC, 23. 1. HYPENID^;, 7. 9. ARGYRESTHID.E, 28. 2. HERMINIDyE, 7. 10. GRACILARIID^], 28. 3. ODONTID^;, 1. 11. COLEOPHORID.E, 59. 4. PYRALID^E, 5. 12. ELACHISTID^:, 82. 5. CLEDEOBID^E, 1. 13. LlTHOCOLLETID.E, 46. 6. ENNYCHID^, 8. 14. LYONETID^, 23. 7. ASOPIDJC, 2. 15. NEPTICULIM, 52. 8. STENIAD^;, 4. VIII. PTEROPHORINA 9. HYDROCAMPTD^, 5. 29. LO. BOTYD^E, 28. IX. ALUCITINA, 1. 57 CHAPTER VI. ON THE GROUPS AND FAMILIES OF BRITISH BUTTER- FLIES AND MOTHS. THE British butterflies and moths may be tabulated as on the opposite page. The figures after the families and groups show the number of British species in each. Of the differences between butterflies and moths (be- tween the 66 Rhopalocera and the 1910 Heterocera found in this country) we have already spoken in the opening chapter. We now proceed to consider the nine groups into which the Heterocera are divided. 1. The SPHINGINA. This group, of comparatively small extent, is represented in this country by 38 species only. In the structure of the antennae, the Sphinges, or Hawk Moths, show their intermediate position between the butterflies and the true moths ; the antennae are fusiform, that is, thicker in the middle and attenuated at each end. 2. The BOMBYCINA. This extensive group, repre- sented in this country by 105 species, comprises the true silk-producing insects, and many are remarkable for their beauty. The antennae are thickest at the base, and then gradually taper ; in most of the species they are pectinated, and hardly longer than the thorax ; the body 58 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS is thick, rather short, and posteriorly obtuse ; the pos- terior legs are scarcely longer than the middle pair ; the wings are broad, the anterior have no typical mark- ings (such as we find in the Noctuina), the posterior wings are brightly coloured, frequently more so than the anterior wings. The larvae generally have sixteen legs, but never fewer than fourteen. 3. The NOCTUINA. This large group of night-flying moths comprises no less than 316 British species. The antennae are setaceous, rarely pectinated, but not un- frequently ciliated ; the body is moderately stout, attenuated posteriorly ; the posterior legs are longer than the middle pair ; wings of moderate breadth, the anterior wings rather long, adorned with typical markings (the stigmata and transverse lines varying only in intensity or sharpness of design), the posterior wings rather broad, generally of dingy colours. The larvae generally have sixteen legs, but in a few genera they have only twelve. 4. The G-EOMETRINA. This extensive group com- prises 282 British species ; many are very gaily marked, and some are of comparatively small size. The antennae are setaceous, frequently ciliated or pectinated, and are longer than the thorax ; the body is generally slender (in one or two genera the bodies are thick, and these insects might readily be mistaken for Bombycina, but their larval structure clearly shows that they are Geumefrina) ; the wings are broad, of slight structure, and the posterior pair are brightly coloured, being generally exposed to view when the insect is in repose, in those species of which the anterior wings cover the posterior pair when the insect is at rest, the posterior pair only show the rudiments of markings on the GROUPS AND FAMILIES 59 projecting inner margin. The larvae have only ten legs, only a few species showing an additional pair of ill-developed ventral feet, hence their peculiar looping motion in walking. 5. The PYRALIDINA. This group, which is itself capable of being subdivided into two distinct sections (the Pyralideous and the Crambideous), contains 167 British species. The antennae are setaceous, very rarely pectinated, more than twice the length of the thorax ; the body is slender, elongated ; the legs are long, the posterior pair longer than the others ; the wings are rather long, triangular (in the Pyralideous section), or subparallel (in the Crambideous section), with mode- rately long cilia, the posterior wings adorned with markings (in the Pyralideous section). Larvae with sixteen legs, generally glassy-looking. 6. The TORTRICINA. This extensive group comprises no less than 299 British species. The antennae are setaceous, much longer than the thorax, very rarely ciliated ; the body is moderately thick, posteriorly rather blunt ; the wings are broad, with moderately long cilia ; the anterior wings are somewhat truncate posteriorly, and often have the costa abruptly convex at the base ; the posterior wings are rather broad, trape- zoidal, without markings. The larvae have sixteen legs. 7. The TINEINA. This group, which contains the smallest known forms of Lepidopterous insects, is very rich in the number of species, no less than 669 occur- ring in these islands. The antennae are setaceous, rarely pectinated or ciliated, longer than the body ; the body is slender ; the wings are elongate, with long or very long cilia (the length of the cilia is probably the most distinctive character of the Tineina ; indeed there 60 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS appears to be a gradual progression from the diurnal Lepidoptera, in which the cilia are shortest, to the Pterophorina and Alucitina) ; posterior wings sometimes of an elongate trapezoidal form, more frequently re- markably attenuated, without markings. The larvae generally with sixteen legs, sometimes only with fourteen, in a few genera they are entirely apodal (with no legs). 8. The PTEROPHORINA. This group of Plume Moths is comparatively limited, and we have only 29 British species. The antennae are setaceous ; the body is slender, elongated, adorned with markings ; the legs are elongate ; the wings, which have long cilia, are divided, the anterior pair being bifid, the posterior pair trifid. In one genus, Agdistis, the wings are entire, but the place where the fissure should be is scantily clothed with scales. 9. The ALUCITINA. This group contains only a single British species. The antennae are setaceous ; the body is slender, short, adorned with markings ; the wings have long cilia, each wing is divided into six. We must now hastily glance at the various FAMILIES ol the British Lepidoptera. In the butterflies, or Bhopa- locera, we have five families represented in this country. 1. PAPILIONID^E. Imago with six legs, fitted for walking ; larva elongate, cylindrical, smooth, or pubes- cent ; pupa attached by the tail and by a belt of silk round the body. This family includes the Swallow Tail, Brimstone, Clouded Yellows, and White Butterflies. We have 11 British species. 2. NYMFHALIDA. Imago, with only four legs fitted for walking, the anterior pair being rudimentary ; larva elongate, cylindrical, spiny, or with two horns at the GROUPS AND FAMILIES 61 head, or a forked tail ; pupa suspended by the tail, with no belt of silk round the body. This family includes the Marble White, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown, White Admiral, Purple, Emperor, Ked Admiral, Peacock, Tortoise-shell, and Fritillary butterflies. We have 29 British species. 3. ERYCINID.E. Imago of the male, with only four legs fitted for walking, the female with six legs ; larva short and onisciform, rather hairy ; pupa attached by the tail, and with a belt of silk round the body. We have but one British species, Nemeolius Lucina. 4. LYCJSNID^E. Imago, with six legs fitted for walk- ing ; larva short, onisciform ; pupa attached by the tail, and with a belt of silk round the body. This family includes the Hair-streaks, Coppers, and Blue Butterflies. We have 18 British species. 5. HESPERID^E. Antennae inserted on each side of the broad head (thus widely separated) ; both sexes furnished with six legs of uniform size ; body compara- tively robust. Larvae elongate, with the head large and the following segments narrowed. Pupa enclosed m a more or less transparent cocoon. This family, of which the insects from their short, jerky flight have obtained the name of " Skippers," comprises seven British species. Of the SPHINGINA, or Hawk Moths, we have four families 1. ZYG^ENID^E. Imago with the antennae slender at the base, much thickened beyond the middle with scales only, or pectinated, never terminating in a hook ; wings clothed with scales; anterior wings narrow; posterior wings rounded. Larva fat, sluggish, soft-looking, with no caudal horn. 62 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS This family includes the Forester and Burnet Sphinges. We have 7 British species. 2. SPHINGID^E. Imago with the antennae slightly thickened in the middle, generally terminating in a hooked bristle ; wings large, clothed with scales ; anterior wings elongate and pointed, or with the hind margin indented. Larva firm, naked, generally with a horn on the back of the twelfth segment. Pupa sub- terranean. This family includes all the large showy Hawk Moths, such as the Death's Head, the Ocellated, and the Privet Sphinx. We have 14 British species. 3. SESIID^E. Imago with the antennae much thickened beyond the middle, terminating in a hooked bristle ; wings short and comparatively broad ; abdomen thick, with a broad tuft at the tip. Larva smooth, elongate, with a horn on the back of the twelfth segment. Pupa on the ground amongst leaves. This family includes the Humming-bird Hawk Moth and the Bee Sphinges. We have only 3 British species. 4. JEGERIIDJE. Imago with the antennas slightly thickened beyond the middle ; wings narrow, elongate, transparent, only the margins and a central blotch being- clothed with scales ; abdomen rather long. Larva smooth, whitish (with no horn), feeding within the stems or roots of trees and shrubs, and changing therein to a pupa. Of this family of the small clear-winged Sphinges we have 14 British species. In the BOMBYCINA we have 12 families, represented here : 1. HEPIALIXLE. Imago with the antennae extremely short, shorter than the thorax ; wings distant at the base, elongate and somewhat lanceolate. Larva elongate, GROUPS AND FAMILIES 63 naked, with a horny plate on the second segment, feed- ing on the roots of plants. This family includes the Ghost Moth and the Swifts. We have 5 British species. 2. ZENZEKID^;. Imago with the antennae as long as, or longer than, the thorax ; wings rather distant at the base ; ovipositor of the female exserted. Larva naked, with a horny plate on the second segment, feeding in the woods of trees, or stems of reeds. This includes the Wood Leopard and Goat Moths. W^e have 3 British species. 3. NOTONDOTIDJE. Imago with the antennae longer than the thorax, pectinated in the male ; abdomen thick, not gaily coloured ; the thorax sometimes with bright markings (as in the Buff Tip) ; the anterior wings frequently with a projecting tuft of scales on the inner margin (whence the name of prominent moths applied to several of the species). Larva generally naked, frequently with projections on the back of the twelfth segment ; many have the peculiarity of holding the hinder segments of the body erect when in repose; however, they vary much in form. This includes the Puss and Kitten Moths, the Lobster, the various Prominents, the Chocolate Tips and Buff- tip. We have 27 British species. 4. LIPARID^E. Imago with the antennae longer than the thorax, pectinated in the male ; abdomen often very thick in the female, sometimes with a woolly anal tuft ; anterior wings with no projecting tuft of scales on the inner margin. Larva hairy, generally with tufts of hair. Pupa hairy, generally with tufts of hair along the back, enclosed in a cocoon of slight texture. This includes the Black Arches, Gipsy, Tussocks, 64 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS Vapourers, White Satin, Brown Tail and Gold Tail Moths. We have 12 British species. 5. LITHOSID.E. Imago with the antennae filiform in both sexes ; the collar well developed ; the thorax un- spotted ; the abdomen unspotted, but sometimes with pale belts and a pale tip ; the anterior wings generally narrow. The rather hairy larvae feed on lichens. This family includes the Footman Moths. We have 17 British species. 6. CHELONID^. Imago with the antennae generally pectinated in the male, though sometimes filiform ; the collar well developed ; the thorax sometimes spotted ; the abdomen gaily coloured and spotted ; the wings gaily coloured and spotted, the posterior wings some- times especially so. Larva hairy, but not with tufts of hair ; generally polyphagous, feeding on low plants. Pupa smooth, enclosed in a cocoon. This family includes the various Tiger Moths, the Clouded Buff, and the Ermine Moths. We have 14 British species. 7. BOMBYCIDJE. Imago with the antennae pectinated in the male, generally filiform in the female ; abdomen not gaily coloured or spotted ; the posterior wings are paler than the anterior wings, and have only faint markings. Larva hairy, not with tufts of hair. Pupa smooth, enclosed in a cocoon, which is sometimes of very firm texture. This family includes the Eggars and Fox Moths, the Lackeys, Drinker, and Lappets. We have 11 British species. 8. ENDROMID^E. Imago with the antenna?, pectinated in the male, only slightly pectinated in the female ; the posterior wings slightly paler than the anterior wings, GROUPS AND FAMILIES 65 but with similar markings. Larva smooth, with the twelfth segment thickened; pupa in a loose cocoon, beneath moss. We have but 1 British species, the Kentish Glory. 9. SATURNID^E. Imago with the antennae pectinated in both sexes ; the wings broad, of similar colours and markings, each wing with an eye-like spot. Larva with short bristles, arranged like stars on the tubercles; pupa enclosed in a firm, pear-shaped cocoon, open at the narrow end, but with a protecting cap inside. We have but 1 British species, the Emperor Moth. 10. PLATYPTERYGID^E. Imago with the antennae of the male pectinated, of the female generally filiform ; the abdomen slender in both sexes ; the wings of small size, comparatively broad, sometimes hooked. Larva not hairy, with several little prominences on the back, with only fourteen legs, the anal prolegs wanting (as in the larva of the Puss Moth) . This family comprises the common little Cilix spinula and the Hook-tipped Moths of the genera Platypteryx and Drepana. We have 6 British species. 11. PSYCHID^. Imago with the antennae of the male pectinated, of the female simple or none ; wings of the male broad, the female utterly wingless. Larva constructs a moveable case in which it lives, and in which it changes to a pupa. Of this family we have 6 British species. 12. CocHLiorODiD^:. Imago with the antennae not pectinated, at the most slightly dentate ; the wings rather short and broad, alike in both sexes, with rather long fringes. Larva smooth, onisciform, with no per- ceptible legs. We have only 2 British species, Lima- codes testudo and Heterogenea asellus. F 66 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS In the NOCTUINA we have 26 families represented in this country 1. NocTUO-BoMBYCiD^E. Imago of moderate size ; the body mostly smooth. Larva smooth, or with little eminences, living on trees or shrubs quite exposed, or between leaves united with silk. This family includes the Peach-blossom, Buff-arches, the Figure-of-80, and the Yellow-horned. We have 9 British species. 2. BRYOPHILID.E. Imago of small size ; the body slender, crested above. Larva smooth, the ordinary spots warty and shining, feeds on the lichens growing on walls, early in the morning. Of this family, which includes the Marbled Beauty, we have only 3 British species. 3. BOMBYCOIDJS Imago of moderate size ; the body thick, and sometimes crested above. Larva more or less tufted with hair, sometimes very hairy (so that we might readily mistake them for larvae of Bombycina). This family includes the Dagger Moths and the Miller. We have 15 British species. 4. LEUCANID.E. Imago smaller of medium size; the body smooth, the anterior wings of pale colours, rarely with distinct markings. Larva elongate, feeding in stems, or merely concealing itself in such places. This family includes the various Wainscot Moths. We have 30 British species. 5. APAMID^E. Imago small or of medium size, with the wings of dull colours, in repose roof-shaped ; the markings are well denned, and the three stigmata generally distinct ; the abdomen is generally smooth, sometimes crested. Larva thick, dull-coloured, gene- rally shining, with the head small, retractile ; living GKOUPS AND FAMILIES 67 concealed, either at the roots of plants or under the low herbage, or in stems. This family includes the Light and Dark Arches, the Feathered Gothic, the Cabbage Moth, and the various species of Apamea and Miana. We have 46 British species. 6. CARADRINID^. Imago of rather small size ; the body smooth, the anterior wings rather oblong, with the lines and sometimes with the stigmata well marked. Larva short and thick, with short, stiff hairs ; feeding on low plants. This includes the common Grammesia trilinea and the various species of Caradrina. We have 7 British species. 7. NOCTUID^E. Imago of moderate size ; the antennas ciliated, pectinated, or only pubescent in the male ; the anterior wings smooth or shining, narrow, overlapping one another a little in repose, giving the insect a peculiarly elongate appearance. They form a very flat roof. Larva thick, smooth, shining, or velvety, generally dull-coloured ; feeding on low plants, and concealed either under leaves or on the ground. This family includes the Yellow-Underwing Moths of the genus Tryphdsna, and the various species of Agrofis and Noctua. W T e have 50 British species. 8. OKTHOSID^:. Imago with the antennas of the male pubescent or ciliated ; the abdomen not crested, often flattened ; the anterior wings more or less pointed at the tip : the two stigmata visible, and the lines dis- tinct. Larva cylindrical, velvety, with no eminences; feeding on the leaves of trees or low plants, and con- cealed during the day. This family includes the Chestnuts and the Satellite, 68 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS and the various species of Taeniocampa,0 rthosia, and Xanthia. We have 34 British species. 9. COSMUXE. Imago of moderate size ; antennae generally simple ; abdomen smooth, slender in the male ; anterior wings rather pointed at the tip ; wings in repose forming a very inclined roof. Larva elon- gate, bright-coloured, rather flattened beneath, living between united leaves of trees. This family includes the species of Tethea and Cosmia. We have only 8 British species. 10. HADENID^]. Imago with the antennae rather long ; the abdomen more or less crested ; the anterior wings thick, with the ordinary spots and lines ; the subterminal line is never completely straight, and is often so deeply indented in its middle as to form the letter W. In repose, the wings form a very inclined roof. Larva elongate, smooth, not glossy ; the spots not raised, the twelfth segment sometimes humped ; feeding- exposed or simply sheltered on trees or low plants. This extensive family includes the Angle Shades, and the various species of Hadena, Aplecta, Epunda, and Dianthsecia. We have 46 British species. 11. XYLINID^. Imago with the antennae generally simple ; the thorax robust ; the collar often crested ; the anterior wings oblong, with longitudinal markings ; the ordinary transverse lines rarely distinct; wings rather folded in repose, forming a flattened roof, and giving the insect an elongate appearance. Larva cylin- drical, elongate, smooth, generally of brilliant colours ; living exposed on low plants or trees. This family includes the Sword Grass and Shark Moths and the species of Xylina. W T e have now 19 British species. GHOUPS AND FAMILIES 69 12. HELIOTHID.E. Imago of moderate or small size ; the antennae not pectinated; the thorax stout; the abdomen smooth. Flight often diurnal. Larva cylin- drical, not attenuated ; feeding exposed on low plants, often preferring the flowers. This family includes the. Pease Blossom, the species of Ileliothis, and the Yellow Underwings of the genera Anarta and Heliodes. We have 10 British species. 13. ACONTID^. Imago with the antennae slender, simple in both sexes ; the abdomen smooth ; the an- terior wings thick, rather shining, in repose covering the posterior wings and forming a very sloping roof. Larva slender ; rather swollen posteriorly, with 12 or 16 legs, feeding on Convolvulus. We have only 3 British species. 14. EKASTRID.E. Imago small, with the antennas short, simple, the abdomen slender, generally crested ; the anterior wings rather broad, often with the lines and stigmata well marked. In repose they form a very flat roof. Larva with 14 legs, half loopers, a little swollen posteriorly. W T e have only 3 British species. 15. ANTHOPHILID^. Imago small, with the antennae short and simple ; the abdomen slender, smooth ; the anterior wings thick ; in repose forming a very in- clined roof. Larva smooth, slender, with 12 or 14 legs ; feeding exposed on low plants. We have only 3 British species. 1 6. PHAL^ENOID^E. Imago with the antennae pubes- cent or ciliated ; the abdomen slender, not crested, coarsely hairy ; the anterior wings thick with the usual lines and the reniform stigma ; the posterior wings are brightly coloured (orange). Larva smooth, elongate, 70 BKITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS with 16 legs, but the two first pairs of ventral prolegs are short and useless in walking. We have only 2 British species, Brephos Parthenias and Notha. 17. PLUSID^;. Imago with the antennae filiform ; the thorax with raised tufts ; the abdomen crested ; the anterior wings smooth, shining, often with metallic spots ; in repose the wings form a very sloping roof. Larva with 12 or 16 legs, half-looping, attenuated in front ; feeding exposed on shrubs or herbaceous plants. Pupa in a silken cocoon, not subterranean. This family includes the Spectacle, the Burnished Brass, the Golden Y, and the Silver Y. We have 11 British species. 18. GoNOPTERnxE. Imago with the antennae short, ciliated in the male, the thorax with raised collar ; the abdomen flattened and truncate in both sexes ; the an- terior wings broad, angular, and deeply indented. Larva smooth, with 16 legs ; feeding exposed on leaves of trees. We have only 1 British species, Gonoptera libatrix. 19. AMPHIPYRID.E. Imago of moderate or large size ; the abdomen much flattened. Larva smooth, with 16 legs, attenuated in front. This family includes the Mouse and Copper Under- wing, with Mania typica and maura. We have only 4 British species. 