58 



EECEEATIVE SCIENCE. 



forms a light patch, at the front edge, being 

 of a pale and dusky peach-blossom tone. It 

 is a very pretty insect, but by no means com- 

 mon, though I have taken it more than once 

 in a lighted room — always, I believe, on a 

 rainy evening towards the end of July. The 

 caterpillar of this pretty moth is pale green, 

 with longitudinal stripes, of a paler tone, of 

 the same colour, and a yeUow line; edged 

 with black above the legs. It feeds on the 

 foliage of the plum, pear, and other fruit- 

 trees, in April and May. 



CUsiocampa Neitstria, the Lackey Moth 

 (No. 4), is as abundant as the last described 

 species is rare ; and yet it is seldom seen in 

 the perfect form, as it is a swift night-flyer. 

 Though the perfect moth is seldom noticed, 

 unless sought by the entomological student, 

 the caterpillars are known to every child, 

 and, more especially to every gardener, by 

 whom they are deemed pests of the worst 

 description. Their bright longitudinal stripes 

 of fuU blue-gray, pale silvery gray, orange, red, 

 and black make them very conspicuous, and 

 have been thought to resemble the lacings of 

 rich liveries, from which circumstance both 

 species has received the name of the 

 •' lackeys." The moth, on entering a room, 

 attracted by a light, has the same wild flight 

 as the species last described, and is rather 

 difficult to capture, even with the aid of a 

 proper net. This moth is of a delicate light 

 buff colour, with a darker band, edged with 

 lighter lines of the same tone. 



Later in the season may be taken JPetasia 

 Cassinea (No. 5), popularly known as the 

 Sprawler, which, like the last, is much more 

 rare in the winged state than in the caterpillar 

 stage of its existence. It is, however, often 

 attracted by a light, when its flight becomes 

 random, dashing heedlessly on all sides, 

 through the flame of the candle, up to the 

 ceiling or down to the floor. This species 

 seldom appears before November, and is 

 often found as late as December. It is 

 late in the hour of its flight as well as 



in the season, often retarding its visit to the 

 expectant candle, till one or two in the 

 morning. The caterpillar generally feeds 

 on the foliage of the privet ; it is green, with 

 yellow stripes, and, above a light line at the 

 side, has a broad line of rich brown, 

 shading off at the upper edge and blending 

 with the green. 



Still later appears the remarkably elegant 

 little moth, Fcecilocampa Populi, the Decem- 

 ber Moth (No. 6), which, with its semi-trans- 

 parent wings of deep purplish gray, with their 

 pale buff transverse bands, will not fail to be 

 considered a prize by the young collector. It 

 is easily attracted by light, and, if any be in 

 the neighbourhood, wiU make its appearance 

 between the hours of seven and ten, on 

 favourable evenings. The caterpillar of this 

 pretty wintry visitant is pale ash-coloured, 

 getting darker on the back, and having two 

 pairs of red spots on each segment. It is 

 found in June on the foliage of poplar-trees, 

 becoming a chrysalis, when full fed, early in 

 July, and remaining in that state till De- 

 cember, at which seemingly unseasonable 

 time for so delicate a little creature, the moth 

 emerges from the warm protection of its close 

 horny chamber. 



Great numbers of moths of more common 

 species will come to the candle of the student, 

 and many also of the larger and more con- 

 spicuous will doubtless reward a persevering 

 nocturnal watch, even in a room ; but a light 

 in the open fields, or in a wood favourably 

 situated, would yield a stiU more ample 

 harvest ; though it is not all the night-flying 

 moths, nor even the greater number of them, 

 that are attracted by a light ; so that the 

 fable of the moth and the candle does not 

 hold good with regard to the whole moth 

 family, and is, in fact, only applicable to a 

 very small section of it. 



H. Noel Humpheets. 



