CONTENTS. XV 



47. PAINTING, CARVING, AND GILDING. 



The insects assembled in this Vignette afford only average specimens of 

 Nature's decorative skill, but serve to illustrate the three modes above 

 mentioned of insect adornment. In the Moth Caterpillar, with its 

 goldfinch colours (scarlet, yellow, black, white, and brown), resting on a 

 branch of elm, we have an example of gay painting wanting perma- 

 nence. This latter quality is supplied in the Ruby-tailed Wasp (Chrysis 

 ignita) on the paling. Above, are two larvse (pseudo-caterpillars) of the 

 Currant Saw-fly (Nematus Ribes), their skins of greenish-yellow, 

 studded with raised dots of shining black. On the nettle-stalk adjacent 

 hangs the gilded chrysalis of a Tortoiseshell Butterfly (Vanessa Urticce) ; 

 and above, flying upwards, its superior wings laden with seeming gold, 

 is one of the little Moths (Tineidce) come of caterpillars which feed on 

 the bark of Birch-trees. Also inscribed in mimic gold is the Greek 7, 

 which gives name to the larger Moth (Plusia gamma}, seen on wing 

 beneath the flower-head of Knapweed (Phrygia nigra), seated on which, 

 her closed pinions " freaked " on their reverse, not with gold, but silver, 

 is a brown Fritillary (Argynnis Adippe}. The only specimen of insect 

 Carving for which room has been here found, is one of the sculptured 

 eggs of the 7 Moth on a leaf of Knapweed ........ 248 



" You shame our trumpery daubing /" 



Aclieta throws down his pencil in despair at the inimitable perfection of his 



living patterns ................. 275 



48. SPIDERS IN THEIR ANALOGIES WITH OTHER 

 ORDERS OF CREATION. 



The two Spiders on the top of the wall are of the tribe called " Hunters," as 

 opposed to " Sedentaries," or such as construct snares and sit within or 

 beside them. That on the right, with zebra-like stripes, is the Salticus 

 scenicus ; opposite, is a nearly resembling species ; and climbing the 

 Wall-flower, is a beautifully-coloured geometric Web-Weaver . . 27G 



" Where are snare-setters existent but amongst human animals 

 and Spiders ? " 



The Man Bird-catcher emulated in his trade by the Spider Fly-catcher . 295 