20. TOXOCAMPIDJS. Imago of moderate size; the thorax smooth, with a raised dark-coloured collar ; ab- domen smooth, rather flattened ; the wings not dentate. Larva smooth, elongate, attenuated at each end, with 16 legs, the first two pairs of ventral prolegs rather short. We have only 2 British species, Toxocampapastinum and T. Craccae. GKOUPS AND FAMILIES 71 21. STILBID^E. Imago with the thorax smooth ; the abdomen long, smooth, slender in the male ; the an- terior wings narrow, in repose partly overlapping and forming a very inclined roof. Larva smooth, cylin- drical, thick ; with 16 legs ; feeding on grasses during the winter. We have only 1 species, Stilbia anomala. 22. CATEPHIM:. Imago with the antennae filiform and sometimes pubescent in the male ; the thorax much crested ; the abdomen more or less crested ; the wings thick, rather dentate ; the posterior wings often whitish or transparent. Larva elongate, with 16 legs ; feeding exposed on trees. We have only 1 British species, Catephia alcliymixta, of which a single specimen only has occurred ; it was taken by Dr. Wallace, in the Isle of Wight, in Sep- tember, 1858. 23. CATOCALID^E. Imago of large size with the an- tennge long, slender, pubescent in the male ; the thorax slightly crested ; the abdomen long, conical, slightly crested ; the wings broad, thick, in repose forming a very flat roof; the posterior wings gaily coloured. Larva elongate, flattened beneath, and attenuated at each end, with fleshy filaments on the sides above the legs ; feeding on trees, and resting attached to the trunks. This family includes the Ked Underwing, the Crimson Underwings, and the Clifden Nonpareil. We have only 4 British species. 24. OPHIUSID.E. Imago of medium or large size, with the thorax robust ; the abdomen smooth, more or less conical in the male ; the wings thick, the anterior wings with the lines well marked. Larva smooth, elongate, with the anal legs and posterior ventral legs very long. 72 BBITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS We have only 1 British species, the rare Ophiodes lunaris. 25. EUCLTDID^. Imago of rather small size ; the antennas short, pubescent in the male ; the thorax short, smooth ; the abdomen short, slightly crested ; the wings thick, with distinct lines and stigmata. Larva smooth, elongate, with only 12 legs ; in repose coiling up the anterior segments ; feeding exposed on low plants. We have only 2 species, Euclidia Mi and E. glyphica. 26. POAPHILID.E. Imago of small size with the an- tennae short and slender; the wings short and rather slender, the anterior wings with indistinct lines, but no spots. Larvae slender, with 12 legs, looping, flattened anteriorly and posteriorly. We have only 1 British species, the little Phytometra senea. In the GEOMETRINA, we have 17 families represented in this country. 1. OURAPTERYD.E. Imago with the antennas of the male simple ; the abdomen rather stout, smooth ; the wings ample, the posterior wings having the middle of the hind margin prolonged into a short tail. Larva elongate, with 10 legs with projections from the 8th and 12th segments. We have only 1 British species, the Swallow-tail Moth. 2. ENNOMID^E. Imago with the wings generally ample and almost always dentate and angulated (the female always winged) ; the antennas generally pecti- nated in the male, sometimes simple. Larva elongate, with 10, 12, or 14 legs (the additional legs rarely used in walking) ; often with humps. This family includes the Brimstone Moth, the GKOUPS AND FAMILIES 73 Speckled Yellow, the Orange Moth, the Light Emerald, Barred Red, Lilac Beauty, and the various Thorns. We have 21 British species. 3. AMPHLDASID^E. Imago with the antennae of the male plumose, or pectinated ; the thorax generally woolly ; the abdomen almost always stout ; wings of the male ample ; the female either wingless, or with rudi- mentary, or else with fully developed wings. Larva with 10 legs, elongate, smooth, not attenuated in front. This family includes the Oak Beauty and Peppered Moths, with Phigalia pilosaria, Biston hirtaria, and the species of Nyssia. We have only 6 British species. 4. BOARMID^:. Imago with the antennas of the male generally pectinated or ciliated, but never plumose ; abdomen of the male long, and often slender ; wings generally ample, often dentate, but never angulated. Larva with 10 legs, only humped on the sixth and twelfth segments. This family includes the Waved Umbre, the Mottled and Willow Beauties, the Annulets, and the various species of Cleora and Tephrosia. We have 21 British species. 5. BOLETOBIDJS. Imago with the antennae of the male pectinated ; the wings ample, concolorous, slightly dentate. Larva not humped, but rather bristly ; feeding on lichens and fungi. We have only 1 species, the rare Boletobia fuliyi- n aria. 6. GEOMETRID^E. Imago with the antennae of the male often pectinated, the tip generally simple ; the abdomen sometimes crested ; the wings are green, gene- rally entire, rounded or angular. Larva rather elon- gate, stiff, often rough ; the head generally bifid, and 74 BEITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS the second and anal segments frequently with two points. This family includes the Large Emerald, the Essex Emerald, the Grass Emerald, and the Blotched Emerald. We have only 8 British species. 7. EPHYEID^E. Imago with the antennae of the male pectinated, the tip filiform ; the wings entire, of small size, the posterior wings slightly angulated, generally with an ocellated central spot. Larva elongate, with no humps ; the head slightly bifid. Pupa truncate in front, attached (like a butterfly pupa) by a silken thread at the tail and a girdle round the body. We have only 6 British species. 8. ACIDALTD^E. Imago of moderate or small size, with the antennas pubescent or sometimes slightly pecti- nated in the male, never plumose ; abdomen slender, not crested; wings smooth, rather slender, generally entire, and generally with markings common to both wings, the posterior wings sometimes slightly angulated. Larva slender, not humped ; feeding concealed on low plants, often preferring withered and decaying leaves. This family includes the Small White Wave, the Small Fan-footed Wave, the Lace Border, the Cream Wave, the Eibband Wave, and the Blood Vein. We have 34 British species. 9. CABEEID^E. Imago of moderate size with the antennas sometimes pectinated in the male ; the wings entire, rounded, generally white, with few markings. Larva rather long, not humped, posteriorly rather swollen. This includes the White Wave and Clouded Silver. We have only 6 British species. 10. MACARID^E. Imago of moderate size, with the GROUPS AND FAMILIES 75 antennae of the male pubescent, rarely pectinated ; the anterior wings generally with a prolonged tip, and an indentation below; posterior wings rather angular, some- times dentate. Larva with 10 or 12 legs, sometimes bristly, sometimes with fleshy filaments or without these peculiarities. This includes the Peacock Moth and the V Moth. We have only 5 British species. 11. FIDONID^E. Imago of moderate or rather large size, with the antennas of the male generally pectinated, sometimes plumose; the wings entire, never angular; flight diurnal. Larva elongate, cylindrical, generally neither swollen nor humped, with two horizontal points from the anal segment. This family includes the Latticed Heath, the Brown Silver-lines, the Common Heath, Bordered White, Black- veined, Grass Wave, and the Yellow Belle and Straw Belle. We have 17 British species. 12. ZERENID.E. Imago with the antennge of the male thickened, not pectinated ; the abdomen of the male long, often spotted with black; the wings broad, entire, white, with grey or black spots. Larva short, rather thick, not humped; feeding exposed on trees and shrubs. This includes the Large Magpie Moth, the Scorched Carpet, and Clouded Border. We have only 5 British species. 13. LIGID.E. Imago with the antennas slightly pubescent in both sexes ; the abdomen rather slender, the anterior wings oblong, narrow, the posterior wings rounded. Larva elongate, smooth ; the head rather thick. We have but 1 species, the common heath- feeding PacJiyotemia hippocastanaria. 76 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS 14. HYBERNID.E. Imago with the antennae of the male pubescent or slightly pectinated ; the abdomen slender ; the wings entire, rather broad ; posterior wings covered in repose ; the female is apterous, or has only rudimentary wings. Larva moderately long, smooth, cylindrical, not humped. This family includes the Dotted Border, Mottled Umbre, Spring Usher, and Early Moths. We have only 6 British species. 15. LAEENTID^E. Imago with the antennae of the male simple or pubescent, or even pectinated, but never plumose ; the wings smooth, shining, not angular, rarely dentate, the anterior wings very often marked with numerous wavy transverse lines. Larva more or less elongated, not humped, not attenuated, or only slightly so ; very often green, with distinct lines ; head generally small and rounded ; feeding either exposed or in folded leaves on trees and low plants, sometimes in the seeds of plants. This extensive family includes the numerous Pug Moths, the Winter Moth, Green Carpet, Common Carpet, Garden Carpet, Silver-Ground Carpet, Purple- Bar Carpet, the Kivulets, Seraphim, and the May and July Highflyers. We have no less than 132 British species. 16. EUBOLID^E. Imago with the antennse of the male simple, pubescent or pectinated, but never plu- mose ; the wings entire, the anterior wings with the tip always pointed, and sometimes rather falcate, gene- rally with distinct lines and an apical streak. Larva elongated, not attenuated, not humped; the head rounded ; feeding exposed on low plants. This family includes the Mallow, the Belle, Chalk GKOUPS AND FAMILIES 77 Carpet, Treble Bar, and Streak. We have only 11 British species. 17. SIONID.E. Imago with the antennae of the male simple ; the abdomen very slender ; wings entire, uni- colorous, erect in repose ; the anterior wings rather blunt at the tip. Larva slender, velvety, without lines; feeding on low plants. We have only 1 species, the Chimney Sweeper. In the PEYALIDINA we have 16 families represented in this country. 1. HYPENID^E. Imago with the antennae of the male ciliated or pubescent, rarely simple ; palpi rather long, ascending ; the anterior legs with no tuft of hairs ; the wings broad and slight ; the anterior wings often with tufts of raised scales; the posterior wings generally ample and without markings. Larva elongate, cylin- drical, with 14 legs, the first ventral pair often ill- developed ; feeding exposed. This family includes the Snout Moths and the allied genera. We have only 7 British species. 2. HERMINID^. Imago with the antennae of the male pubescent, or pectinated ; palpi rather long, as- cending ; anterior legs frequently with a tuft of hair ; an- terior wings rather thick, with no tufts of raised scales ; posterior wings with feeble markings. Larva short and thick, with 16 legs; feeding more or less concealed. This includes the Fan-foot Moths. We have only 7 British species. 3. ODONTID.E. Imago with the antennae of the male short, pubescent ; palpi slender, short, projecting ; the wings thick ; the anterior wings oblong, with a project- ing tuft of scales on the inner margin. Larva short, thick, attenuated at each end ; feeding in stems. 78 BKITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS We have only 1 British species, Odontia dentalis. 4. PYKALIM. Imago with the antennao of the male pubescent or ciliated ; the wings entire, shining, with long fringes. Larva shining, wrinkled, vermiform. This family includes the Gold Fringe, Meal Moth, and Tabby Moths. We have only 5 British species. 5. CLEDEOBID^. Imago with the antennae of the male pectinated ; palpi long, slightly arched, porrected ; the body slender, much longer than the posterior wings ; the anterior wings long and narrow, with the tip rounded. We have but 1 British species, Gledeobia angustalis. 6. ENNYCHID^:. Imago of small size, with the antenna of the male simple or pubescent ; the abdomen slender, generally with pale belts ; the wings entire, silky, the anterior wings more or less pointed at the tip ; the posterior wings often with the same or similar markings as the anterior pair; flight mostly diurnal. Larva short, thick, fusiform; feeding between united leaves. This family includes the Purple and Gold, Crimson and Gold, Silver-Barred Sable, and White Spot. We have only 8 British species. 7. ASOPID^:. Imago of small size with the antennas of the male pubescent ; palpi short ; the anterior wings oblong, rather pointed at the tip ; flight diurnal. We have only 2 British species, Agrotera ncmorali* and Endotricha flammealis. 8. STENIAD^. Imago with the antennae of the male pubescent, or slightly ciliated ; palpi rather long, por- rected; the abdomen very long and slender; the anterior wings narrow, lanceolate ; not transparent or iridescent. GROUPS AND FAMILIES 79 We have only 4 British species, including the Long- legged Pearl and Diasemia literalis. 9. HYDROCAMPIM;. Imago with the antennae of the male simple ; palpi rather short, ascending ; the abdo- men rather long and slender ; the wings entire, smooth, silky, but not transparent. Larva smooth, shining; feeding under water. This family includes the China Marks and the singular Acentropus niveus. We have only 5 British species. 10. BOTTOM. Imago with the antennae of the male simple ; palpi porrected ; the abdomen rather slender, conical; the wings broad, slender, shining, often iridescent; the anterior wings triangular, with glossy fringes. Larva shining, rather fusiform ; feeding be- tween united leaves. This family includes the Small Magpie Moth, the Mother of Pearl, the Garden Pebble, the Diamond Spot, the White Brindled, and the Dusky Brindled. We have 28 British species. 11. NOLID^:. Imago with the antennae of the male ciliated ; palpi rather long, somewhat drooping ; the anterior wings with the costal margin rather rounded, with three tufts of raised scales ; the posterior wings rounded with no markings ; in repose the anterior wings completely cover the posterior wings, forming a triangle. Larva with 14 legs, short, thick, rather hairy. ' We have only 5 British species of the genus Nola. 12. CHOEEUTID^E. Imago with the antennas simple ; palpi rather short ; the anterior wings rather oblong ; in repose partially covering the posterior wings and slightly erected ; flight diurnal. Larva with 16 legs, feeding on leaves in a white web. 80 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS This includes the Nettle Tap. We have 4 British species. 13. EUDOREID^E. Imago with the antennae of the male slightly pubescent ; the labial palpi porrected, longer than the head, partially covered by the maxillary palpi; the anterior wings moderately broad, not folded in repose, forming an elongate triangle. Larva with 16 legs, dull coloured, with the spots large and horny, feeding on moss and lichens in galleries of silk. This family consists of the genus Eudorea. We have 17 British species. 14. GALLERID^. Imago with the antennae simple, the basal joint generally with a tuft of scales beneath ; the labial palpi short in the male, long and porrected in the female. Larva with 16 legs ; feeding on wax in beehives and in the nests of wild bees. W T e have only 4 British species. 15. PHYCID^E. Imago with the antennae of the male simple, but often with a curve near the base and some- times with a tuft of scales in this curve ; the labial palpi generally of moderate length and ascending, sometimes long and porrected; the anterior wings oblong or elongate, slightly folded in repose. Larva with 16 legs ; feeding on the leaves, or in the stems of plants, or in dried animal or vegetable substances, generally spinning silken galleries. This family comprises the various Knot-horns. We have 35 British species. 16. CRAMBID^E. Imago with the antennae of the male generally simple, sometimes ciliated ; the labial palpi long, porrected (forming a long beak in front of the head), partially covered by the maxillary palpi ; the anterior wings oblong or lanceolate, generally convo- GROUPS AND FAMILIES 81 luted in repose; posterior wings ample. Larva with 16 legs ; feeding amongst moss, or in stems of aquatic plants. This family includes the Veneers, or Grass Moths. We have 34 British species. Between the PYRALIDINA and TORTRICINA has been placed a family of small extent, of which the proper position seems to be still unsettled, viz. the CHLOE- PHOBID2E. Imago of moderate or small size, with the antennas simple ; the anterior wings are green, covering the posterior wings in repose. Larva with 16 legs; feeding either exposed, or between united leaves. This only comprises 3 British species. In the TORTRICINA we have 9 families represented in this country. 1. TORTRICIDJS. Imago with the anterior wings broad, rarely twice as long as broad, the costa regularly arched, never folded; of the typical markings of the group the basal patch, central fascia, and costal spot towards the tip are generally distinct, but the ocellated blotch near the anal angle is wanting, or only faintly indicated. Larvas generally active; feeding in united or rolled-up leaves. This family includes the Green Tortrix and the various species of Autithesia. We have 36 British species. 2. PLICATE. Imago with the anterior wings rather broad, but frequently twice as long as broad; on the costa towards the base there is a more or less distinct fold in the males. Larva generally sluggish ; feeding between united leaves, or in the stems and seeds of plants. This family is very numerous, and comprises no less- than 59 British species. G 82 BRITISH BUTTEBFLIES AND MOTHS 3. ANCHYLOPEBID.E. Imago with the anterior wings comparatively narrow, almost always more than twice as long as broad ; the costa is not folded at the base, nor obtusely rounded, the tip is frequently produced, forming a small hook. Larva generally feeding between united leaves, sometimes under bark, or in rush-stems. This family is also rather extensive. We have 38 British species. 4. PERONEID.E. Imago with the anterior wings rather broad, the costa abruptly arched towards the base, and slightly indented in the middle; there are usually some tufts of raised scales on the surface of the anterior wings. Larva feeding between united leaves. This family includes the Buttons and Notch-wing. "We have 21 British species. 5. STIGMONOTHXE. Imago with the anterior wings of variable length, the costa regularly arched, not obtusely so, towards the base. Larva feeding in rolled leaves, or between united leaves, or under bark, or in the young shoots of trees. This family is tolerably extensive. We have 46 British species. 6. CABPOCAPSiDwE. Imago with the anterior wings moderately broad ; the costa not abruptly arched at the base ; the ocellated blotch near the anal angle generally large and distinct, and not unfrequently edged with scales of metallic lustre. Larva feeding in fruits or on seeds, or more rarely in the roots and shoots of plants. This family includes Grapholita Ulicetana and Car-- pocapsa Pomonella. We have 19 British species. 7. CNEPHASID^E. Imago with the anterior wings GROUPS AND FAMILIES 83 sometimes rather elongate ; the costa nearly straight or slightly arched, the hind margin never concave; the ocellated blotch is wanting. In the most typical species of this family, three nearly equidistant fascias are formed by the outer edge of the basal patch, the central fascia, and the prolonged subapical costal spot. This family is of small extent. We have only 13 British species, but some of these are exceedingly numerous in individuals, and in a few the larvse seem perfectly omnivorous, occurring on all sorts of plants. 8. SERICORID^E. Imago with the anterior wings rather broad ; the costa generally much rounded, the tip sometimes pointed, the ocellated blotch not repre- sented. In the most typical species, the central fascia is broad, and its inner edge nearly straight. Larva feeding between united leaves, or in roots. This family is of moderate extent. It comprises 22 British species, 9. LOZOPEBID^E. Imago with the anterior wings of variable length ; the costa generally regularly arched, the hind margin often oblique ; the ocelloid blotch not represented (excepting in the solitary instance of the beautiful Culosetia nigromacnlana) . In many of the typical species the ground-colour of the anterior wings is some shade of yellow, and the central fascia, starting from the inner margin, is parallel to the hind margin. Larva generally feeding on seeds. This family is extensive, and comprises many beau- tiful species. We have no less than 45 British species. Between the TOUTRICINA and the TINEINA has been placed the family TORTRICODIDJE (which consists of only a single species, Tortricodes hyemana). Imago with the anterior wings more than twice as long as wide ; the 84 BKITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS costa arched at the base in the female ; but in the male nearly straight, the tip rather pointed ; palpi rather shorter than the head, with slender terminal joint. Of the TINEINA we have 15 families represented in this country. 1 . EXAPATTD^;. Imago with the wings ol the male ample, those of the female generally extremely abbre- viated and pointed ; the antennae rather thick, pubescent, or densely ciliated ; the labial palpi of variable length ; the maxillary palpi undeveloped. Larva with 16 legs, the third pair often club-shaped ; feeding between united leaves. This is a family of small extent. We have only 6 British species. 2. TINEID.E. Imago with the head rough ; the labial palpi short and thick, often bristly ; the maxillary palpi often extremely developed ; the antennae very variable, in some genera very long. Larva with 16 legs ; resid- ing in a portable case, or feeding in fungi or decayed wood, etc. This extensive family includes the various Clothes Moths, and the Long-horned Moths. We have 69 British species. 3. MICROPTERYGID.E. Imago with the head rough ; the labial palpi short, cylindrical, hairy ; the maxillary palpi six-jointed, folded ; the antennas shorter than the anterior wings ; the wings rather transparent. Larva entirely apodal ; mining large flat blotches in leaves ; ejecting its excrement in short thread-like pieces. This family, which only consists of the single genus Micropteryx, comprises 12 British species. 4. HYPONOMEUTID^:. Imago with the head rough, or smooth ; the labial palpi of moderate length ; no GKOUPS AND FAMILIES 85 maxillary palpi ; the anterior wings elongate. Larva frequently gregarious, living in a common tent ; some- times solitary in a web on the surface of leaves. This family includes the Small Ermine Moths. We have 18 British species. 5. PLUTELLID.E. Imago with the head rough ; the labial palpi with the second joint furnished beneath with a projecting tuft of scales ; the antennae porrected in re- pose ; the anterior wings generally elongate, sometimes with the tip pointed. Larvae fusiform ; very active ; not living in a case. This family is of moderate extent. We have only 18 British species. 