BRITISH AXD EUROrKAN BUTTERFLIES AXD MO I IIS. 



the female; the male is similar, hut with ful- 

 vous hind wings. The male flies by day, 

 whilst the female rests on the trunks of birch 

 trees. The moth appears in March and April, 

 and is found in birch-woods in most parts 

 of Europe, except the South. In Britain it is 

 local, but is very widely distributed. The larva 

 is smooth, green, darker on the sides and 

 lighter on the back, wuth oblique yellow streaks 

 on the sides, and a pyramidal elevation on 

 the last segment but one. It lives in June 

 and July on birch, alder, hazel, etc., at first 

 gregariously, but afterwards singly. The pupa 

 is rather long, truncated at both ends, and 

 covered with small spines ; it terminates in 

 a point covered with short hooklets, and is 

 blackish. It is enclosed in a cocoon between 

 moss, etc. 



FAMILY 



SATURNID.-E. 



Large moths, with ten ncrvures on the 

 fore wings, one submedian. Hind wings with 

 eight nervures, two being submedian. No 

 ocelli and no frenulum. The wings have a 

 central transparent spot. The antennas are 

 bipectinated in the males, and more shortly 

 pectinated in the females. The larva; have 

 generally flat warts set with single hairs. The 

 cocoons are pear-shaped, firm, and parchment- 

 like. 



Genus Saturnia, Schrank. 



Wings large and strong, with rounded 

 angles. Hind margin slightly concave below 

 the ape.x. All the wings with a large eye- 

 spot and two transverse lines. Hind tibiae 

 with two terminal spurs. The caterpillars 

 have six hairy tubercles on each segment, and 

 feed on trees and shrubs. 



S. pyri, W. V. PI. XXI. fig. 2. is common 

 in South-Central and Southern Europe. The 

 moth appears in May. The larva is black when 

 young, becoming dark grey, with yellow tuber- 

 cles, and is finally bright green with six blue 

 hairy warts on each segment. The spiracles 

 are rose-coloured. It lives in July and August 

 on fruit trees, chiefly on pear and apricot, 

 but also on plum, walnut, etc. The cocoon is 

 brown and firm. 



S. spini, \\^ V. Fore wings brownish 

 grey, with a broad pale grey costa, dark brown 

 at the base. Behind this is a black transverse 

 line edged internally with red, running from 

 the inner margin towards the costa, but not 

 reaching it. In the middle is a white space, 

 on which stands a large eye-spot. Beyond 

 this are two black zigzag transverse lines, 

 running from the apex towards the centre of 

 the inner margin, where they unite with the 

 transverse lines beyond the base. At the tip 

 of the fore wings is a white spot, bordered 

 outside with red. The marginal area is broad, 

 greyish yellow outside, lighter and dentated 

 on the inner side. The hind wings are greyish 

 brown at the base and in front of the marginal 

 area. Both sexes are of the same colour. It 

 is found in South-Eastern Europe. The larva 

 is black, at first with blue, afterwards with 

 deep yellow star-shaped tubercles covered with 

 stiff hairs. It lives on sloe, crab-apple, rose, 

 alder, etc. The pupa is enclosed in a large 

 white or brown flattened cocoon. 



S. carpini, Linn. The Emperor Moth. 

 PI. XXI. Male fig. 3. Female 3a. Cocoon 3b. 

 is common throughout Europe in April and 

 May. The larva is black at first. After the 

 third moult it is green with black rings, and 

 after the fourth bright pale green, with six 

 golden -yellow or rose-coloured star-shaped 

 tubercles, set with stiff hairs, on each segment, 

 placed upon a black belt, which is sometimes 

 absent. It lives in May and June, w'hen young 

 gregariously, but afterwards singly, on sloe, 

 whitethorn, alder, birch, heath, willow, and 

 other plants. The pupa is dark brown with 

 lighter incisions, and is enclosed in a brownish 

 yellow or whitish cocoon. 



Genus Aglia, Ochs. 



Fore wings more pointed at the tips than 

 in Saturnia. All the wings with a large eye- 

 spot having a triangular white centre. The 

 antennas are bipectinated in the males, slightly 

 serrated in the females. The hind tibiae have 

 a pair of short spurs near the end. 



A. tau, Linn. PL XXI. fig. 4. Larva 4a. 

 is common in Central Europe, except Britain, 

 in beech-woods. The males may be seen as 

 early as April on bright forenoons flying rapidly, 

 whilst the females sit lazily on the trunks of 



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