6. GELECHID^. Imago with the head smooth ; the labial palpi recurved, long, or very long, sometimes with the second joint prolonged as a tuft ; the anterior wings oblong, or more frequently elongate ; the posterior wings rather broad, trapezoidal,- or ovate, generally indented below the apex. Larvae with 16 legs ; of very various habits. This extensive family comprises more than a fourth of the entire group of Tineina. We have 173 British species. 7. (EcopHORHXE. Imago with the head smooth, obtuse, and sometimes retracted ; the labial palpi smooth, reflexed, often short ; the anterior wings elongate, rarely oblong ; the posterior wings lanceolate or elongate, not intended. Larva with 16 legs ; feeding in decayed wood, or on leaves of plants. This family is comparatively of small extent. We have only 32 British species. 8. GLYPHIPTERYGID^E. Imago with the head gene- rally smooth ; the labial palpi variable ; the maxillary 86 BEITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS palpi very short, rarely perceptible ; the anterior wings oblong or elongate ; the posterior wings ovate or lanceo- late. Flight diurnal. Larva with 16 legs, or apodal; generally mining in leaves. This family comprises some very small species (in the genera Antispila and Tinagma). We have 23 British species. 9. AIIGYRESTHIPVE. Imago with the head rough, the face smooth ; the labial palpi rather short, with the terminal joint blunt or slightly pointed ; no maxillary palpi ; the anterior wings elongate ; the posterior wings lanceolate. In repose the insect generally has its head downwards. Larva with 16 legs; in leaves, shoots, or fruits of plants. This family is not an extensive one. We have 28 British species, 10. GRACILARIID^E. Imago with the head rough or smooth, and the antenna as long as the anterior wings; the labial palpi slender, with the terminal joint pointed ; the maxillary palpi rather long and slender ; the anterior wings elongate ; the posterior wings lanceolate. The insect reposes with the head much raised. Larva with 14 legs ; either mining in leaves, or rolling up leaves. This family, aptly named from the graceful appearance of the insects, is not numerous. We have 28 British species. 11. COLEOPHORID^E. Imago with the head smooth ; the antennae porrected in repose, frequently with a tuft of hair at the basal joint ; the labial palpi slender, the terminal joint pointed ; no maxillary palpi ; the wings elongate, lanceolate. Larva with 16 legs; living in a portable case, and mining into the interior of leaves, or pf seeds. GROUPS AND FAMILIES 87 This family, which comprises only two genera, is rich in species. We have no less than 69 British species. 12. ELACHISTID^:. Imago with the head generally smooth ; the labial palpi slender, filiform, generally re- curved and pointed; the anterior wings oblong, or elongate ; the posterior wings lanceolate, or linear lanceolate. Larva with 16 legs ; mostly mining in leaves, often in leaves of grasses. This family is of considerable extent, and includes a large number of small species. We have 82 British species. 13. LITHOCOLLETID.E. Imago with the head rough ; the labial palpi filiform, drooping ; the anterior wings elongate ; the posterior wings linear lanceolate, with long fringes. Larva with 14 legs ; mining in leaves. This family contains only the single genus Lithocol- letis. We have 46 British species, many of which are remarkable for their beauty. 14. LYONETID^E. Imago with the head generally smooth ; the antennae more than half as long as the anterior wings, with the basal joint expanded into an eye-cap ; the labial palpi short, drooping (sometimes wanting) ; the anterior wings narrow, sometimes with prolonged tip ; posterior wings lanceolate, with long cilia. Larva with 16 legs ; mostly leaf-miners. This family comprises several small species, divided amongst five genera. We have 23 British species. 15. NEPTICULID^:. Imago with the head rough ; the antennae short and thick, the basal joint with a mode- rate-sized eye- cap ; the labial palpi short, almost por- rected ; the maxillary palpi rather long, folded ; the anterior wings rather broad, short, and often coarsely scaled ; the posterior wings lanceolate. Larva with no 88 BBITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHR true, anterior, horny legs, but with nine pairs of ill- developed prolegs ; mining in the interior of leaves, forming long serpentine galleries or irregular blotches. This family comprises the smallest known Lepido- pterous insects, some of them are exquisitely beautiful. We have no less than 52 British species. The two remaining groups, PTEROPHORINA and ALUCITINA, not being divided into families, this Chapter is here concluded. CHAPTER VII. BBIEF DESCRIPTIVE NOTICES OF MANY OF OUR MOST CONSPICUOUS SPECIES. IT would be beyond the scope of the present volume to attempt to describe all our Lepidoptera : that has already been done, by the aid of many abbreviations and with our utmost powers of condensation, in the two volumes of the 'Manual of British Butterflies and Moths ' ; but even there it extends to 800 pages, and our readers, we imagine, will prefer on the present occasion a more detailed notice of a few species to an attempt to compress by abbreviations, etc,, a larger number into our space, BUTTERFLIES. FAMILY I. PAPILIONID^E. Subfamily Papilionidi. PAPILIO MAGHAON. THE SWALLOW-TAIL BUTTERFLY. This beautiful insect is not now generally distributed throughout Britain, and seems confined to the fenny districts in Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, and Huntingdon- shire. I have also received reliable information of its occurrence in Sussex, at Pulborough. Formerly, I 90 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS believe, it occurred in various parts of the country, where it is not now found. It is our largest native butterfly ; the expansion of the wings varying from 3J to 4 inches. The fore-wings are of a deep straw-colour, with a large black patch at the base, and with the veins black and some black spots towards the costa ; a black band runs along the hind margin, enclosing eight straw-coloured spots. The hind- wings are straw-colour, with the inner margin blackish, and with a round brick-red spot at the anal angle ; to- wards the hind margin is a broad bluish-black band ; near the middle of the hind margin there is a black prolongation forming a tail (whence the English name of " Swallow-tail "). The very beautiful larva is bright green, each segment bearing two black bands, of which the hinder band is or- namented with six orange spots. It feeds on milk-parsley (Peucedanum palustre) and other Umbelliferae, and may be met with from the end of June to the end of August. The perfect insect begins to appear at the end of May, and may be found up to August. Those who have once had the pleasure of seeing it on the wing can never forget its elegant appearance. FAMILY I. PAPILIONID.E. Subfamily Pieridi. GONEPTERYX RHAMNL THE BRIMSTONE BUTTERFLY. This pretty species is common in the south of Eng- land, and generally distributed ; in the midland counties it is scarcer, and disappears entirely before we get as far north as Scotland, the northern limit of its food plant, buckthorn, not extending to the Tweed. DESCRIPTIVE NOTICES OF CONSPICUOUS SPECIES 91 It is easily recognized by the brimstone-coloured wings, each of which has an angular projection. The expansion of the wings is about 2J inches. The male has the wings of a bright brimstone colour ; in the female the wings are paler, of a whitish brimstone ; in both sexes near the centre of each wing is a small orange spot. The larva is dark green, rather velvety-looking, with a pale line on each side. It may be found in June on the shining dark green leaves of Wiamnus catharticus (common buckthorn), or on the paler leaves of Rhamnns frangula. The perfect insect emerges from the pupa at the beginning of August, and it tends to enliven the wood- land scenery during many an autumn ramble, now sitting on the purple flowers of the thistle now on the blue flowers of the devil's-bit scabious. A warm, sunny day in October, we may still see stragglers of this species ; after which they retire into outhouses, hollow trees, woods, stacks, etc., where they remain dormant during the winter ; but the first warm, sunny days in February and March entice it from its winter retreats, and when we see these butterflies threading their way along some sheltered lane they seem to us the happy harbingers of spring. FAMILY I. PAPILIONID.E. Subfamily Pieridi. COLIAS EDUSA. THE CLOUDED YELLOW BUTTERFLY. (Plate I., Fig. 1.) A beautiful insect, common in some years in the south of England, Jbut" comparatively [seldom occurring 92 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS in the midland counties. In exceptional seasons, it has occurred in Yorkshire and Westmoreland. By the deep, rich, yellow colour of the wings it may be at once recognized, no other of our native butterflies coming at all near it in that respect. The expansion of the wings is from 2 to 2j inches. Both sexes have the fore-wings of a deep rich yellow, with a central black spot, and a broad black band along the hind margin ; this black band is simply veined with yellow in the male (represented on the Plate), but in the female it contains several yellow spots. The hind- wings are much clouded with grey, with a large central orange-yellow spot. The larva is of a dark green with a white stripe spotted with yellow on each side. It feeds in June and July on clover and lucerne, and reposes on the upper surface of the leaf along the midrib. The perfect insect makes its appearance towards the end of August and flies swiftly in meadows and lanes, and may frequently be observed on railway banks. It continues to come out throughout September, and in fine seasons it may be met with during the first half of October. In some seasons it is very scarce, but in others it occurs in unusual plenty. There is a pale variety of the female, which was at first described as a distinct species. In it the ground- colour of the wings, instead of being the deep, rich yellow, is of a dull greenish-yellow. The Pale Clouded Yellow (C 'alias Hyale) is an allied species, less frequent in occurrence and less brilliant in appearance. It was extremely plentiful in the year 1842. The larva of C. Hyale has been noticed by Mr.Tugwell in the 'Entomologist'sWeekly Intelligencer' (vol. iii., p. 11). DESCRIPTIVE NOTICES Otf CONSPICUOUS SPECIES 93 FAMILY I. PAPILIONID^E. Subfamily Pieridi. APORIA CRATJEGI. THE BLACK- VEINED WHITE BUTTERFLY. A peculiar-looking insect, common where it occurs, but by no means generally distributed. It is met with at Herne Bay, at Lyndhurst in the New Forest, and at Lewes in Sussex. The expansion of the wings is about 2J inches. The wings are all white, rather transparent, with strongly- marked black veins, and along the hind margin of the fore-wings is a dusky cloud. The larva is black on the back, with two reddish- yellow stripes ; the sides and belly are ashy-grey ; it is covered with whitish hairs. It feeds in May on haw- thorn principally, but is also found on apple, pear, sloe, and plum. The perfect insect makes its appearance in June. FAMILY I. PAPILIONLD,E. Subfamily Pieridi. PIERI8 BRASSICrf. THE LAEGE WHITE BUTTEEFLY. A most abundant species throughout the country. The expansion of the wings is about 2 J inches. The fore -wings are white, with the tip black and with the base and costa blackish. The male has no black spots on the surface of the fore -wings, but the female has two round black spots and a black dash on the inner margin. In both sexes the hind- wing's are white, with a black spot on the costa. The larva is rather handsome, but it is such a pest in kitchen-gardens that we are apt to overlook its beauty. 94 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS It is yellowish, spotted with black, and has a row of raised black spots on each side of the back. (See wood- cut at p. 7, Fig. 1.) It feeds in June and September on cabbages, sometimes nearly stripping them of their leaves ; it is also partial to the various species of Tro- pseolum. Few larvae are more subject to the attacks of parasitic insects than this, and in autumn we frequently see one of these larvae dead or dying on a wall or paling, resting on a number of small yellow cocoons, which are the cocoons spun by the parasitic larvae which have fed within its body. The perfect insect may be met with almost constantly from the end of April to the middle of August, though at the end of June and beginning of July there is gene- rally a slight intermission between the two broods. The Small White Butterfly (Pieris rapse), and the Green-veined White (Pieris napi), are equally plenti- ful throughout the country. Both are readily distin- guished from the Large White Butterfly by their smaller size, and the Green- veined White is readily recognized by the greenish veins on the underside of the hind- wings. One of our rarest native butterflies is the Bath White (Pieris Daplidice). It is sometimes found in August in the south of England. FAMILY I. PAPILIONID.E. Subfamily Pieridi. ANTHOCHARIS CA1WAMINES. THE OBANGE-TIP BUTTEEFLY. (Plate I., Fig. 2.) This lovely insect seems generally distributed and common throughout the country. DESCKIPTIVE NOTICES OF CONSPICUOUS SPECIES 95 The expansion of the wings is about 1 J inches. The fore-wings are white, with the tip blackish, and a small spot near the centre. The male has, in addition, the apical half of the wing of a deep orange. Hence the male is one of our gayest butterflies, whilst the female, to an unpractised eye, might pass for the ordinary White ; but in both sexes the underside of the hind -wings is white, prettily chequered with yellowish -green. (The figure on Plate I. represents the upperside of the male.) The larva is green, with a whitish stripe on each side. It feeds in July on Turritis glabra, Cardamine impa- tleiiSj and other Cruciferss. The perfect insect makes its appearance in forward seasons at the end of April, and may be met with throughout May enlivening by its presence many a grassy lane, then in its first burst of spring verdure, when our native songsters are causing the country to resound with their pleasant warbles. The Wood White Butterfly (Leucophasia sinapis) is rather a local species, frequenting woods. It occurs in various parts of the country. Its flight is very weak. It may be known by its small size, by the spotless white wings, the tip of the fore-wings being only clouded with blackish. FAMILY II. NYMPHALID^E. Subfamily Satyridi. AltGE GALATHEA. THE MARBLED WHITE BUTTERFLY. (Plate I., Fig. 3.) This elegant insect is found in many of the southern and midland counties, but is extremely local, being Very often confined to one corner of a meadow. 96 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS The expansion of the wings is about 2 inches. All the wings are creamy-white, marbled and veined with black. On the underside of the fore-wings, near the tip, is a white-centred black spot in a white ring, and on the underside of the hind wings are six similar spots near the hind margin. The larva is green, with two yellowish lines on each side ; the head and the bifid tail are reddish. It feeds in May and June on Timothy-grass (Phleum pratense) . The perfect insect makes its appearance about the middle of July, and may be found till the middle of August ; where it occurs it is generally in extreme pro- fusion, hundreds being congregated together within a very small space. FAMILY II. NYMPHALID^:. Subfamily Satyridi. LASIOMMATA JEGERIA. THE SPECKLED WOOD BUTTEBFLY. This quiet-looking species is common throughout the country. The expansion of the wings is from If to 2 inches, The fore- wings are brown, with yellowish spots towards the hind margin, in one of which, near the tip, is a white-centred black spot. The hind-wings are brown, with four yellowish spots towards the hind margin, the three lowermost of which each contain a white centred black spot. The larva is green, with about eight rows of white irrorations ; the dorsal vessel is darker green ; the spi- racles are ochreous, It feeds in June and October on couch-grass (Triticum repens), and other grasses. The perfect insect appears at the end of April and beginning of May, and frequents woods and shady lanes, DESCRIPTIVE NOTICES OF CONSPICUOUS SPECIES 97 flying amongst the lower branches of trees, on the leaves of which it frequently settles. The second brood of the perfect insect may be noticed in July and August. FAMILY II. NYMPHALID.E. Subfamily Satyridi. LASIOMMATA MEGMEA. THE WALL BUTTEKFLY. This rather bright-looking butterfly is common throughout the country. The expansion of the wings is from If to 2 inches. The fore-wings are yellowish-brown or fulvous, with rich dark brown markings ; near the tip is a white-centred black spot. The hind- wings are also fulvous, with brown markings, with three white-centred black spots near the hind margin, and a fourth less distinct near the anal angle. The larva is green, with three very faint pale dorsal lines, and on each side is a more distinct pale line ; it feeds in April and July on various grasses. The perfect insect appears in May and again in August and September ; it frequents roadsides and lanes, frequently settling on the ground or on walls. The larger and more conspicuous Grayling Butterfly (Hipparchia Semele} frequents dry rocky places in July and August ; it flies rapidly, and, being rather shy, its beauties are seldom displayed to the casual observer. FAMILY IT. NYMPHALID^E. Subfamily Satyridi. HIPPARCHIA JANIRA. THE MEADOW BROWN BUTTERFLY. This rather dull- looking, slow- flying species is abun- dant everywhere. H 98 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS The expansion of the wings is from If to nearly 2 inches. The fore-wings are dull brown ; in the male there is a small fulvous ring near the tip, containing a white-centred black spot ; in the female, instead of simply a small fulvous ring, there is a large central ful- vous patch. The hind-wings are dull brown, with no markings. The larva is pale apple-green, with a white stripe on each side; it feeds in May on Smooth- stalked Meadow- grass (Poa pratensis) and other grasses. The perfect insect makes its appearance towards the end of June, and continues out till August ; it is very plentiful in hayfields and meadows. Somewhat similar to the Meadow Brown Butterfly, but rather smaller, and with a large central fulvous patch on each wing, is Hipparchia Tithonus, which is common in woods and lanes, in July and August, in the southern and midland counties of England. We fre- quently see it sitting on bramble blossoms. A male of this species is shown on Plate L, Fig. 4. Another allied species frequenting woods and thickets in July is the Ringlet Butterfly (Hipparchia hyper an- thus) ; this has the wings of a sooty-brown, with no ful- vous patches, but with several white-centred black spots, each in a pale tawny ring ; of these spots there are from one to three on the upperside of the fore- wing, two on the hind- wing ; on the underside of the hind-wing there are frequently five of these spots. FAMILY II. NYMPHALID.E. Subfamily Satyndi. EBEBIA BLANDINA. THE SCOTCH ARGUS. This is rather a mountain species, and is only found DESCRIPTIVE NOTICES OF CONSPICUOUS SPECIES 99 in the north of England and Scotland. It occurs at Wharfedale, in Yorkshire, near Kendal, Colne, and at Castle Eden Dene. The expansion of the wings is very nearly 2 inches ; the fore- wings are of a rich dark brown, with a reddish patch beyond the middle, in which are two white-centred black spots, close together, near the tip, and a third lies towards the anal angle. The hind- wings are of a rich dark brown, with a reddish patch beyond the middle, which contains three white-centred black spots, and above them a smaller black spot. The perfect insect makes its appearance about the middle of July, and may be met with till the middle of August ; it frequents grassy places on hill- sides. The smaller allied species, Erebia Cassiope, is more truly a mountain insect, seldom occurring but at a con- siderable elevation, where it frequents marshy hollows on the mountain-sides. Mr. Bibbs has recorded in the ' Intelligencer,' vol. vii., p. 132, its occurrence in July, 1847, on the roadside skirting Loch Vennachar, leading from Callander to the Trossachs. It occurs on many of the mountains of the Cumberland Lake district ; in Scotland it has been observed at Eannoch, in Perthshire, and in various other localities. Mr. E. C. Buxtononce fell in with it in extreme profusion. FAMILY II. NYMPH ALID^;. Subfamily Satyridi. CCENONYMPHA PAMPHILUS. THE SMALL HEATH BUTTEEFLY. This pretty little species is generally distributed, and very plentiful throughout the country. The expansion of the wings is little more than 1 inch . 100 BKITISH BUTTEKFLIES AND MOTHS The fore- wings are tawny, shading into brown at the margins, with a more or less distinct blackish spot near the tip. The hind- wings are tawny, slightly darker at the hind margin. On the underside of the fore-wings we see one white-centred black spot near the tip ; the underside of the hind- wings is ashy-grey, towards the base brownish, with a central whitish band, and then a narrow brown band, in which are from three to six white dots. The larva is of a delicate apple-green, with three darker green stripes, horde re 1 with whitish ; the head and underside are yellowish-green ; the anal points are reddish; it feeds from May to August on various grasses. The perfect insect appears in June and may be met witli in September ; it occurs in hayfields and meadows, and grassy hill-sides. Closely allied to the Small Heath Butterfly, but larger, and with several distinct white -cent red black spots on the underside of the wings, namely, from one to four on the fore-wings and from six to seven on the hind- wings, is the Marsh Ringlet (Cdenonymplia Dav us) , which occurs in June and July on moors and mosses in the north, and on hill-tops in Scotland ; it also occurs in the west of Ireland. FAMILY II. NYMPHALID^]. Subfamily Nymphalidi. LIMENITIS SIBILLA. THE WHITE ADMIRAL BUTTERFLY. This graceful insect is confined to woods in the south of England ; amongst the recorded localities may be mentioned Epping and Colchester in Essex, Tenterden in Kent, Black Park in Buckinghamshire, Andover, DESCRIPTIVE NOTICES OF CONSPICUOUS SPECIES 101 Lyndhurst, and Winchester in Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, and the neighbourhood of Worcester. The expansion of the wings is from 2 to nearly 2| inches. The fore-wings are blackish-brown, with a central white band interrupted in the middle, beyond this are two small white spots near the tip, and one near the middle of the hind margin, and a less conspicuous whitish spot lies between the central band and the base of the wing. The hind-wings are blackish-brown with a central whitish band, forming a continuation of that on the fore-wings. The underside of the hind-wings is of a delicate silvery-blue at the base and inner margin. The spiny larva is pale green, with a lateral white stripe on the seven last segments ; on the second, third, fifth, eleventh, and twelfth segments are long, ferru- ginous, branched spines, and there are shorter spines on the sixth to tenth segments ; on each side are two rows of short spines, beneath it is green ; it feeds on honey- suckle in April and May. The perfect insect appears at the end of June and in July, frequenting woods. Its flight is considered to be the most graceful of that of any of our native butter- flies. FAMILY II. NYMPH ALID^E. Subfamily Nymphalidi. APATUEA IBIS. THE PUEPLE EMPEEOE BUTTEEFLY. This magnificent insect is confined to woods in the south of England, but is widely distributed in Kent, Sussex, Essex, Suffolk, Huntingdonshire, etc. I believe it has not been noticed north of Lincolnshire. 102 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS The expansion of the wings is from 2^ to 3^ inches. The brilliant bluish-purple gloss is peculiar to the male, and is only visible when we look at the wings in a par- ticular direction ; a specimen which appears at one moment of a most brilliant purplish-blue will the next instant seem of a dull blackish-brown ; the fore-wings have three small white spots near the tip, five others placed nearly in a curve from the middle of the costa to near the anal angle, and a white band in the centre half-way across the wing ; in the hind- wings the central white band is continued across nearly to the anal angle, where the colour of the wing becomes fulvous ; between the white band and the hind margin, near the anal angle, is a black spot in a fulvous ring. The curious-looking larva is pale green, with oblique yellow lines, and a yellow stripe on each side ; the head bears two green tentacle-like horns, whence the larva, which is very stout in the middle and much attenuated towards the tail, has been not inaptly com- pared to a green slug ; it feeds in May and at the beginning of June on sallows and poplars. The perfect insect appears in July, and soars on the tops of oak-trees. Occasionally it descends lower down so as to come within the reach of the collector, but unless we resort to stratagem it is not easy to obtain a series of this handsome insect. The dead stoats, weasels, etc., nailed by gamekeepers to the sides of barns, are found to be a favourite repast with the Purple Emperor, and when these happen to be placed in a wood frequented by Apatura Iris, a goodly number will descend to regale on these delicacies. In 1857, one collector captured thirty-seven specimens in two days by this means. DESCRIPTIVE NOTICES OF CONSPICUOUS SPECIES 103 FAMILY II. NYMPHALID.E. Subfamily Vanessidi. CYNTHIA CARDUL THE PAINTED LADY BUTTERFLY. This pretty species occurs throughout the country, but is very irregular in its appearance : some years it is plentiful, some years it is hardly noticed at all. The expansion of the wings is 2J inches. The fore- wings are pale orange-red, spotted and mottled with black ; the base of the wing is blackish ; in the black tip are five white spots. The hind-wings are pale orange-red, spotted and mottled with black, the base is dusky blackish. The spiny larva is brown, with two dorsal and two lateral yellow lines ; on the third, fourth, and twelfth segments there are four spines ; on the fifth to eleventh segments seven spines, and on the thirteenth two spines ; it feeds solitarily in rolled thistle leaves in June and July. The perfect insect appears at the end of July, and is found throughout August and September ; after hyber- nating, it is again seen on the wing on bright warm days in March and April. FAMILY II. NYMPH ALID.E. Subfamily Vanessidi. VANESSA AT AL ANT A. THE BED ADMIRAL BUTTERFLY. (Plate II., Fig. 1.) This handsome species is common throughout the country. The expansion of the wings is from 2^ to 2} inches. The fore-wings are black, with a broad deep red central 104 BKITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS band, and with one large and five small white spots near the tip. The hind-wings are black, with a broad deep red band at the hind margin, in which are four black spots ; at the anal angle is a large blue-and-black spot. The spiny larva is yellowish-grey, with a pale yellow lateral line ; the third and fourth segments have four spines ; the fifth to twelfth have seven spines ; between the second and third row of spines is a row of black V-shaped markings. It feeds solitarily in rolled leaves of the stinging nettle in June and July. The perfect insect makes its appearance in August, and is constantly to be seen on sunny warm days in September and the first half of October, feasting on fallen plums, pears, etc., and revelling in the blossoms of China asters, dahlias, thistles, brambles, and ivy, etc. ; it lives through the winter, but the hybernated specimens are seldom seen till May is well advanced, and then they never appear in such numbers as the allied hybernating species. FAMILY II. NYMPH AIXDM. Subfamily Vanessidi. VANESSA 10. THE PEACOCK BUTTERFLY. This beautiful butterfly is common throughout Eng- land, but becomes scarce when we get into Scotland. The expansion of the wings is from 2J to 2| lines. The fore-wings are of a dull deep red, with two black marks from the costa ; beyond the second is a large eye-like spot of many colours, namely, yellow, black, red, bluish-lilac, rosy, and white ; the hind margin is brown. The hind- wings are dull deep red, with a large black eye-like spot, shaded with bluish-lilac, placed in a pale. brown ring towards the outer angle. DESCRIPTIVE NOTICES OF CONSPICUOUS SPECIES 105 The spiny larva is black with numerous white dots ; the third and fourth segments have two spines, the fifth has four spines, the sixth to twelfth have six spines, and the thirteenth two short spines ; it is gregarious, occur- ring on the tops of stinging nettles in June and July. The perfect insect appears in August, and frequents gardens and lanes during that and the following month ; its brilliant colours, as we see it with its wings expanded, contrasting curiously v?ith its sombre appearance when the wings are erect. It lives through the winter, and is frequently seen on bright sunny warm days disporting itself on the wing, more especially in March and April. The splendid Camberwell Beauty (Vanessa Antiopa) is rarely met with in this country, and few have had the pleasure of seeing a living British specimen ; it is readily known by the broad whitish hind margins to the purplish chocolate wings. It appears in the perfect state in August and September, and hybernated speci- mens may occur in April and May. FAMILY II. NYMPHALIM:. Subfamily Fanessidi. VANESSA POLYCHLOROS. THE LAKGE TORTOISE-SHELL BUTTEKFLY. This handsome species occurs throughout the south of England, but does not seem to be generally common. Of late years it appears to have become much scarcer than formerly. The expansion of the wing is about 2J inches. The fore- wings are deep fulvous, witli black spots, namely, three large black spots on the costa, two smaller in the centre, and two near the inner margin, a dark border runs along the hind margin. The hind-wings are deep 106 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS fulvous with a large black spot on the costa, and with blue crescent-shaped spots in the dark border along the hind margin. The spiny margin is black speckled with grey, with tawny-grey broad dorsal stripe, intersected by a black line down the centre, and with a tawny stripe above the legs ; it is gregarious, feeding on elm-trees in June and July. The perfect insect makes its appearance towards the end of July, and continues to occur throughout August, but at that season of the year it is seldom noticed on the wing ; it lives through the winter, coming out from its retreats on hot sunny days, and in March, April, and May it is seen much more frequently than in July and August. FAMILY II. NYMPHALID.E. Subfamily Vanes sidi. VANESSA URTICjE. THE SMALL TORTOISE- SHELL BUTTERFLY. One of our commonest butterflies, occurring through- out the country. The expansion of the wings is from 2 to 2i inches. It closely resembles the preceding, but is smaller, the ground-colour is more fiery, and on the costa, near the tip, is a white spot. The fore- wings are reddish -orange, with three large black spots on the costa (the third followed by a white spot), two smaller black spots near the centre, and one large one on the inner margin ; a dark border, containing crescentic blue spots, runs along the hind margin. The hind- wings are black at the base, then reddish-orange with a blue-spotted, dark border along the hind margin. DESCKIPTIVE NOTICES OF CONSPICUOUS SPECIES 107 The spiny larva is yellowish-grey, with a black dorsal line and abroad brownish lateral stripe, below which there is a yellowish line ; the third and fourth segments have four spines, the fifth to twelfth have seven spines ; it feeds gregariously on the tops of stinging nettles from May to August. In some years there appears to be a constant succession of the larvae. The perfect insect appears in June, and is then con- stantly to be seen till the approach of winter ; it lives through the winter, appearing in December and January if the weather be sunny and warm enough ; in March, April, and May it becomes of more frequent occurrence. With the exception of the common white butterflies, this is the only butterfly that penetrates into the heart of London and other large towns. I have frequently seen it in the City. FAMILY II. NYMPH ALID/E. Subfamily Vanessidi. GRAFT A C- ALBUM. THE. COMMA BUTTEEFLY. Formerly this was common in the Metropolitan dis- trict, but now it is very rarely seen there. It still occurs, however, at Dorchester, Bristol, Gloucester, Worcester, Leominster, Burton-on-Trent, Wavendon near Newport -Pagnel, Peterborough, York, and Carlisle ; in some of these localities it is extremely plentiful. The expansion of the wings, which have a remarkably jagged outline, is from about 2 to 2 inches. All the wings are deep fulvous, with narrow dark brown mar- gins, and with several black and brown spots of various sizes ; the undersides are dusky-brown, but in the centre of the underside of the hind- wing is a white mark like the letter C. 108 BKITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS The spiny larva is tawny mingled with black, and with a broad whitish patch on the back of the seventh to twelfth segments ; the head and second segment are black ; the head with two short ear-like projections. It feeds in June and July on elm, currant, hop, etc. The perfect insect appears in July and August ; it lives through the winter, and is again seen on the wing- in April and May. FAMILY II. NYMPHALID^E. Subfamily Argynnidi. ARGYNNIS PAPHIA. THE SILVEK-WASHED FEITILLAEY. This handsome species is very common throughout the south of England, in woods ; in the north it occurs near Huddersfield, York, Scarborough, and Darlington. The expansion of the wings is from 2J to nearly 3 inches. All the wings are bright fulvous, with black stripes and spots. The hind- wings on the underside are greenish, with the hind margin silvery and with three silvery bands. The female has generally a greenish tinge on the upperside, and varieties occur in both sexes in which the brilliant fulvous colour is quite suffused. I know of few more dazzling sights than half-a-dozen specimens of this insect, fresh from the chrysalis, feast- ing on the flowers of a thistle. The spiny larva is black, with two slender sulphur- coloured lines down the back, and several ochreous lateral streaks; two spines of unusual length project over the streaks ; it feeds on the dog-violet ( Viola canina) at the end of May and beginning of June. The perfect insect appears in July, and continues till DESCKIPTTVE NOTICES OF CONSPICUOUS SPECIES 109 August is well advanced, indeed wasted stragglers may be met with in September ; it is fond of settling on bramble blossoms. FAMILY II. NYMPHALID.E. Subfamily Argynnidi. ARGYNNIS AGLAIA. THE DAKK GKEEN FBITILLABY. Not so plentiful as the preceding, but occurring pretty generally throughout the country, and extending its range into Scotland, where I have often met with it in the glens of Argyleshire. The expansion of the wings is from 2J to 2J inches. All the wings are fulvous, spotted with black. On the underside of the fore-wings are some marginal spots towards the tip (which are wanting in the closely allied High Brown Fritillary, A.Aidppe)-, the underside of the hind-wings is greenish, with about twenty distinct silvery spots. The spiny larva is black, with two pale yellow dorsal lines, and with reddish lateral spots on the fifth to twelfth segments ; the projecting spines at the head are shorter than in the larva of A. Paphia ; it feeds in May and June on the dog-violet. The perfect insect makes its appearance in July, fre- quenting woods and heaths, many a sylvan glade being then the resort of this beautiful insect. The High Brown Fritillary (Argynnis Adippe) is so closely allied to the Dark Green Fritillary, that we only distinguish them by the markings on the underside; in A . A.dippe the silver on the marginal spots of the hind-wings is less distinct, and between the marginal spots and the central row of silver spots there is a row of small dull 110 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS red spots, each with a bluish centre. Its times of ap- pearance and habits are quite similar to those of A. Aylaia, and, like it, it ranges throughout the country ; in some localities it is the commoner of the two. FAMILY II. NYMPHALID.E. Subfamily Argynnidi. ABGYNNIS LATHONIA. THE QUEEN OF SPAIN FEITILLAEY. One of the most beautiful and rarest of our Butterflies ; from time to time it has occurred in various localities in the south of England, but never in any numbers. It differs from both the preceding species in its smaller size, and the concave hind margin of the anterior wings, but the most distinctive character is found in the under- side of the hind-wings ; here we see a marginal row of seven silvery spots, and near it a row of seven dark brown spots, each with a central silvery dot ; towards the base we cannot fail to be struck with the seven large and brilliant silvery spots ; by these we may recognize A. Lathonia instantly. In this country, I believe, it has most frequently been captured in August and Sep- tember. FAMILY II. NYMPHALID^. Subfamily Argynnidi. ARGYNNIS SELENE. THE SMALL PEAEL- BOEDEEED FEITILLAEY. Common throughout England, frequenting woods and thickets in June ; it occurs also in many parts of Scot- land in June and July. The expansion of the wings is from 1J to If inches. On the upperside all the wings are fulvous, spotted with DESCRIPTIVE NOTICES OF CONSPICUOUS SPECIES 111 black ; on the underside of the hind-wings we see several large silvery spots. In the closely allied Argynnis Eu- phrosyne, which frequents the same localities, and ap- pears about a week earlier in the season, there is only one silvery spot on the underside of the hind-wings. The spiny larva is black, the spines paler ; it feeds on the dog-violet in September. The perfect insect appears the first week in June, and keeps out for several weeks. The three species of Melitsea (Cinxia, Athalia, and Artemis) have all very similar uppersides, deep fulvous, tessellated with brownish-black (Artemis inclines more to a reddish-fulvous) ; they are distinguished at a glance from Argynnis Selene and A. Euphrosyne by the total absence of any silvery spots on the underside of the hind- wings. Athalia frequents heaths and woods in the south; Artemis prefers moist meadows, and occurs as far north as York and Carlisle, and Cinxia is almost exclusively confined to the undercliff at Sandown, in the Isle of Wight. All are on the wing in June, the larvae feeding in April and May. The larvae of Athalia and Cinxia feed on the rib-wort plantain (Plantago lanceolata) ; the larva of Artemis feeds on scabious, plantain, fox- glove, etc. ; all are spiny, with seven rows of spines. FAMILY III. ERYCINID.E. NEMEOBIUS LUC IN A. THE BUKGUNDY FKITILLABY. Not uncommon in woods in the south of England. The expansion of the wings is from 1 to 1J inches. From its resemblance to a miniature Melitsea, it has 112 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS received the English name of Fritillary, but it is not in any way related to the species we have last been considering. All the wings are blackish-brown with tawny spots, those along the hind margin each contain a central black dot. On the underside of the hind-wings are two rows of white spots ; one at the base and one near the centre. The larva, shaped like a woodlouse, is dingy olive, with yellow and orange spots, and with tufts of hair of a reddish-orange ; it feeds on primrose and cowslip in June and July. The perfect insect appears at the end of May and beginning of June. FAMILY IV. THECLA BETULM. THE BEOWN HAIE- STEEAK BUTTEEFLY. (Plate II., Fig. 2.) This pugnacious little butterfly frequents hedgerows and borders of woods in the south of England, but is not common. It appears to be more plentiful in the south-west of Ireland. The expansion of the wings is about 1J inches. The fore-wings are of a rich brown, in the male with an in- distinct yellowish blotch beyond the middle (in the female this blotch is larger, distinct, and orange) ; the hind- wings are of a rich brown, with two or three orange spots near the anal angle. On the underside all the wings are of an ashy-fulvous ; the hind-wings have two transverse white lines. The larva, shaped like a woodlouse, is pale green DESCRIPTIVE NOTICES OF CONSPICUOUS SPECIES 113 with distinct oblique white lines ; it feeds at the end of June and beginning of July on sloe. The perfect insect makes its appearance in August ; it delights to settle on the topmost twig of a hedge, and to battle with every butterfly that comes near it ; hence specimens that have been long on the wing get to have a very tattered appearance. The two allied species, the Dark Hair-streak and Black Hair-streak (Thecla pruni and T. W-album), have the upper side of the wings darker, no markings on the fore- wings, but a few orange spots at thei anal angle of the hind-wings (only one such spot in T. W-album); on the underside of the hind-wings is one central, slender, white streak; in T. pruni this has a bluish tinge, and is simply waved near the anal angle ; in T. W-album it is whiter and forms the letter W near the anal angle. T. pruni only occurs in a few woods in Huntingdonshire. T. W-album is commoner, and occurs at Epping, Peter- borough, Bristol, and York. FAMILY IV. LYC^NID^E. THECLA QUERCUS. THE PURPLE HAIR- STREAK BUTTERFLY. This species is common, and generally distributed in the south of England ; it also occurs near York, and in the Cumberland Lake district ; likewise in Ireland. The expansion of the wings is from lj to 1|- inches. The wings are of a blackish-brown, tinged with a rich purplish-blue. The female has a large purplish blotch on the upper surface of the fore-wings. The undersides of the wings are ashy-grey, with two orange spots near the anal angle of the hind- wings. I 114 BKITISH BUTTEBFLIES AND MOTHS The larva, shaped like a woodlouse, is of a reddish- brown colour, with two rows of short, oblique, black stripes on the back. It feeds in June, on the oak. The perfect insect appears in July, and continues out till August is well advanced. It has a tendency to fly high up the trees, like the Purple Emperor, and may often be observed in considerable numbers, just out of reach. It has been observed to frequent ash trees. FAMILY IV. LYCLENUXE. THECLA RUSI. THE GKEEN HAIR-STREAK BUTTERFLY. Abundant throughout the country, frequenting woods and heaths. It is readily distinguished at a glance by the green underside of the wings. The expansion of the wings is from 1 inch to 1J. All the wings above are brown and spotless ; on the underside they are green, and the hind- wings have a central row of white dots. The larva is grass-green, with a white dorsal stripe, and on each side a row of whitish spots and a white line above the feet. It feeds in July, on bramble and papilio- naceous plants. The perfect insect appears at the end of May and beginning of June. When flying, from its dingy colour it is difficult to follow with the eye, but directly it settles and erects its wings over the back it shows the green undersides, and is then easily observed. DESCRIPTIVE NOTICES OF CONSPICUOUS SPECIES 115 FAMILY IV. LYOENID^E. CHRYSOPHANUS PHLCEAS. THE SMALL COPPEE BUTTERFLY. (Plate II., Fig. 3.) A very pretty species, common throughout the country, often enlivening by its presence our last autumnal walk. The expansion of the wings is about 1 inch to 1J. The fore-wings are bright coppery red, spotted with black, and with the hind margin blackish ; the hind- wings are blackish, with a bright coppery red hind margin. The underside of the hind-wings is ashy- brown, with faintly darker spots. The larva, shaped like a woodlouse, is green, with a reddish dorsal line, and a red stripe on each side. It feeds on sorrel, in May, July, and September. The perfect insect makes its appearance at the end of May and is to be met with almost constantly up to the middle of October, when sitting on the flowers of rag- wort, scabious, or thistle, occasionally turning round, and now and then starting off to combat with some passing butterfly, nearly twice its size, it cannot fail to attract the attention of any lover of Nature. An allied but considerably larger species is the Large Copper Butterfly (Ghrysophanus dispar). It used to be common in the fenny districts of Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire, but since the extensive draining operations in that part of the country more especially since the draining of Whittlesea Mere the insect has not been observed. Possibly there are still some small fen-districts where the species still occurs. Indepen- 116 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS dently of its larger size, it may be distinguished from the Small Copper Butterfly by the pale blue underside of the hind- wings. FAMILY IV. LYC^NID^E. POLYOMMATUS ARGIOLUS. THE AZURE- BLUE BUTTERFLY. A common species throughout the south, and occur- ring northwards as far as York and the Cumberland Lake district ; in Ireland it is common. The expansion of the wings is about 1J inch. All the wings are of a lilac-blue, the fore-wings being some- times tinged with blackish towards the hind margin. The underside of the wings is of a pale silvery blue ; the fore-wings showing a marginal row of oblong black spots. The larva, shaped liked a woodlouse, is of a yellowish- green, with a dark green dorsal line. It feeds in June on the flowers of holly and buckthorn, and in October on the flowers of ivy. The perfect insect makes its appearance in forward seasons at the end of April, more generally in May ; and a second brood, less numerous, may be noticed in August. It is said sometimes to frequent currant bushes in gardens, but may be most readily met with amongst holly-bushes in woods. Closely allied to the preceding, but smaller and with the upper surface of the wings dull-brown, only faintly shot with blue, is the smallest of our native butterflies the Small Blue (Polyommatus Alm<). It occurs principally on chalk and limestone, and is sometimes very abundant. It appears in the perfect state at the end of May and in June. DESCKIPTIVE NOTICES OF CONSPICUOUS SPECIES 117 The expansion of the wings is only from f of an inch to an inch. Another of our blue butterflies is Polyommatus Acis, now of rare occurrence. Like the two preceding species, it has no red spots on the underside of the wings, but there is a distinct row of marginal black spots in white rings on each wing. FAMILY IV. LYC^NID^:. POLYOMMATUS AEION. THE LAKGE BLUE BUTTERFLY. Also a local species, occurring in Northamptonshire and Devonshire in July. It is the largest of our blue butterflies, and is immediately known by the black spots in the centre of the upper side of the fore-wings. Expansion of the wings about 1^ inch. The fore- wings are deep rich blue, spotted with black in the centre, with the hind margin broad and blackish ; the hind-wings are deep rich blue, with a broad blackish hind margin. FAMILY IV. LYCJENID^E. POLYOMMATUS ADONIS. THE CLIFDEN BLUE BUTTEEFLY. (Plate II. , Fig. 4.) This beautiful insect is not uncommon in chalky and limestone localities in the south of England. The expansion of the wings is from 1J to 1| inch. The wings of the male are above of a bright smalt blue, with the fringes whitish, chequered with dark fuscous ; the wings of the female are brownish-slate colour. On 118 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS the underside the fore-wings have two black spots before the central black spot, and the hind-wings have a row of red spots towards the hind margin. The larva feeds on various papilionaceous plants in May and June. The perfect insect is on the wing at the end of July and during August. In company with it we frequently find the soberer looking Chalk-hill Blue Butterfly (Polyommatus Cory- don) of which the male has the upper side of the wings of a pale silvery blue ; those of the female are light brown, and it is by no means easy to separate the female of Corydon from the female of P. Adonis. FAMILY IV. LYC^NID^. POLYOMMATUS ALEXIS. THE COMMON BLUE BUTTEKFLY. Throughout the country, this pretty little insect enlivens every meadow, every green lane, and many a hillside, from May to September. The expansion of the wings is about IJinch. In the male all the wings are of a lilac-blue, with the fringes white, unchequered. In the female the wings are lilac- blue tinged with brown, and along the hind margin is a row of distinct orange spots. On the underside of the fore-wings there are two small black spots before the central black spot, and the hind-wings have a row of red spots towards the hind margin. The larva (shaped like a woodlouse) is rather dark- green, with short brown hairs, which give it a velvety appearance. The dorsal line is darker, and on the sides DESCRIPTIVE NOTICES OF CONSPICUOUS SPECIES 119 there are short oblique blackish streaks ; the spiracles are whitish ; it feeds on clover and bird's-foot trefoil in April, June, and August. The perfect insect may sometimes be noticed asleep in the evening on the blossoms of rushes. Allied to the preceding, but with the fore-wings of the male of a purplish-blue, is the Silver-studded Blue (Polyommatus ^Egon). It frequents sandy heaths and chalky downs, and is generally very plentiful where it occurs. It may be always distinguished with certainty from the Common Blue by the two following cha- racters : on the underside of the fore-wings there are no spots between the central spot and the base of the wing, in the Common Blue there are two black spots in white rings here ; secondly, on the underside of the hind-wings there are three or four bluish metallic spots near the hind margin, these are not at all represented in the Common Blue. FAMILY IV. POLYOMMATUS AGESTIS. THE BKOWN AKGUS. This frequents chalky and limestone localities; in the south it has the regular form of Agestis, but in the north it puts on the form of Artaxerxes. The expansion of the wings is about 1 inch. The wings are of rich brown, with a marginal band of central spots in the southern form, Agestis ; the fore- wings have a central black spot ; in the northern form, Artaxerxes, this is replaced by a white spot. On the underside in Agestis the white spots have black centres ; in Artaxerxes the black centres are suppressed, the spots being entirely white. 120 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS The larva of Art axerxes (which, through the kindness of Mr. Logan, I have had an opportunity of examining) is green, with a red line on each side ; the dorsal line is dark green ; the bristles are whitish, but on the second segment brown ; on the back of the second segment is a pale spot, and there is one on each side of the back of the twelfth segment at the termination of the reddish lateral line ; the head is shining black. This larva was feeding on Helianthemum vulgare (Common Sun Cistus), towards the end of May, and would appear in the perfect state in June and July. In the south of England Agestis is on the wing in May and August. FAMILY V. HESPERID^E. THTMELE ALVEOLUS. THE GEIZZLED SKIPPER. (Plate II., Fig. 5.) This pretty little species occurs pretty generally throughout the country, frequenting moist places in woods in May. The expansion of the wings is 1 inch. All the wings are blackish, tinged with green, and with numerous rather square-shaped, creamy-white spots ; the fringes are chequered blackish-green and white. The larva is green or brown, with a dark dorsal line, white subdorsal lines, and white lateral lines ; the head is brownish-black ; it feeds on raspberry in July. FAMILY V. HESPERID.E. THANAOS TAGES. THE DINGY SKIPPER. Common throughout the country on dry slopes of hills. DESCRIPTIVE NOTICES OF CONSPICUOUS SPECIES 121 The expansion of the wings is from 1 inch to 1 J inch. The fore-wings are dull brown, with two rather in- distinct darker bands, and with a row of pale dots on the fringes of the hind margin ; the hind-wings are dull brown, with a marginal row of pale dots. The larva is pale green, with two yellow lines on each side, and with a row of black spots above each ; it feeds, in June and September, on the bird's-foot trefoil. The perfect insect appears in May and again in August; from its dull dark colour and short jerking flight, it is rather easily overlooked. The pretty but local Chequered Skipper (Steropes paniscus), readily known by the rich dark brown wings, chequered with orange-tawny spots, occurs in June at Castor Hanglands, near Peterborough, and at Monk's Wood, Hants ; at Stowmarket in Suffolk, and at Bourne in Lincolnshire. FAMILY V. HESPERID^E. PAMPHILA LTNEA. THE SMALL SKIPPER. Common and very generally distributed in the southern and midland counties, but less frequent further north. The expansion of the wings is from 1 inch to 1J inch. The fore-wings are fulvous, shot with brown, but without any paler marking; in the male there is an oblique darker patch from the middle of the inner margin a mark that is wanting in the female ; the hind- wings are fulvous, shot with brown. The larva is green, with two white dorsal lines and two white lateral lines ; it feeds on various grasses in June. 122 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS The perfect insect appears in July, and frequents thickets and open places in woods. Closely allied to this species is the Lulworth Skipper (Pamphila Action), which is almost entirely confined to one locality in Dorsetshire, Lulworth Cove. It appears in the perfect state in August, and might easily be overlooked for Pamphila linea, but the ground-colour of the wings is darker, and beyond the middle of the fore-wings is a curved row of fulvous spots. FAMILY V. HESPERID^E. PAMPHILA 87LVANU8. THE LAEGE SKIPPER Generally common throughout the country, and with a more extended northern range than Pamphila linea. The expansion of the wings is about 1J inch. All the wings are of a rich brown, with numerous indistinct fulvous blotches and spots ; in the male, on the fore- wings there is an oblique darker patch from the middle of the inner margin. The larva is of a dull green, with a darker dorsal line ; it is dotted with black; the head is brown; on the underside of the tenth and eleventh segments are snow- white transverse spots ; it feeds in May on meadow soft grass (Holcus lanatus) and various other grasses. The perfect insect appears on the wing at the end of July and in August ; it frequents thickets and the borders of woods. There is one other Skipper closely allied to the pre- ceding, the Pearl Skipper (Pamphila comma). It is, I believe, exclusively confined to chalky or limestone localities, but is generally very plentiful where it occurs ; DESCRIPTIVE NOTICES OF CONSPICUOUS SPECIES 123 the short turf of many a chalk down is enlivened by its presence in the month of August. On the upper side it can hardly be distinguished from the Large Skipper (Pampliila sylvanus), but the pale markings at the tip of the fore-wings are a little paler than in that species, more of a whitish-fulvous ; on the underside the dis- tinction is readily seen, as P. comma is distinctly marked with square white spots. MOTHS. SPHINGINA. FAMILY I. PROCRI8 STATICES. THE FORESTER SPHINX. This species appears to be common throughout England and Ireland, though it is frequently so local that it will swarm in one field and not occur in any of the adjoining meadows. The expansion of the wings is rather more than an inch in the male, rather less in the female. The fore- wings are of a bluish-green ; the hind-wings of a smoky-brown. The antennae of the male do not taper to a point, but have a blunt, almost club-shaped ter- mination. The larva is greyish-purple, with the dorsal line whitish, edged with reddish-purple, and with a broad yellow stripe enlarged on each segment ; it feeds on sorrel in April. The perfect insect makes its appearance at the be- ginning of June, and may be met with up to near the end of July. There are two other species very closely allied, Proem gtobularide and P. Geryon, but the differences 124 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS are so minute that an unpractised eye would easily overlook them. P. globularise (Plate III. fig. 1), which occurs near Brighton and Lewes in June and July, has the tip of the antennae of the male pointed ; P. Geryon has occurred near Worcester, and in a few other localities. FAMILY I. ANTHROCEPA MINOS. Abundant on the west coast of Ireland in June ; has occurred at Clare and near Ardrahan in Galway. The expansion of the wings is from 1 inch to 1J inch. The fore-wings are rather transparent bluish- green, with three irregular elongate crimson dashes ; the hind-wings are crimson, with a very narrow purplish hind margin. The larva feeds on bird's -foot trefoil and other papilionaceous plants in May. The perfect insect makes its appearance towards the middle of June. FAMILY I. ANTHEOCERA FILIPENDULJ3. THE SIX- SPOT BUBNET SPHINX. (Plate III., Fig. 2.) This pretty species is very plentiful throughout the country. The expansion of the wings is from 1 inch to nearly 1J inch. The fore-wings are of a beautiful greenish-blue, with six deep crimson spots, two close together at the base, two in the middle, sometimes joined! together, and two ibeyond the middle, which DESCRIPTIVE NOTICES OF CONSPICUOUS SPECIES 125 are sometimss also confluent; the hind- wings are deep crimson, with a narrow purplish border along the hind margin. The sluggish fat larva is pale yellow, more greenish on the sides, with two rows of large black spots on the back, and some smaller black spots on the sides, above the black spiracles ; the black head is entirely retractile without the second segment. It feeds in May and June on various papilionaceous plants. The perfect insect appears towards the middle of June, and may be met with throughout the following month, and sometimes in August ; it frequents hayfields and pasture -meadows, grassy hill-slopes, and the heathery hill-sides of Scotland. Besides the above, we have two species of Five- Spot Burnet Sphinges (A. trifolii and A. lonicera) ; these have the first four crimson spots nearly as in A.filipen- dulse, but have only one spot beyond the middle of the fore-wings instead of two. Both are widely distributed, though rather local, and appear in the perfect state towards the end of June or in July. FAMILY II. SPHINGID^. 8MEBINTHU8 OCELLATUS. THE EYED HAWK-MOTH. This handsome insect occurs pretty commonly throughout the country, but seems to become scarcer in the north, and I do not think it has been noticed in Scotland ; in Ireland it is scarce. The expansion of the wings is from 2 } to 3J inches. The fore -wings are of a pale rosy-brown, clouded with olive markings ; the hind-wings are rosy, shading into 126 BKITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS brown at the hind margin, with a large, round, bluish eye-like spot near the anal angle, which forms a beautiful contrast with the rosy ground-colour. The larva has the skin rough and the head pointed ; above it is apple-green, dotted with white, on each side are seven oblique white stripes, bordered above with dark green ; the conical horn on the twelfth segment is rough, of a sky-blue colour, the tip being greenish or blackish. This handsome and conspicuous larva feeds on willow, poplar, apple, etc., in the month of August. The perfect insect appears about the middle of May, and may be met with up to the beginning of July ; we generally see it sitting on palings and trunks of trees, but its beautiful hind-wings are then concealed by the fore-wings, so that it has a sombre and gloomy appear- ance. FAMILY II. SPHINGID^E. SME1HNTHUS POPULI. THE POPLAR HAWK- MOTH. This is more plentiful than the preceding, and not restricted in its northern range, being common in Scot- land; also common in Ireland. The expansion of the wings is from 2J to nearly 3J inches. The fore-wings are ashy-grey, clouded with pale brown ; the hind-wings are of a brick-red colour at the base, then pale brownish-grey. The larva has the skin rough, and the head pointed above; it is apple-green, dotted with yellow, on each side are seven oblique yellow lines ; it closely resembles the larva of the preceding species, but is distinguished by the colour of the rough, conical horn on the twelfth DESCKIPTIVE NOTICES OF CONSPICUOUS SPECIES 127 segment ; this, instead of being sky-blue (as the Eyed Hawk-moth) is yellowish above and reddish beneath. It feeds on poplar, aspen, sallow, etc., in the months of August and September. The perfect insect appears towards the middle of May, and may be met with up to July ; it sits on trunks of trees and palings, and always appears very sluggish by day ; I have known it to fly into houses by night, attracted by the lights. FAMILY II. SPHINGIM;. SMEEINTHUS TILLJS. THE LIME HAWK- MOTH. (Plate III., Fig. 3.) This is the smallest and most elegant of the genus Smerinthus, and it is the least plentiful, though sometimes it occurs in considerable numbers. It seems to be confined to the southern part of England. The expansion of the wings is from about 2| inches to 3 inches. The fore-wings are of a pale reddish-brown, shading into a very broad sandy-green hind margin ; a large olive blotch on the middle of the costa almost meets a smaller blotch of the same colour on the middle of the inner margin ; on the costa near the tip is a small whitish blotch. The hind- wings are blackish at the base, then sandy-brown, intersected by an indistinct blackish band. The larva has the skin rough, and the head pointed above ; it closely resembles the larvse of the two pre- ceding species, but is distinguished at a glance by the followi Dg character : behind the horn there is a violet escutcheon bordered with orange, of which in the other 128 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS two larvae we see no trace. This larva feeds in August and September on elm and lime. The perfect insect appears about the middle of May, and continues to come out during the following month ; it is not so frequently observed on palings and trunks of trees as the two preceding species. FAMILY II. SPHINGLD^E. ACHEEONTIA ATROPOS. THE DEATH'S HEAD HAWK-MOTH. This large and conspicuous insect occurs generally throughout the country; it is usually scarce, but in some particular years it occurs in greater numbers, and then the larvae may easily be obtained. The expansion of the wings varies from 4 to 5 inches. The fore- wings are blackish-brown, with indistinct tawny markings, but with a conspicuous yellow dot near the centre; the hind- wings are yellow with a narrow black band in the centre, and a broader black band ou the hind margin. The broad thorax has an indistinct pale mark on it, resembling a skull (whence the name of Death's head has been derived). The body is very large and thick, deep yellow banded with black, and with a broad bluish-black central stripe. The larva, which grows to the length of five or six inches, may be immediately recognized by the form of its caudal horn ; this is rough, at first declined back- wards but then recurved. No other Sphinx larva in this country has a horn of this form. The usual colour- ing of this larva is very beautiful ; lemon-yellow, with the lower part of the sides and towards the head greenish ; on each side are seven oblique violet stripes. DESCKIPTIVE NOTICES OF CONSPICUOUS SPECIES 129 Occasionally a variety of the larva occurs of very different appearance, but the form of the caudal horn at once enables us to recognize it. Its principal food in this country is the potato ; hence the larvae or pupae are occasionally met with in some numbers by those occupied in digging up potatoes. It also feeds on jasmine and on Lycium barbarum (a plant which in the midland counties seems very well known by the name of the "tea- tree"). The larva may be met with from the middle of July to the beginning of October ; they seem, however, to occur most frequently about August. The perfect insect is very rarely met with ; sometimes it is found concealed amongst ivy ; it has a great partiality for honey, and has been known to enter beehives in search of it. It possesses the power of squeaking, making a noise almost like a mouse. FAMILY II. SPHINGID.E. SPHINX LIGUSTRI. THE PKIVET HAWK- MOTH. Very common throughout the southern and south- midland counties of England ; scarcer as we advance northward, and hardly known in Scotland. The expansion of the wings varies from 3J to 4 inches. The fore-wings are very pale brown, streaked with black and clouded with brown from the inner margin to the apex ; the hind- wings are pale rosy, with three broad black bands. The very beautiful larva is smooth, with the head rounded above ; it is bright green ; on each side it has seven oblique white streaks, bordered above with lilac ; the horn is smooth and curved, it is shining black, with K 130 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS the underside of the lower half yellow. It feeds in August on privet and lilac. The perfect insect appears in June and July ; it flies at dusk with great rapidity, hovering over flowers whilst it extracts their sweets with its long tongue. Allied to this is the Convolvulus Hawk-moth (Sphinx Convolvuli). It is rather larger, with all the wings grey, varied with darker markings. It appears at the end of August and in September ; ordinarily, it is very scarce, but in the year 1846 it abounded throughout the country. FAMILY II. SPHINGID.E. DEILEPHILA GALII. THE GALIUM HAWK- MOTH. This beautiful species is widely distributed through- out the country, but is never common, and scarcely extends its range to Scotland. The expansion of the wings is from 2J to 3 inches. The fore-wings are of a dark olive-green, with a broad paler hind-margin, and with an irregular whitish streak exteoding from near the base of the inner margin to the tip of the wing ; the hind-wings are rosy, with the base black, and with a narrow black marginal band ; towards the anal angle they are whitish. The very beautiful larva, which, when full fed, is about 3 inches in length, is of a dull greenish-grey, with a row of conspicuous pale spots on the sides, each placed in a broad black ring; the spiracles are yellow, and the horn, which is smooth, is bright red. It feeds on the yellow bed-straw (Galium verum), and may sometimes be tracked and collected on sand-hills where that plant DESCKIPTIVE NOTICES OF CONSPICUOUS SPECIES 131 grows profusely. Sometimes it is found in gardens feeding on the leaves of fuchsias. The perfect insect emerges from the pupa between the middle of July and the middle of August. It is sometimes met with hovering over flowers at dusk. There are two closely allied species, the Spurge Hawk- moth (Deilephila euphorbias), and the Striped Hawk- moth (D. Livornico) ; the former used to occur on the sand-hills at Braunton Burrows, near Bideford, but has not been met with for many years. The perfect insect closely resembles Deilephila galii, but the dark streak from the apex to the middle of the inner margin meets the inner margin much further from the base of the wing ; the larva feeds on the sea spurges (Euphorbia Ciiparissias and Euphorbia Par alias), which grow on sand-hills near the coast. D. Livornica can be easily recognized by the veins of the fore-wings being distinctly whitish ; it is a scarce species, but occasionally occurs in various parts of the country in May, August, and September. FAMILY II. SPHINGID.E. CHJEROCAHPA ELPENOR. THE ELEPHANT HAWK-MOTH. This pretty species is very common throughout the southern and midland counties, but becomes scarcer as we advance further towards the north. The expansion of the wings is about 2 J inches. The fore-wings are dull yellowish-green, with the costa, the hind-margin, and two oblique bands of a delicate rosy hue; the hind-wings are rosy, with the basal half blackish. 132 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS The larva is smooth, with the anterior segments re- tractile ; it has a short caudal horn, black, with the tip white ; it varies considerably in colour, being some- times green, but generally dark grey marbled with black ; the fifth and sixth segments have each a large black spot on each side, the upper portion of which contains a white kidney-shaped spot, nearly filled up with brown-grey ; these eye-like lateral spots give the larva a very peculiar appearance. It feeds on willow- herb (Epilobium), vine, and fuchsia from the end of July to the beginning of September. In some marshy localities it is very plentiful. The perfect insect appears in June, and may be some- times noticed in gardens flying over flowers at dusk. A species nearly allied to this, but very rare in this country, is the Silver-striped Hawk-moth (Chserocampa Celerio) . It is larger, the expansion of the wings being more than 3 inches ; it has no rosy markings on the fore-wings, of which the ground-colour is pale brown ; near the centre there is a black dot in a white ring. It has occurred in various parts of the country and in various months ; in the larva state it feeds on the vine. Another rarity in this genus is the Oleander Hawk- moth (C/tnerocampa nerii), which has only occurred a few times on the south coast. It is a large insect, the expansion of the wings being from 4 inches to 4J, and it is strikingly handsome, the fore -wings being of a pale rosy-grey, with several large blotches of dull green, irregular form, and more or less intersected with wavy, whitish streaks. The larva feeds on the Oleander. DESCRIPTIVE NOTICES OF CONSPICUOUS SPECIES 133 FAMILY II. SPHINGID.E. CHjEROCAMPA PORCELLUS. THE SMALL ELEPHANT HAWK-MOTH. This occurs in various parts of the country, and seems to be most frequent in sandy, chalky, or limestone loca- lities. Northwards it occurs on the slopes of Arthur's Seat, near Edinburgh. The expansion of the wings is from If inch to 2 inches. The fore -wings are dull yellow, with the costa rosy, and a rosy central band, and a band along the hind-margin rosy ; the hind-wings are blackish towards the costa and inner margin, then dull yellow, with the hind-margin rosy. The larva is smooth, with the anterior segments re- tractile, but at first sight we should hardly take it for a sphinx larva, as it has no caudal horn ; like all the other larvae of this genus it varies in colour, sometimes it is light brown, mottled with dark brown or black, sometimes it is light green, mottled with dark green or black ; there is an eye-like spot on the sides of the fifth and sixth segments, and a few black dots serve to give an indication of a similar spot on the fourth segment. It feeds on the yellow bed-straws in July and August. The perfect insect appears towards the end of May and in June, and is not unfrequently observed hovering at flowers at dusk. FAMILY III. SESIID^E. MACROGLOSSA STELLATARUM. THE HUM- MING-BIRD HAWK-MOTH. (Plate III., Fig. 4.) This pretty and lively insect is common in most 134 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS parts of the country, and often seen disporting itself in gardens. The expansion of the wings is about 2 inches. The fore-wings are smoky- brown, with a central black dot, a waved black line on each side of it, and indistinct black clouds towards the base ; the hind- wings are dull tawny, almost dull orange, with the base blackish-brown and the hind-margin reddish-brown ; the body is brown- ish, beautifully varied with black and white posteriorly. The larva is very variable in colour, green, purplish- brown, or dark brown, dotted with white, with a darker dorsal and paler subdorsal lines, and a yellow or white line below the black spiracles ; the caudal horn is rather short, rough, nearly straight, blue, with the tip yellow ; the anterior legs are orange. It feeds on bed-straw in June, July, and August. The perfect insect appears from May to September, and hybernated wasted specimens may be seen in the early spring, on bright sunny days ; it flies briskly by day during the hottest sunshine, feasting on the honey of flowers, and darting away if we approach it too nearly. FAMILY III. SESIID^E. SESIA BOMBYLIFORMIS. THE NAEEOW- BOEDEEED BEE HAWK-MOTH. (Plate III., Fig. 5.) This is not scarce in many parts of the country, and occurs northward in the neighbourhood of Carlisle, and has occasionally been met with in Scotland down the Clyde. The expansion of the wings is from 1J to If inch. DESCRIPTIVE NOTICES OF CONSPICUOUS SPECIES 135 All the wings are transparent, with only the margins clothed with dense opaque scales. The fore-wings have the costa and a broad patch on the inner margin black tinged with green ; the hind-margin is brown, broad towards the apex, narrow at the anal angle ; the trans- parent patch near the base of the wing is not intersected by a longitudinal vein. The hind-wings have the base tinged with yellowish-grey, with the hind-margin brown, and very narrow. The body is greenish, with two black belts, posteriorly more yellowish. The larva is green dotted with yellowish-white ; with a subdorsal pinkish stripe, edged beneath with white from the third to the twelfth segment ; the spiracles are reddish-brown, placed in pinkish blotches ; the caudal horn is slightly rough, short, pointed, and reddish. It feeds in July and August, on the devil's-bit scabious (Scabiosa succisa). The perfect insects make their appearance in May ; they fly swiftly in the daytime, extracting honey from flowers ; they frequent open places in woods, or meadows by the skirts of woods. From the transparent wings and hairy bodies they have considerable resemblance to humble-bees. There is another closely allied species of Bee Hawk- moth, the Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth (Sesiafuci- formix) ; it appears in May, and frequents similar loca- lities ; it may be readily distinguished from the Narrow- bordered Bee Hawk- moth, by the greater breadth of the dark margin of the hind-wings, and that of the fore- wings at the anal angle ; the transparent patch at the base of the fore-wings is intersected by a dark longi- tudinal vein. The larva feeds on honeysuckle in July. 136 BBITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS FAMILY IV. SPHECIA APIFORMIS. THE HORNET-MOTH. This occurs in various parts of the country, and is common at Epping and Shrewsbury, and abundant at Cambridge. It is found as far north as the neighbour- hood of Glasgow ; also in the south of Ireland. The expansion of the wings is about 1^ inch. All the wings are transparent, only with the cost* of a yellowish-brown, and the hind-margins fringed with brown. The head is yellow. The larva is whitish-yellow, with the head blackish - brown. It feeds during the autumn and winter months on the stems and roots of poplar-trees. The perfect insect appears towards the end of May and beginning of June, and continues out for some time. It sits sunning itself on the trunks of poplar-trees, and looks then extremely like a hornet or large wasp. There is another closely allied species, the Lunar Hornet-moth (Sphecia bembecifurmis), but the head, in- stead of being yellow, is blackish, and the thorax is blackish with a yellow collar. In Sphecia apifoimis the thorax is blackish above, with a yellow patch on each side in front. The perfect insect appears in July. The larva feeds on the wood of the sallow. FAMILY IV. TROCHILIUM CYNIPIFORME. THE YELLOW- LEGGED CLEAKWING. This species occurs in some numbers on the trunks of oak-trees in Hyde Park ; other localities given for it DESCRIPTIVE NOTICES OF CONSPICUOUS SPECIES 137 are Oxford, and Pembury, near Tunbridge Wells ; it also has occurred near Bristol and Epping. The expansion of the wings varies from less than three-quarters of an inch to very nearly an inch. The fore-wings are transparent, with the costa and hind- margin blue-black ; the inner margin and transverse central spot are blue-black tinged with orange ; the hind- wings are transparent, with black fringes ; the head is black ; the thorax also black, with a slender yellow collar, and a slender yellow stripe on each side ; the abdomen is black, with four yellow rings, and the anal tuft is yellow mixed with black. The larva is whitish, with the head brown ; it feeds beneath the bark of oak-trees, and is full fed towards the end of April. The perfect insect appears in the month of June, and is found sitting on the trunks of trees. FAMILY IV. ^EGERIIM:. TROCHILIUM TIPULIFOEMK THE CUEEANT HAWK-MOTH. This species is common throughout the country, and being a garden insect, is extremely likely to be the first of the genus some of my readers will meet with. The expansion of the wings is about three-quarters of an inch. The fore-wings are transparent, with the margins and central spot black tinged with orange ; the hind-margin is distinctly streaked with orange ; the hind-wings are transparent, with the margins narrowly black tinged with orange ; the fringes rather paler ; the head is black ; the thorax also black, with a slender yellowish streak on each side ; the abdomen is black. 138 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS- with three yellowish rings ; the anal tuft is entirely black. The larva is whitish, with a darker dorsal line ; the head is pale brown, the hinder part of the head showing- through the second segment ; on the upper surface of the second segment, behind the lobe of the head, are two linear brown spots ; it feeds from autumn to spring on the pith of currant-bushes, which hence assume a sickly appearance, and are sometimes killed by the attacks of these larvse. The perfect insect appears in June, and may be noticed sitting on the leaves of currant-bushes, or on flowers in their neighbourhood ; though a sleepy- looking insect, it requires to be approached with caution, and the net should be used to eifect its capture. FAMILY IV. ^EGKERIIMJ. TROCHIL1UM MYOP^FOEME. THE KED- BELTED CLEAKWINGL This species does not appear to be very widely dis- tributed; localities indicated for it are Kingsbury, Epping, Lewes, and Bristol ; it frequents old gardens, and may sometimes be met with in tolerable plenty. The expansion of the wings is about three-quarters of an inch. The fore-wings are transparent, with the margins blackish ; the hind-margin with a purplish tinge ; the transverse central spot is blackish ; the hind- wings are transparent, with the fringes blackish ; the head and thorax are black ; the abdomen is black, with a broad red belt ; the anal tuft is entirely black. The larva feeds in May on the stems and branches of apple-trees. DESCRIPTIVE NOTICES OF CONSPICUOUS SPECIES 139 The perfect insect appears in June and July, and may be noticed on old apple-trees (especially espalier apples), sitting* on the leaves ; occasionally on flowers in the vicinity of apple trees. FAMILY IV. ^EGERIID^E. TROCHILIUM CULICIFORME. THE LAEGE KED-BELTED CLEARWING. This species is probably widely distributed, though the localities hitherto assigned for it are not numerous ; in the perfect state it is more frequently seen than caught ; it frequents woods in which there are birch- trees, and is most likely to occur where birches have been felled, and the growing stumps left in the ground. I believe it occurs in most woods round London. The expansion of the wings is about 1 inch. The fore- wings are transparent, with the costa, hind-margin, and transverse central spot bine-black ; the inner margin towards the base is of a dull reddish (a character by which this species may be distinguished from both our other Red-belted Clear wing Sphinges) ; the hind-wings are transparent, with the fringes blackish ; the head and thorax are blue-black ; the abdomen is blue-black, with a broad red belt ; anal tuft blue-black. The larva is whitish-yellow, with the second segment darker, the head is brown ; it feeds in the winter and spring in the trunks and branches of birch, more rarely it occurs in alder. The perfect insect appears at the end of May and beginning of June, and may be sometimes seen in the hottest sunshine, buzzing over birch stumps, and dart- 140 BETTISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS ing hastily away on the incautious approach of the collector. We have eight other species of Clearwinged Sphinges, but the differences between them are very minute, and too intricate to be detailed here ; the species figured (Plate III., Fig. 6) is the Flame-tipped Ked-belt (T. formicseforme) . BOMBYCINA. FAMILY I. HEPIALLD.E. HEPIALUS LUPULINUS. THE COMMON SWIFT. This species is extremely plentiful throughout the country. The expansion of the wings varies from 1 inch to nearly 1J inch. The fore-wings are of a pale brown, with a whitish streak from the base towards the inner margin, and with an interrupted whitish streak beginning nearly where the first leaves off, and running towards the apex of the wing ; sometimes there is a dis- tinct white spot on the disk between these streaks. The intensity of the markings varies extremely ; in some specimens there are semi-transparent patches on the wings, in others all the white markings are suppressed. The female generally has the markings more indistinct. The fringes are always unspotted ; the hind- wings are of a smoky-brown, with the fringes more tawny. The larva is whitish, with the head shining brownish- yellow, and with a yellowish-brown plate on the back of each of the three next segments ; it feeds underground, from autumn to spring, on the roots of various herba- ceous plants. The perfect insect appears towards the end of May, generally just when we see the first tufts of purple clover DESCRIPTIVE NOTICES OF CONSPICUOUS SPECIES 141 in blossom ; it flies in meadows towards dusk with ex- treme swiftness, threading its way between the stems of the grass ; sometimes we meet with it in extreme pro- fusion, and then the grass seems alive with its mazy flight. When seen at rest (and we sometimes find it on palings or in houses whither it has been attracted by the light), it appears a most sluggish creature, and when we touch it it will probably fall down as though dead, no one would then conceive it was the swift of the previous evening. FAMILY I. HEPIALUS HUMULL THE GHOST MOTH. Like the preceding, this is also abundant throughout the country. The expansion of the wings of the male is about 2 inches, of the females sometimes as much as 2 4 inches. The male has all the wings snowy-white, with the costse and fringes brownish. The female has the fore-wings deep, dull yellow, with an oblique streak towards the hinder margin of a brick-red, and some irregular central spots of the same colour ; the hind- wings are of a dull lead-colour, at the base shading into dull orange at the costa and hind- margin. The larva is whitish-ochreous, with the head reddish- brown, and a reddish-brown plate on the anterior part of the second segment ; it feeds underground on the roots of hop, burdock, nettle, etc., from autumn to spring. The perfect insect appears in the beginning of June, frequenting meadows, and other grassy places; the males have a peculiar flight, oscillating backwards and for- wards like a pendulum, but remaining for some time at 142 BKITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS one spot ; the females fly quite differently, and rather imitate the rapidly erratic movements of the previous species ; sometimes a hundred males or more may be simultaneously seen oscillating in one meadow. We have three other species of Swifts. The Golden Swift (Hepialus Hectux) frequents moist places near woods ; the male has the same oscillating flight as the Ghost Moth, it is little more than an inch in the ex- pansion of the fore-wings, which are of a dull orange, with three oblique rows of whitish spots more or less connected to each other; the Beautiful Swift (Hepiahn Velleda) (Plate IV. Fig. 1), frequenting ferny places, and flying very swiftly after the fashion of the Common Swift, in June and July ; a little later in the season, at the end of July and beginning of August, the Evening- Swift (Hepialu* sylmnus) may be noticed ; it is very widely distributed throughout the country. FAMILY II. ZENZEKID^E. ZENZEEA M SCULL THE WOOD-LEOPARD MOTH. This is one of those species that seem to be commoner in the immediate neighbourhood of London than else- where ; sometimes it may be collected by dozens in the parks ; from its large size and conspicuous appearance it is much persecuted by birds, and hence we frequently meet with the wings scattered on the ground. Pro- vincial localities which may be quoted for the Wood Leopard are Blandford, Brighton, Bristol, Epping, Lewes, Stowmarket, Tenterden, and York. The expansion of the wings of the male is about 2 inches ; of the female sometimes fully 2J inches. The DESCRIPTIVE NOTICES OF CONSPICUOUS SPECIES 143 fore-wings are white, senii-transparent, with numerous blue-black spots. The hind- wings are very similar, but the spots are much less distinct ; the thorax is white, with six large blue-black spots, three on each side ; the abdomen is blue -black, more or less densely clothed with white scales, especially towards the base. The larva is yellow, with shining black spots ; the head has two black spots and the anterior half of the second segment is black. It feeds from the autumn to spring in the woods of various trees, elm, horse-chestnut, pear, apple, etc. The perfect insect makes its appearance early in July. FAMILY II. ZENZERID^E. COSSVS LIGNIPERDA. THE GOAT MOTH. This large insect seems widely distributed throughout the country, and very common in the south, though less frequent in the north. The expansion of the wings is from rather less than 3 inches to more than 3^ inches. The fore-wings are of a pale brown, clouded with whitish, and marked with numerous short, irregular, wavy, transverse black lines ; the hind- wings are pale smoky, with similar transverse dark lines, but less distinct. The larva is reddish-black on the back, the sides are of a dull yellowish or flesh-colour ; the head is black. It feeds on the wood of willows, poplars, and oaks, sometimes perforating the trees in all directions. It is said to live three years in the larva state, and if a tree infested by these larva? be cut down in the winter, it will be found to contain larvae of various stages of growth. 144 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS The peculiar disagreeable odour of this larvae enables us to detect its presence at some distance. The insect appears in the perfect state in July, and may be noticed resting on palings, or on the trunks of trees. FAMILY III. NOTODONTID.E. GEKURA VINULA. THE PUSS MOTH. This handsome insect is common throughout the country. The expansion of the wings varies from 2J to 3 inches. The fore-wings are whitish, with a transverse row of black spots near the base, followed by several wavy transverse grey lines, those beyond the middle being so deeply waved as to form a succession of <-like mark- ings. The hind-wings are white in the male, clouded with grey in the female ; in both sexes they have a dark central lunule. The singular larva is dark green, with a hump on the fourth segment, behind which is a brownish blotch along the back; this blotch is edged with white, attains its greatest breadth at the eighth segment, where, however, it does not reach so low as to include the spiracles, and from that point it gradually diminishes towards the tail, where there are two projecting caudal appendages, from which the larva can at pleasure dart out long red filaments. (The anal prolegs in the larvae of this genus are entirely wanting.) This larva, which when young- has even a more comical appearance than when full grown, feeds, in July and August, on the leaves of sallows, poplars, and willows. The perfect insect appears in May or early in June, DESCRIPTIVE NOTICES OF CONSPICUOUS SPECIES 145 and may often be found resting on the trunks of trees or on palings. There are three smaller species of the genus Cerura in this country termed Kitten Moths, the largest is less than 2 inches in the expansion of the wings ; all three have a broad dark grey band in the centre of the fore-wings; but the differences between them are too minute to be detailed here. FAMILY III. NOTODONTID^:. 8TAUBOPU8 FAGI. THE LOBSTER MOTH. A scarce species, though less so than formerly ; it has occurred in various parts of the country, thus at Bland- ford, Epping, Exeter, Halton in Buckinghamshire, Lewes, Lyndhurst, Plymouth, etc. The expansion of the wings is about 2| inches. The fore-wings are pale brown, more grey at the base, and with a reddish tinge towards the inner margin ; at the base is a black dot ; beyond the middle is a waved, in- dented, yellowish transverse streak ; towards the hind- margin is a row of blackish spots ; the hind- wings are greyish-brown, paler towards the base. The most singular larva is reddish-brown, with two humps on each segment from the fifth to the ninth ; the anal segments are carried erect, at right angles to the rest of the body ; on the last segment are two short tails ; there are no anal prolegs, and the second and third pairs of the anterior legs are remarkably long (a peculiarity by which the larva may be recognized at once) ; it feeds, in August and September, on beech, oak, and birch. The perfect insect appears towards the middle of June, L 146 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS and may sometimes be found sitting on palings or trunks of trees ; occasionally it is attracted by light. FAMILY III. NOTODONTHLE. NOTODONTA ZIGZAG. THE PEBBLE PROMI- NENT. (Plate IV., Fig. 2.) This insect seems pretty generally distributed through- out England, and occurs in the western part of Scotland ; in Ireland it is not uncommon. The expansion of the wings is from 1J to If inch. The fore-wings are pale brown, with a faint rosy tinge towards the costa, and beyond the middle there is a large oval patch of various shades of purple and brown, with a strongly marked curved dark brown line on its basal edge ; near the middle of the inner margin is a short tuft of projecting black scales; the hind- wings are whitish-grey in the male, of a pale sooty-grey in the female. The eccentric-looking larva is purplish-brown, with humps on the back of the sixth, seventh, and twelfth segments, and with darker patches on the front of these humps; on the sides are some paler oblique lines. It feeds, in June and September, on sallows, willows, and poplars ; when resting, the head and tail are both elevated, which with the dorsal humps gives it a most singular appearance. The perfect insect appears towards the middle of May, 'and? again in August ; it may sometimes bthree small black spots on the disk, and then beyond the middle is a short dark streak transversely placed. The larva has the third pair of anterior legs club- shaped, it is greyish -green, with the head yellowish- grey ; it feeds on most kinds of trees and bushes, between unitad leaves in August, September, and October. DESCKIPTIVE NOTICES OF CONSPICUOUS SPECIES 265 The perfect insect appears towards the end of March and in April, and may be constantly noticed sitting on the trunks of trees ; during the cold weather which so frequently occurs in April, when the sloe-bushes are in blossom, these insects often afford the only sport the collector meets with. FAMILY II. TINEIM. TINEA TAPEZELLA. A familiar household insect throughout the country. The expansion of the wings is about f inch. The fore-wings are black from the base to the middle, the black portion extending a little further on the costa than on the inner margin ; the apical half of the wing- is white, clouded with grey, with a darker grey blotch at the tip. The larva feeds on cloth, constructing a gallery of pieces of gnawed cloth and its own silk ; it is partial to situations much exposed to the air, and is particularly fond of the linings of carriages and green-baize doors ; it feeds during the autumn and winter. The perfect insect appears in June and July, and we often meet with it in houses and outhouses, and some- times we find it at large sitting on palings ; from its contrast of colours it is very conspicuous. FAMILY II. TINEA PELLIONELLA. Very, very plentiful in houses throughout the country. The expansion of the wings is about J inch. The fore-wings are dull greyish-ochreous, with three rather 266 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS indistinct brownish spots, two before the middle (of which one is on the disk, and the other, which is the more distinct, is on the fold), and one beyond the middle on the disk ; there is sometimes an additional dark spot on the inner margin near the base ; the hind-wings are whitish-grey. The larva is dull whitish, with the head reddish-brown ; the second segment bears posteriorly a dark brown plate ; in constructs a flattish, portable case of the substance on which it has been feeding, feathers, cloth, etc., etc. ; they will often be found domiciled in a bundle of quills, and a store of feathers is a fearful attraction, and they have no objection whatever to ostrich plumes ; muffs and furs alike suffer continually from their attacks, and we often see the cases when we enter a hosier's shop and ask to look at some woollen socks ; in short, this is a most destructive insect, but is surpassed in its ravages by the next species. The perfect insect may be found in houses and out- houses throughout the year, being most plentiful during the summer months. FAMILY TINEIM. TINEA BISELLIELLA. This household pest is generally distributed through- out the country. The expansion of the wings is rather more than ^ inch. The fore-wings are glossy pale ochreous, with no spots ; the hind- wings are whitish, with pale ochreous cilia. The larva is whitish ; it is particularly fond of horse- hair, and destroys the linings of chairs, sofas, mattresses, DESCRIPTIVE NOTICES OF CONSPICUOUS SPECIES 267 etc, ; when a colony has once effected a settlement they go on breeding year after year, in the interior of the chair, sofa, etc., till after the lapse of a few years the contents may be entirely destroyed, without our atten- tion having been once called to the mischief which is going on ; they are also very destructive to carpets. This larva does not construct a portable case like the last- mentioned specie?, but forms silken galleries in the sub- stance on which it is feeding. The perfect insect may be found in houses and out- houses throughout the year, but is more frequent in the summer months. FAMILY II. TINEID^E. TINEA OCHRACEELLA. (Plate XV., Fig. 3.) This species occurs in the New Forest, Hampshire, and at Rannoch, in Perthshire, in the nests of ants. The expansion of the wings is about J inch. The fore-wings are unicolorous ochreous, perhaps with a very faint greyish tinge posteriorly; the hind- wings are rather dark grey, with ochreous cilia. The perfect insect appears in July, and is only to be found in nests of ants ; the ants take no apparent notice of the living moths, but if a specimen be killed and thrown into the nest, it is immediately carried off by the ants as booty. FAMILY II. TINEIM. INCURVAPIA MASCULELLA. This lively species is very abundant throughout the country. 268 BEITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS The expansion of the wings is about J inch. The fore-wings are glossy, dark brown, with two pale yel- lowish, rather triangular spots on the inner margin, one a little before the middle, the other towards the anal angle ; in the female there is frequently a small yellowish spot on the costa intermediate between these two ; the head is ferruginous ; the antennae of the male are pectinated, of the female simple. The larva is dull whitish, with the head pale brown, and a darker plate on the second segment ; on the third and fourth segments are smaller, paler, grey plates ; it forms a flat case (like an elongate oyster-shell) of two pieces cut out of fallen leaves, and fastened together with silk ; the young larva is a leaf-miner, and cuts out its first case from the leaf it has mined ; it feeds on all sorts of trees and bushes, from June to October. The perfect insect appears in the beginning of May, and flies merrily by day along hedges in the sunshine in little companies. FAMILY II. TLNEIM. ADELA DE GEERELLA. (Plate XV., Fig. 4.) This conspicuous and handsome insect is common and generally distributed in the south of England, and occurs northwards near Manchester, and in the Cumberland Lake district; in Ireland it occurs near Killarney, but I am not aware that it has been observed in Scotland. The expansion of the wings is about } inch. The fore -wings are yellow, streaked to the middle with violet-brown ; beyond the middle is a nearly straight DESCRIPTIVE NOTICES OF CONSPICUOUS SPECIES 269 yellow band, bordered on each side by a violet band ; beyond this the yellow ground-colour is almost suffused with violet-brown. The male insect is remarkable for its extremely long antennae, nearly 1 inch; the antennae of the female are much shorter, little longer than the anterior wings. The larva is yellowish- white, with the head black ; the second segment with a blackish plate, and the third and fourth segments with some grey spots above ; it constructs a bivalve case of pieces of dead leaves, adding piece after piece till it attains the required length, and feeds on a variety of low plants in the autumn and early spring. The perfect insect appears in June ; it frequents woods and thickets, and flies up and down in the sun- shine ; its long antennae and brilliant colouring give it a very graceful appearance. We have several species of Long-horn moths ; the commonest is Adela viridella, which deports itself amongst oaks at the end of May, flying up and down in little companies like gnats. FAMILY IV. HYPONOMEUTID.E. HYPONOMEUTA PADELLUS. This species is very abundant throughout the country; it sometimes strips the hawthorn hedges perfectly bare in June. The expansion of the wings is about f inch. The fore-wings are white, more or less tinged with grey (sometimes quite grey), with three longitudinal rows of black dots ; the cilia are pale grey, or white with pale grey tips. 270 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS The larva is grey, with conspicuous black spots ; it feeds in May and June on hawthorn, apple, sloe, etc.; the Iarv83 hatched from one batch of eggs keep together all their lives, spinning a considerable amount of web, and devouring rapidly all the leaves within their reach. The perfect insect appears in July and August ; it is a sluggish creature, and if disturbed flies with a slow, straight flight, and soon settles again ; when at rest its narrow wings are compactly placed round the body, so that it has a very elongate appearance. An allied species, H. evonymellus, devours the spindle bushes, sometimes not leaving a single leaf, and the larger, handsomer H. padi feeds on the bird-cherry, Primus Padus. FAMILY IV. HYPONOMEUTID.E. PRATS CURTISELLUS. (Plate XV., Fig. 5.) This species is generally distributed throughout England, and tolerably common ; in Scotland it is abundant near Edinburgh, and in Ireland it has oc- curred near Belfast and Howth. On the continent of Europe this species is comparatively scarce. The expansion of the wings is rather more than i inch. The fore-wings are white, with a rather trian- gular blackish blotch on the costa, reaching from the base to beyond the middle, in its broadest part it reaches a little below the fold ; in the white portion of the wing- are several short, transverse, grey streaks, and the hind margin is clouded with dark grey. In a variety which is sometimes met with, the fore-wings are almost entirely of a sooty-brown. DESCRIPTIVE NOTICES OF CONSPICUOUS SPECIES 271 The larva, which, when adult, is very handsome, greenish marbled with reddish -brown, feeds in May on the shoots of the ash -tree. The perfect insect appears in June and July, and may often be beaten from ash-trees, or observed sitting on the stems, or on palings near ash-trees. The insect which does so much mischief to the olive-trees of southern Europe by devouring the tender shoots, is very closely allied to this. FAMILY V. PLUTELLIM. PLUTELLA CRUCIFERARUM. Very abundant, and very generally distributed throughout the country. The expansion of the wings is rather more than 4 inch. The fore-wings are greyish-brown, spotted with dark brown, with a whitish-ochreous streak along the inner margin, from which three rounded projections cross the fold, and encroach on the darker ground- colour. The larva is green, with the head and second segment speckled with dark green ; the spots are small and grey; it feeds on cabbage, turnip, and various other Cruciferae in June, July, and September. The perfect insect appears in May and August, and is very common amongst cabbages and turnips, etc. ; it flies for a short distance with a steady, straight flight, and then settles, holding its antennae straight out before it. In some years it is particularly abundant, and is then very injurious to turnip fields, the leaves of the turnips being sometimes entirely devoured by the larvae of this small moth. 272 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS FAMILY VI. G-ELECHIM. PHIBALOGEEA QUEECANA. (Plate XV., Fig. 6.) This pretty species is generally common throughout England and Ireland ; but I do not remember that it has occurred in Scotland. The expansion of the wings is about f inch. The fore-wings are of pale rosy-grey, clouded with rosy and with some obscure darker markings ; on the costa at the base is a narrow, elongate, pale yellow spot, and on the middle of the costa is a quadrate pale yellow spot ; the cilia of the hind margin are also pale yellow ; the hind-wings are pale whitish-ochreous. The antennae are rather longer than the fore-wings. The pale green larva has the dorsal line darker, edged with whitish-green ; it feeds on various trees and shrubs in May and June, keeping on the underside of the leaf beneath a flat web. The perfect insect appears in July and August ; it is often beaten out of hedges, when it flutters sluggishly to the ground ; it comes rather freely to light, hence is often found in houses. FAMILY VI. YPSOLOPHUS MAECrTNELUTS. (Plate XV., Fig. 7.) This pretty species seems confined to chalky localities in the south of England; the Londoner may find it on the Sanderstead Downs, near Oroydon. The expansion of the wings is rather more than \ DESCRIPTIVE NOTICES OF CONSPICUOUS SPECIES 273 inch. The fore-wings are of a bright ochreous- brown, with a white streak along the costa, and another along the inner margin. The larva is greyish-brown above, ochreous at the sides ; the dorsal and subdorsal lines are reddish-brown ; the head is also reddish-brown. It feeds on juniper in May and June, constructing a considerable web in which it lives concealed. The perfect insect appears in July and August, and may often be beaten out of juniper-bushes in the localities where it occurs. FAMILY VII. (ECOPHORID.E. DASYCERA SULPHURELLA. Common throughout England, Scotland, and Ireland, but very scarce in continental Europe. The expansion of the wings is rather more than i inch. The fore-wings are brownish, dusted with yellow, and with two yellow streaks from the base ; beyond the middle of the inner margin is a triangular pale yellow spot, and a smaller similar spot lies beyond it on the costa ; the hind-wings are pale yellow, with the tip brownish. The elongate larva is greyish-brown, with the head and second segment reddish-brown ; the spots are blackish. It feeds on decayed wood in the winter and early spring. The perfect insect appears at the end of April and beginning of May, and may often be observed flying of its own accord in the early morning ; we may sometimes find it at rest on palings. T 274 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS FAMILY VII. (ECOPHORID^:. ENDROSIS FENESTRELLA. Abundant in houses throughout the country. The expansion of the wings is nearly J inch. The fore-wings are dirty grey, clouded with fuscous, with some obscure darker markings; the extreme base is white ; the head and thorax are shining snowy-white, and thus render the insect tolerably conspicuous. The larva is dull whitish, with the head reddish- brown, and the second segment pale brown posteriorly ; it feeds throughout the year on a great variety of waste substances, a sort of universal scavenger. The perfect imsect is found in houses throughout the year ; we see it sitting on the windows, or on the walls of rooms, and we often find it drowned in milk-pans ; in the summer we often meet with it out-of-doors, on palings, or trunks of trees. FAMILY VIII. GLYPHIPTERYGID^. ANTISPILA PFEIFFERELLA. (Plate XVI., Fig. 1.) This species seems widely distributed in England, and is common in many localities ; it occurs northward as far as Scarborough. It does not seem to have been observed in Scotland or Ireland. The expansion of the wings is little more than J inch. The fore-wings are of glossy golden-brown, with rather a coppery tinge towards the hind margin ; before the middle is a slender, angulated, bright golden band, and beyond the middle are two triangular, golden spots, one DESCRIPTIVE NOTICES OF CONSPICUOUS SPECIES 275 on the inner margin, the other a little beyond it on the costa. The larva is pale greyish -green, with the head and second segment pale brown ; it mines large blotches in the leaves of dogwood in June and July, and when full- fed cuts out a flat bivalve case, in which it descends to the ground. The perfect insect appears in May, and may be met with flying in the sunshine round bushes of dogwood. The closely allied, but smaller A. Treitschkiella has very similar habits, feeding on the same plant. An interesting note on the difference of the pupation of the two species, by Mr. Charles Healy, will be found in the fourth volume of the ' Entomologist's Monthly Magazine' (P. 10). FAMILY IX. AKGYHESTHID^E. AEGYEESTHIA NITIDELLA. This species is generally distributed, and common throughout the country. The expansion of the wings is very nearly J inch. The fore-wings are very pale ochreous-brown, with a darker streak from the middle of the base ; a white streak runs along the inner margin, but is interrupted beyond the middle by a curved dark brown fascia, which terminates in the tip of the wing. The fat yellowish- grey larva has the head brown and the second segment brownish above ; it feeds in the young shoots of hawthorn in April and the beginning of May ; the full-fed larvae may be seen descending from a hawthorn hedge by the silken threads during the first and second weeks of May. 276 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS The perfect insect appears in June and July, and may be obtained plentifully by beating hawthorn hedges ; or we may find it at rest on palings with its head down- wards, and standing on its two first pairs of legs, the hind pair being stowed away by the side of the body. FAMILY X. G-RACILARIID^. GRACILAEIA STIGMATELLA. This species is also tolerably common and pretty generally distributed throughout the country ; it is not recorded, however, as occurring in Scotland or Ireland. The expansion of the wings is rather more than ^ inch. The fore-wings are reddish-brown, with a con- spicuous whitish-yellow triangular spot on the middle of the costa; this reaches to the fold, and its apex is there a little produced posteriorly. The larva is greenish-white, with the head yellowish- brown ; it feeds in August and September on leaves of willow, sallow and poplar, rolling them into the form of a sugar-loaf. The perfect insect appears in September and October, and may sometimes be met with at ivy-blossoms ; it lives through the winter, and reappears in the spring- in rather wasted condition ; it is then frequently found on the blossoms of sallows by those searching for the Tceniocampce ; it may occasionally be found at rest on palings, with its head much elevated and the middle pair of legs stuck out to give it a firmer position. Closely allied to this is that pest of our gardens, Gracilaria syringella, which often discolours all the leaves of our lilac bushes in the middle of summer. DESCRIPTIVE NOTICES OF CONSPICUOUS SPECIES 277 FAMILY XI. COLEOPHORID^. COLEOPHORA OCHREA. (Plate XVI., Fig. 2.) This species seems almost confined to chalky localities in the south of England, but has been noticed in Cheshire on the limestone. The expansion of the wings is about f inch. The fore-wings are ochreous, with two silvery streaks, one along the fold, and the other, which is narrower, along the inner margin ; the antennae have a long ochreous tuft at the basal joint, and are much thickened with ochreous hairs nearly to the middle. The larva feeds in May on the leaves of the common Sun Cistus (Heliantheimim vulgare), mining large blotches ; out of a piece of mined leaf it constructs a large, unwieldy, portable case, out of all proportion to its own size. The perfect insect appears in July and August, but is rather a difficult species to meet with ; it may be occasionally started as we walk amongst its food-plant, or we may obtain it by using the sweeping-net. FAMILY XII. ELACHISTID^. CHRYSOCLISTA LINNEELLA. (Plate XVI., Fig. 3.) This very handsome species is extremely abundant in the immediate neighbourhood of London, and has occurred at Bristol, and other parts in the south of England ; in Ireland it has occurred at Holywood. The [expansion of the wings is very nearly ^ inch. 278 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS The fore-wings are deep orange, with all the margins black, and with three rounded tufts of silvery black scales, two of which are near the inner margin, and the third is intermediate between them near the costa. The larva is yellowish -white, with the head pale brown. It feeds under the bark of the lime-tree in winter and early spring. The perfect insect appears in July and August, and sits on the trunks of lime-trees ; in St. James's Park it may be collected in any quantity, and it is very pretty to see these brilliant little insects walking leisurely about, their white-tipped black antennae in constant motion. FAMILY XIII. LITHOCOLLETIDJE. LITHOCOLLETIS EO BORIS. (Plate XVI., Fig. 4.) This delicately-pretty insect seems widely distributed ; it occurs near London, and in various parts of the south of England, but seems commoner in the north at Scar- borough, Darlington, and Newcastle-on-Tyne ; it does not appear to have been noticed in Scotland nor in Ireland. The expansion of the wings is about J inch. The fore-wings are white, with an oblique golden-brown band from the base of the costa reaching to the inner margin a little before the middle ; beyond the middle are four short black lines from the costa and one from the inner margin. The larva, like many others of this genus, mines blotches in the underside of oak leaves ; the mined part curves downwards from the contraction of the loosened lower skin ; the larva occurs in July and September. DESCRIPTIVE NOTICES OF CONSPICUOUS SPECIES 279 The perfect insect appears in May and August, and may be either beaten from the branches of oak-trees, or in moderately windy weather it may be found sitting on the trunks of oak-trees. FAMILY XV. NEPTICULID^. NEPTICULA AURELLA. This brilliant little insect is generally distributed throughout the country and very common. The expansion of the wings is about J inch. The fore-wings are of a rich golden-brown, tinged with purple beyond the middle, and with the tip of the wing- deep violet ; beyond the middle is a nearly straight pale golden fascia ; the head is reddish (in the closely allied N. splendidissima the head is black). The yellow larva makes long tortuous galleries in the leaves of bramble ; it may be found throughout the year. I have often collected it between Christmas and New Year's Day. The perfect insect appears from March to August ; it may be found at rest on palings and trunks of trees, or may be met with on the wing soon after sunrise. The small Nepticula microtheriella, of which some- times between thirty and forty larvae may be found in a single nut-leaf, each in its slender little gallery, is much smaller than N. aurella, little more than half the size. PTEROPHOEINA. PTEROPHORUS ACANTHODACTYLUS. I sbLu^~ (Plate XVI., Fig. 5.) I This prettily marked Plume has occurred in various 280 BEITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS parts of the south of England, though nowhere very abundantly ; northwards it occurs at York and Scar- borough ; it does not appear to have been noticed in Scotland or Ireland. The expansion of the wings is about f inch. The fore-wings are reddish-brown, with a dark brown costal triangle before the fissure, followed by a slender yellowish transverse streak ; a slender yellowish band towards the hind margin is preceded by a dark brown blotch on each lobe. The larva feeds on rest-harrow, geranium, and various other plants in June and July. The perfect insect appears in July and August ; it may sometimes be started as we walk amongst rest- harrow. PTEROPHORINA. PTEROPHORUS PTERODACTYLUS. THE COMMON PLUME. (Plate XVI., Fig. 6.) This species is generally distributed, and common throughout the country. The expansion of the wings is very nearly an inch. The fore-wings are rather variable in colour, pale brown or pale grey, with a small dark blotch before the fissure and sometimes a smaller, less distinct dark spot a little beyond on the costa ; sometimes there are some blackish dots along the hind margin, especially of the lower lobe. The greenish larva feeds on convolvulus, eating either the leaves or seeds in August and September. The perfect insect appears in September and October, DESCKIPTIVE NOTICES OF CONSPICUOUS SPECIES 281 when we may often find it at ivy-blossoms, or see it at rest on palings; it lives through the winter, and is again met with in early spring ; its resemblance when at rest on a paling to the letter T has been already noticed (p. 41). ALUCITINA. ALUCITA POLTDACTYLA. THE TWENTY- PLUME MOTH. (Plate XVI., Fig. 7.) This curious little insect is generally distributed and common throughout the country. The expansion of the wings is rather more than \ inch. The fore-wings are yellowish-grey, with two dark grey bands obscurely edged with whitish, and the outer fascia terminates on the costal feather in a single spot ; the costal feather has besides three other dark spots, two before the first band and one between the two bands. The larva feeds in the unexpanded buds of the honey- suckle in June and July. The perfect insect appears in August and September, and hibernating, is again met with in spring ; it is often found in houses and outhouses, and may be seen flying of its own accord towards dusk. INDEX Abraxas grossulariata, 25, 226. Acentropus niveus, 79. Acherontia Atropos, 128. Acidalia ornata, 218. rusticata, 217. Acidalidae, 74. Acontidae, 69. Acrobasis consociella, 245. rubro-tibiella, 246. tumidella, 246. Acrolepia, 39. Aero ny eta psi, 176. Adela, 39. De Geerella, 268. viridella, 269. yEgeriidae, 62. Agdistis, 60. Agrotera nemoralis, 78. Agriopis aprilina, 197. Agrotis, 67. agathina, 186. exclamationis, 185. lucernea, 36. porphyrea, 36, 187. segetum, 186. Aleucis pictaria, 220. Alucita polydactyla, 29, 41, 281. Alucitina, 60. American moth-trap, 53. Amphidasidae, 73. Amphidasis betularia, 37, 211. prodromaria, 37,;210. Amphipyrida?, 70. Anarta, 36, 69. myrtilli, 204. Adchocelis lunosa, 192 Anchylopera comptana, 39. Lundana, 257- Anchyloperidae, 82. Angle Shades, 68, 198. Anisopteryx aescularia, 229. Annulet Moths, 73. Anthocharis cardamines, 94. Anthophilidae, 69. Anthrocera filipendulae, 13, 1 lonicerae, 125. Minos, 124. trifolii, 125. Anticlea derivata, 233. Antispila, 40, 86. Pfeifferella, 274. Treitschkiella, 275, Antithesia, 81. corticana, 254. Apamea, 67. basilinea, 182. oculea, 183. Apamidae, 66. Apatura Iris, 31, 101. Aphomia colonella, 38. Apiecta, 68. Aporia crataegi, 93. Arctia Caja, 20, 158. villica, 35, 159. Arge Galathea, 31, 95. Argynnis Aglaia, 109. Adippe, 109. Euphrosyne, 111. Lathonia, 32, 110. Paphia; 108. Selene, 110. Argyresthia nitidelal, 275. 284 INDEX Argyresthidae, 86. Asopidae, 78. Aspilates, 37. Assembling, 54. Asthena luteata, 216. Asthenia strobilella, 39. Attracting by light, 51-54. sugar, 49-51. Azure Blue Butterfly, 116. Barred Eed, 73. Bath White Butterfly, 94. Beautiful China Mark, 240. Knot-horn, 248. Swift, 142. Yellow Underwing, 204. Bee Hawk Moths, 34, 62, 134,135. Belle, 76. Belted Beauty, 209. Biston hirtaria, 24, 37, 73. Black Arches, 63, 150. Footman, 156. Hair Streak Butterfly, 113. Veined Moth, 75. Veined White Butterfly, 93. Blackberries, moths partial to , 51 . Blood Vein, 74, 219. Blotched Emerald, 74, 214. Boarmia, 37. repandata, 213. Boarmidae, 73. Boletobia fuliginosa, 73. Boletobidse, 73. Bombycidae, 35, 64. Bombycina, 57. Bombycoidae, 66. Bordered Sallow, 204. White, 75, 223. Botydae, 79. Botys urticata, 27, 241. Bradyepetes amataria, 219. Brephos Notha, 70. Parthenias, 70. Bright Line Brown Eye, 199. Brimstone Butterfly, 60, 90. Moth, 72, 207. Broad-barred White, 196. Bordered Bee Hawk-m., 135. Yellow Underwing, 189. Broom Moth, 200. Brown Argus Butterfly, 119. Brown China Mark, 240. Hair-Streak Butterfly, 112. Line Bright-Eye, 177. Silver Line, 75, 222. Tail Moth, 64, 154. Bryophila, 37. glandifera, 175. perla, 175. Bryophilidae, 66. Buff Arches, 66. Ermine, 162. Tip Moth, 18, 63, 149. Burgundy Fritillary, 110. Burnished Brass, 70. Burnet Hawk- Moths, 33, 62. Button Moths, 82. Cabbage Moth, 67, 181. Caberidae, 74. Callimorpha jacobaeae, 163. Calocampa exoleta, 202. vetusta, 201. Calosetia nigromaculana,83,263. Camberwell Beauty, 32, 105. Canary Shouldered Thorn, 209. Caradrinidae, 69. Caradrina, 67. Carpocapsa pomonella, 82, 260. Carpocapsidae, 83. Cataclysta lemnata, 239. Catephia alchymista, 71. Catephidae, 71. Caterpillar, 5, 6, 7. Catocala nupta, 36, 205. Catocalidae, 71. Celaena Haworthii, 36. Cerura vinula, 16, 144. Chaerocampa, 33. Celerio, 132. Elpenor, 131. Nerii, 132. porcellus, 133. Chalk Carpet, 76, 231. Hill Blue Butterfly, 118. Charaeas graminis, 36. Cheimatobia brumata, 26. Chelonidaa, 35, 64. Chequered Skipper, 121. Chestnuts, 67. Chilo, 39. forficellus, 252. INDEX 285 Chimabacche fagella, 264. Chimney Sweeper, 77. China Marks, 79, 239, 240. Chinese Character, 172. Chloephora prasinana, 253. quercana, 254. Chloephoridae, 81. Chocolate Tips, 63. Choreutes scintillulana, 244. Vibrana, 244. Choreutidae, 79. Chrysalis, 9. Chrysoclista Linneella, 277. Chrysophanus dispar, 115. Phloeas, 115. Cilix spinula, 35, 65, 172. Cinnabar Moth, 163. Clear- wingedHawk-m. ,15,34,62. Cledeobia angustalis, 78. Clediobidce, 78. Cleora, 73. lichenaria, 212. Clifden Blue Butterfly, 117. Nonpareil, 71. Clisiocampa castrensis, 169. Neustria, 168. Clostera anachoreta, 148. curtula, 149. Clothes' Moths, 84. Clouded Border, 75. Brocade, 201. Buff, 35, 64, 158. Silver, 74. Yellow Butterfly, 31, 60, 91. Cnephasia nubilana, 39. subject ana, 260. virgaureana, 261. Cochliopodidae, 65. Coenonympha Davus, 31, 100. Pamphilus, 99. Cleophora, 40. ochrea, 277. Coleophoridac, 86. Colias Edusa, 91. Hyale, 92. Comma Butterfly, 32, 107. Common Blue Butterfly, 12, 33, 118. Carpet, 76. Dagger, 176. Dart, 186. Footman, 154. Common Heath, 75. Rustic, 183. Shark, 203. Swift, 140. Wainscot, 177. Yellow Underwmg, 23, 67,189. Continental Long Pins, 47. Copper Underwing, 70. Cosmia, 68. trapezina, 195. Cosmidae, 68. Cossus ligniperda, 15, 143. Crambidae, 80. Crambus, 38. cerussellus, 249. falsellus, 38. hamellus, 251. piiietellus, 252. pratellus, 250. Cream-spotted Tiger, 35, 159. Wave, 74. Crimson and Gold, 78, 236. Underwings, 71. Croasia Forskaleana, 258. Cryptoblabes bistriga, 246. Cucullia umbratica, 203. verbasci, 202. Currant Hawk-moth, 137. Cymatophora flavicornis, 174. Cynthia cardui, 32, 103. Dagger Moths, 66, 176. Dark Arches, 67, 179. Green Fritillary, 109. Hair-streak Butterfly, 113. Tussock Moth, 152. Dasycera sulphurella, 39, 273. Dasychira fascelina, 152. pudibunda, 151. Dasypolia templi, 37. Death's Head Hawk-m. , 62, 128. December Moth, 167. Deilephila, 33. euphorbiae, 131. galii, 130. Livornica, 131. Dew Moth, 156. Diamond spot, 79. Dianthaecia, 68. Diaphora meudica, 162. Diary, 47. 286 INDEX Diasemia literalis, 79, 238. Dicrorampha Petiverella, 257. Sequana, 257. Dicycla Oo, 194. Diloba caaruleocephala, 17, 147. Dingy Skipper, 120. Diphthera Orion, 175. Dot Moth, 181. Dotted Border, 76. Drepana, 65. falcataria, 173. Drinker Moth, 21, 64, 169. Dunbar, 195. Dusky Brindled, 79. Dust-lice, 47. Earias clorana, 254. Early Moth, 76. Thorn, 208. Elachista, 40. rufo-cinerea, 40. Elachistidse, 87. Elephant Hawk-moth, 131. Emperor Moth, 35, 65, 171. Endotricha flammealis, 78. Endromidaa, 64. Endromis versicolora, 35, 171. Endrosis fenestrella, 274. Ennomidae, 72. Ennomos tiliaria, 209. Ennychia anguinalis, 237. cingulalis, 237. octomaculata, 238. EnnychidsB, 78. Ephyra omicronaria, 216. pendularia, 25. Ephyridae, 74. Epunda, 68. Erastridge, 69. Erebia Blandina, 31, 98. Cassiope, 31, 99. Eriogaster lanestris, 166. Ermine Moths, 64, 161, 162. Erycinidse, 61. Essex Emerald, 74. Eubolidas, 76. Eucelis aurana, 39. Euclidia glyphica, 36, 72. mi, 36, 72. Euclididao, 72. Eudorea, 38, 80, 244. frequentella, 244. Eudoreidae, 80. Eupithecia venosata, 230. Euthemonia russula, 35, 158. Evening Swift, 142. Exapate gelatella, 263. Exapatidee, 84. Eyed or Ocellated Hawk-moth, 33, 62, 125. Fan-foot Moths, 77. Feathered Gothic, 67, 180. Fidonia atomaria, 37. limbaria, 224. piniaria, 223. Fidonidas, 75. Figure of Eight Moth, 17, 147. Eighty, 66. Flame Shoulder, 190. Footmen, 34, 64, 154, 155, 156. Forester Sphinx, 33, 62, 123. Fox Moth, 22, 35, 64, 164. Fritillaries, large, 32, 61. small, 32, 61. Frosted orange, 178. yellow, 224. Fumea, 35. Galium Hawk-moth, 130. Galleridas, 80. Garden Carpet, 76, 232. Pebble, 79, 242. Gas-lamps, Moths at, 53. Gastropacha quercifolia, 170. ilicifolia, 170. Gelechida?, 85. Geometridao, 73. Geometrina, 58. Ghost Moth, 34, 63, 141. Gipsy, 63. Glyphipteryx equitella, 40. Fischeriella, 40. Thrasonella, 40. Glyphipterygidac, 85. Gnophria rubricollis, 156. Goat Moth, 15, 34, 63, 143. Gold Fringe, 78, 235. Tail Moth, 22, 64, 153. Golden Ear, 179. Swift, 34, 142. Y, 70. INDEX 287 Gonepteryx Rhamni, 90. Gonoptera libatrix, 70. Gonopteridae, 70. Gortyna flavago, 178. Gracilaria stigmatella, 276. Syringella, 40, 276. Gracilariidae, 86. Grammesea bilinea, 185. trilinea, 67, 184. Grapholita ulicetana, 39, 82. Grapta C-album, 32, 107. Grass Eggar, 164. Emerald, 74, 213. Moths, 81. Wave, 75. Grayling Butterfly, 97. Green Carpet, 76. Tortrix, 81, 255. Hair-streak Butterfly, 11.4 Silver Lines, 253. Veined White Butterfly, 94. Grey Carpet, 220. Grizzled Skipper, 120. Ground Lackey, 169. Hadena, 68. oleracea, 199. pisi, 200. rectilinea, 201. Hadenidae, 68. Hair-streak B., 33, 61, 112, 113. Harpella Geoffrella, 39. Hawk-moths or Sphinges, 57. Heart and Dart, 185. Heart Moth, 194. Heath Eggar, 166. Hebrew Character, 191. Hecatera serena, 196. Heliodes arbuti, 36, 69, 204. Heliophobus popularis, 180. Heliothidaa, 69. Heliothis, 36, 69. marginata, 204. Hemerophila abruptaria, 37,21 1 . Hemerosia Rheediella, 39. Hepialidae, 62. Hepialus hectus, 34, 142. humuli, 34, 141. lupulinus, 34, 140. sylvinus, 34, 142. velleda, 34, 142. Herminidae, 77. Hesperidae, 61. Heterogenea asellus, 65. High Brown Fritillary, 109. Hipparchia Hyperanthus, 98. Janira, 97. Semele, 31, 97. Tithonus, 98. Hook-tipped Moths, 65, 173. Hoporina croceago, 193. Hornet Moth, 136. Humming-bird Hawk-moth, 34, 62, 133. Hybernia leucophearia, 228. Hybernidae, 76. wingless females of, 37. Hydraecia nictitans, 179. Hydrocampa nymphaeata, 240. stagnata, 240. Hydrocampidae, 38, 79, 239, 240. Hypena proboscidalis, 234. Hypenidas, 77. Hypercompa dominula, 157. Hyponomeuta evonymellus, 270. padi, 270. padellus, 269. Hyponomeutidae, 85. Incurvaria masculella, 39, 267. Ivy-bloom, 51. Journal, 47. July Chi, 197. Highflyer, 76. Kentish Glory, 35, 65, 171. Kitten Moths, 63, 145. Knot-horns, 38, 80, 245, 249. Lace Border, 74, 218. Lackey Moth, 64, 168, 169. Lappet Moth, 64, 170. Larentidae, 76. Large Blue Butterfly, 117. Copper Butterfly, 115. Emerald, 74. Footman, 155. Magpie Moth, 25, 75, 226. Red-belted Clearwing, 139. Skipper, 122. Tortoise-shell, 105. 288 INDEX Large White Butterfly, 6, 93. Larvae, searching for, 54. Lasiocampa callunae, 166. quercus, 22, 35, 165. rubi, 22, 35, 164. trifolii, 164. Lasiommata ^Egeria, 96. Mega3ra, 11, 97. Latticed Heath, 75, 221. Laurel leaves, 43. Least Carpet, 217. Leiocampa dictaea, 34, 147. Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, 188. Pearl, 242. Swallow Prominent, 147. Lettered China Mark, 238. Leucania conigera, 36, 177. pallens, 177. Leucanidaa, 66. Leucophasia sinapis, 95. Ligdia adustata, 227. Light, 51-54. Light Arches, 67. Emerald, 73. Ligidse, 75. Lilac Beauty, 73. Limacodes testudo, 65. Lime Hawk-moth, 33, 127. trees in blossom, 51. Limenitis Sibylla, 31, 100. Liparidaa, 63. Lithocolletidae, 87. Lithocolletis, 40, 87. roboris, 278. Lithosia aureola, 155. complana, 155. complanula, 154. griseola, 155. stramineola, 155. Lithosidae, 34, 64. Lobster Moth, 63, 145. Long.horned Moths, 84, 269. legged Pearl, 79. pins, Continental, 47. Lophopteryx carmelita, 34. Lozogramma petraria, 222. Lozoperidae, 83. Lulworth Skipper, 122. Lunar Hornet-moth, 136. Underwing, 192. Lyceenidae, 61, Lyonetia Clerckella, 28-. Lyonetidae, 87. Macaria liturata, 221. Macaridae, 74. Macroglossa stellatarum, 133. Mallow, 76. Mamestra brassicas, 181. persicariae, 181. Mania maura, 54, 70. typica, 70. Marbled Beauty, 66, 175. White Butterfly, 31, 61, 95. March Dagger, 264. Marsh Ringlet Butterfly, 100. Marvel du Jour, 197. May Highflyer, 76. Meadow Brown Butterfly, 61, 97. Meal Moth, 78, 235. Melanippe fluctuata, 232. montanata, 231. procellata, 231. Melitaea Artemis, 111. Athalia, 111. Cinxia, 111. Miana, 67. furuncula, 36. literosa, 184. Mycropterygidae, 84. Micropteryx, 39, 84. Miller, 66. Mites, 47. Mocha, 216. Mouse-trap, American, 53. Mother of Pearl, 79. Mottled Beauty, 73, 213. Umbre, 76. Mouse, 70. Mullein Shark, 202. Myelois cribrum, 247. Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk- moth, 134. Nemeobius luciria, 61, 111. Nemeophila plantagmis, 35, 160. Nemotois, 39. Nepticula, 40. aurella, 279. microtheriella, 279. spleudidissima, 279. INDEX 289 Nepticulida?, 87. Net, 43. Nette.d Pug, 230. Nettle Tap, 38, 80, 243. Noctua, 67. plecta, 190. Noctuidae, 67. Noctuina, 58. Noctuo-Bombycidao, 66. Kola, 79. Nolidae, 79. Notchwing, 82. Notocelia Udmanniana, 256. Notodonta ziczac, 146. Notodontidee, 63. Nymphalida?, 60. Nyssia, 73. hispidaria, 37. zonaria, 209. Oak Beauty Moth, 37, 73, 210. Eggar, 22, 35, 64, 165. Ocellated or Eyed Hawk-moth, 33, 62, 125. Ochsenheimeria, 39. Odoiiestis potatoria, 21, 169. Odontia dentalis, 78. Odontida?, 77. CEcophorida?, 85. CEnistis quadra, 155. Oleander Hawk-moth, 132. Ophiodes lunaris, 72. Ophiusidae, 71. Orange Moth, 73. Tip Butterfly, 30, 94. Upperwiiig, 193. Orgyia antiqua, 19, 152. gonostigma, 153. apterous females of, 36, 54. Ornix, 40. Orthosia, 68. Orthosida?, 67. Ourapteryda?, 72. Ourapteryx sambucaria, 206. Pachycnemia hippocastanaria, 75. Painted Lady Butterfly, 32, 103. Pale Clouded Yellow B., 92. Oak Eggar, 167. Prominent, 34. Tussock Moth, 151. Pamphila Actaeon, 33, 122. Pamphila comma, 33, 122. linea, 33, 121. sylvanus, 33, 122. Pancalia Lewenhoekella, 39. Papilio Machaon, 89. Papilionida?, 60. Peach-blossom, 66, 173. Peacock Butterfly, 10, 32,61, 104. Moth, 75. Pease-blossom, 69. Pearl Skipper, 122. Pebble Hook Tip, 173. Prominent Moth, 146. Pernpelia carnella, 248. formosa, 248. Peppered Moth, 37, 73, 211. Peronea cristana, 259. Peroneidai, 82. Phalasnoidre, 69. Phibalocera quercana, 272. Phigalia pilosaria, 37, 73. Philea irrorella, 34, 156. Phlogophora empyrea, 199. meticulosa, 198. Phorodesma bajularia, 214. Phragmatobia ruliginosa, 160. Phtheochroa rugosana, 262. Phycidge, 38, 80, 245-248. Phytometra asnea, 36, 72. Pieris brassiere, 6, 93. daplidicaa, 94. napi, 94. rapa?, 94. Pink-barred Sallow, 194. Pins, 44. Pionea forficalis, 242. Platypterygida3, 35, 65. Platypteryx, 65. lacertinaria, 173. Plicate, 81. Plume Moths, 28, 41 , 60. Plusia gamma, 23, 36, 205. interrogationis, 36. Plusida3, 70. Plutella cruciferarum, 271. Plutellida?, 85. Poaphilida3, 72. Poecilocampa populi, 167. Polia Chi, 37, J97. Polyommatus Acis, 117. Adonis, 33, 117. U 290 INDEX Polyommatus JEgon, 33, 119. Agestis, 33, 119. Alexis, 12, 33, 117. Alsus, 116. Argiolus, 116. Arion, 117. Artaxerxes, 119. Corydon, 33, 117. Poplar Hawk-moth, 33, 126. Porthesia auriflua, 22, 153. chrysorrhoea, 154. Prays Curtisellus, 270. Privet Hawk-moth, 14, 62, 129. Procris Geryon, 123. globularise, 123. statices, 123. Prominents, 63. Pseudoterpna cytisaria, 213. Psilura monacha, 150. Psoci, 46. Psychidse, 35, 65. Pterophorina, 60. Pterophorus acanthodactylus, 279. fuscus, 28. pterodactylus, 41, 280. Pterostoma palpina, 34. Pug Moths, 76. Pupa, 9. Purple and Gold, 38, 78. bar Carpet, 76. Emperor, 31, 61, 101. Hair-streak Butterfly, 33, 113. Thorn, 208. Puss Moth, 16, 63, 144. Pygaera bucephala, 18, 149. Pyralidge, 78. Pyralidina, 59. Pyralis costalis, 235. farinalis, 235. glaucinalis, 236. Pyrausta ostrinalis, 237. puniceahs, 38, 237. purpuralis, 236. Queen of Spain FritillaryB., 110. Ked Admiral B., 32, 61, 103. Belted Clearwing, 138. Sword Grass M., 201. Underwing, 71, 205. Riband Wave, 74. Ring Xet, 43. Ringlet Butterfly, 98. Rivulet Moths, 76. Rosy Minor, 184. Rough Wing, 262. Ruby Tiger, 160. Rumia crataegata, 207. Rustic Shoulder Knot, 182. Sallow-bloom, 51. Moth, 194. Satellite, 67, 192. Saturnia Pavonia Minor, 35, 171. Saturnidso, 65. Scarce Chocolate Tip, 148. Marvel du Jour, 175. Vapourer Moth, 153. Scarlet Tiger, 157. Scopelosoma satellitia, 192. Scorched Carpet, 75, 227. Scotch Argus Butterfly, 98. Selenia illunaria, 208. illustraria, 208. Semasia ianthinana, 39. nanana, 39. Seraphim, 76. Sericoridae, 83. Sericoris littoralis, 261. Sesia bombyliformis, 134. fuciformis, 135. Sesiida3, 62. Setting-board, 45. Shark Moths, 68, 202, 203. Siderea achatana, 255. Silver-barred Sable, 38, 78, 237. ground Carpet, 76, 231. washed Fritillary, 108. striped Hawk-moth, 132. studded Blue Butterfly, 119. Y Moth, 23, 70, 205. Simaethis Fabriciana, 38, 243. pariana, 27, 244. Sionidse, 77. Six-spotBurnetHawk-m ., 13,124. Skippers, 61. Small Blue Butterfly, 116. China Mark, 239.' Copper Butterfly, 30, 115. Eggar, 166. Elephant Hawk-moth, 133. Ermine Moths, 85, 269, 270. INDEX 291 Small Fan-footed Wave, 74. Heath Butterfly, 99. Magpie Moth, 27, 79, 241. Pearl Bordered Fritillary, 110. Skipper, 121. Tortoise-shell B., 32, 61, 106. White Butterfly, 94. Wave, 74. Yellow Wave, 216. Smerinthus, 33. ocellatus, 125. populi, 125. tiliaB, 54, 127. Snout Moths, 77, 234. Speckled Wood Butterfly, 61, 96. Yellow, 73. Spectacle, 70. Sphecia, 34. apiformis, 136. bembeciformis, 136. Sphinges or Hawk-moths, 57. Sphingidse, 62. Sphingina, 57. Sphinx convolvuti, 33, 130. ligustri, 14, 33, 129. Spilodes cinctalis, 242. Spilosoma lubricepeda, 162. menthastri, 161. papyratia, 161. Spotted Muslin, 162. Spring Usher, 76, 228. Spurge Hawk-moth, 131. Stauropus fagi, 145. Steniadse, 78. Steropes paniscus, 121. Sterrha sacraria, 225. Stigmonota internana, 39. Stigmonotidae, 82. Stilbia anomala, 71. Stilbidse, 71. Stilpnotia salicis, 153. Straw Belle, 75. Streak, 77. Streamer, 233. Strenia clathrata, 37, 221. Striped Hawk-moth, 131. Sugar, 49-51. Swallow Prominent M., 34, 147. Tail Butterfly, 31, 60, 89. Moth, 72, 206. Swammerdamia pyrella, 39. Sword Grass Moth, 68, 201, 202. Swifts, 34, 63, 140, 142. Table of British Lepidoptera, 51. Tabby Moths, 78. Tamiocampa, 68. gothica, 191. Tawny-barrel Angle, 221. Tephrosia, 37, 73. Tethea, 68. Thanaos Tages, 33, 120. Thecla betulse, 112. pruni, 113. quercus, 33, 113. rubi, 114. W-album, 113. Thorn Moths, 73, 208, 209. Thyatira batis, 173. Thymele alveolus, 33, 120. Tiger Moth, 20, 158. Moths, 64. Tinagma, 40, 86. Tinea biselliella, 266. ochraceelia, 267. pellionella, 265. tapezella, 265. Tineidse, 84. Tineina, 59. Tortricidse, 81. Tortricina, 59. Tortricodes hyemana, 83. Tortricodidse, 83. Tortrix viridana, 255. Toxocampa, 36. Craccse, 70. pastinum, 70. Toxocampidas, 70. Trap, American Moth, 53. Treble Bar, 77. Lines, 184. Trichiura crataegi, 167. Triphrcna, 67. fimbria, 189. ianthina, 36, 188. interjecta, 36. pronuba, 23, 67, 189. Trochilium, 34. culiciforme, 15, 139. cynipiforme, 136. myopaeforme, 138. tipuliforme, 137. 292 INDEX True Lover's Knot, 187. Tussocks, 63, 151, 152. Twenty-plume Moth, 29, 41, 281. V Moth, 75. Vanessa Antiopa, 32, 105. Atalanta, 32, 103. lo, 10, 32, 104. polychloros, 105. urticae, 32, 106. Vapourer Moth, 19, 64, 152. Yeneers, 81. Wainscot Moths, 66, 177. Wall Butterfly, 11, 97. Waved Umbre, 37, 73, 211. White Admiral B., 31, 61, 100. Brindled, 79. Butterflies. 60. Ermine, 161. Satin, 64, 153. Spot, 78, 238. Wave, 74. Willow Beauty, 73. Winter Moth, 26, 76. Wood Leopard Moth, 34, 63, 142, Tiger, 35, 160. White Butterfly, 95. Xanthia, 68. cerago, 194. flavago, 194. Xylina, 68. Xylinidae, 68. Xylophasia polyodon, 179. Yellow Belle, 75. Horned, 66, 174. Legged Clearwing, 136. Ypsolophus marginellus, 272. Zenzera seculi, 142. Zenzeridao, 63. Zerenidae, 75. Zygaenidae, 61. THE END. PKIWTKD BY GILBERT AND RIVINGTOJf, LD., 8T. JOHN'S HOUSE, CLEKKKMWELL. PLATE I. 1. Colias Edusa,c?. 2. Anthocharis cardamines, $ , underside. 3. Arge Galathea. 4. Hipparchia Tithonus,^ . W Robin ioa Del PLATE II. 1. Vanessa Atalanta. 2. Thecla betulge, underside. 3. Chrysophanus Phloeas. 4. Polyommatus Adonis, $. 5. Thymele alveolus. V PLATE III. 1. Procris globulariae, < 2. Anthrocera filipendulse. 3. Smerinthus tiliee. 4. Macrogiossa stellatarum. 5. Sesia bombyliforinis. 6. Trochilium formicseforme. PLATE IV. 1. Hepialus velleda. 2. Notodonta ziczac. 3. Diloba cseruleocepliala. 4. Clostera anaclioreta. 5. Pygaera bucepliala. PLATE V. 1. Psilura monacha. 2. Orgyia gonostigma, $ . 3. Hypercompa dominula. 4. Lithosia complanula. 5. Arctia villica. PLATE VI. 1. Thyatira batis. 2. Cymatophora flavicornis. 3. Bryophila perla. 4. Leucania conigera. 5. Hydrsecia nictitans. 6. Heliophobus popularis. JL.W.R, . DeUtS.i8<57 PLATE VII. 1. Mamestra persicariae. 2. Miana literosa. 3. Agrotis agathina. 4. Triphaena ianthina. 5. Noctua plecta. 6. Taeniocampa gothica. PLATE VIII. 1. Hoporina croceago. 2. Dicycla Oo. 3. Hecatera serena. 4. Phlogophora empyrea. 5. Hadena rectilinea. 6. Heliothis marginata. .E.W.R. . Dd.etSc.I867 PLATE IX. 1. Bumia cratsegata. 2. Selenia illustraria. 3. Ennomos tiliaria. 4. Nyssia zonaria, ? and 5. Hemerophila abruptaria. i r EWRDel etSr. 1867 PLATE X. 1. Pseudoterpna cytisaria. 2. Ephyra omicronaria. 3. Astliena luteata. 4. Acidalia ornata. 5. Bradyepetes amataria. 6. Macaria liturata. 7. Lozogramma petraria. X . 1.867. PLATE XI. 1. Fidonia limbaria. 2. Sterrha sacraria. 3. Ligdia adustata. 4. Hybernia leucophearia, 5. Eupithecia venosata. 6. Melanippe procellata. II PLA.TE XII. 1. Pyralis costalis. 2. Pyrausta purpuralis. 3. Diasemia literalis. 4. Cataclysta lemnata, <. 5. Cataclysta lemnata, $ . 6. Botys urticata. 7. Spilodes cinctalis. PLATE XIII. 1. Acrobasis consociella. 2. Cryptoblabes bistriga. 3. Pempelia carnella. 4. Pempelia formosa. 5. Crambus cerussellus, $ and ? . 6. Crambus hamellus. 7. Crambus pinetellus. PLATE XIV. 1. Antitliesia corticana. 2. Siderea achatana. 3. Notocelia Udmanniana. 4. Dierorampha Sequana. 5. Anchylopera Lundana. 6. Croesia Forskaleana. 7. Sericoris littoralis. 8. Calosetia nigromaculana. t PLATE XV. 1. Exapate gelatella, $ and ? . 2. Chimabacche fagella, $. 3. Tinea ochraceella. 4. Adela De Geerella, $ . 5. Prays Curtisellus. 6. Phibalocera quercana. 7. Ypsoloplius marginellus. 15 \ ..W.R.DeI.LSr..Ift67. PLATE XVI. 1. Antispila Pfeifferella. 2. Coleophora ochrea. 3. Chryaoclista Linneella. 4. Lithocolletis roboris. 5. Pterophorus acantliodactylus. 6. Pterophorus pterodactylus. 7. Alucita polydactyla. 16 7'V 1 The Books in this Catalogue have been reduced to net cash prices, and are sent Post-free on receipt of remittance. All previous Catalogues are withdrawn. LIST OF WOEKS NATURAL HISTORY, TOPOGRAPHY, ANTIQUITY, AND SCIENCE. BOTANY FERXS . MOSSES AND HEPATIC^ FUNGI . SHELLS AND MOLLUSKS ENTOMOLOGY CONTENTS. Page . 3 ZOOLOGY Tage . 13 7 ANTIQUARIAN . . H E 8 MISCELLANEOUS . 14 . 8 SERIALS . 15 . 9 VICTORIA LIBRARY. . 16