386 
THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 
Mosses—continued. 
ornamental. Mosses do not thrive well in fully-drained 
soils, hence the drainage ought to be at once seen to when 
these plants begin to be troublesome in gardens. The 
soil may advantageously be top-dressed with lime, or with 
mixtures of lime and sulphur, or of soot and salt, or 
with compounds of ammonia, e.g., ammonium sulphate 
(Alb. to 1 gallon of water). Mosses and Lichens on trees 
may prove hurtful if closely covering the bark, since 
they keep it too moist, thus promoting the growth 
of parasitic Fungi under their shelter; and this may result 
in the death of the branches. Mosses and Lichens may 
also give shelter to parasitic insects, especially to 
Aphides, and to various Larve during winter. The plants 
of Moss and Lichen themselves, probably, do not absorb 
any nourishment from the trees; yet, for the above 
reasons, they should be removed. This may be done 
by vigorous brushing after rain has fallen pretty heavily 
for some hours, as they are more loosely attached while 
soaked. The branches should be then well washed with 
a solution of soft soap and lime. Dead branches loaded 
with Lichens and Mosses should be removed. Newly- 
slaked lime may be scattered among the overgrowth 
with advantage. Excessive growth of such plants on 
branches of trees may be a good deal lessened by judi- 
ciously thinning plantations, and by pruning the indi- 
vidual trees, so as to insure free access of air and light. 
MOTHER OF THOUSANDS. See Linaria 
The name is also applied to Bellis 
perennis prolifera and Saxifraga sarmentosa. 
MOTH, FLAT- BODY. See Flat- M 
ee body oth, 
MOTHS (Heterocera). Under this name are denoted 
such of the order Lepidoptera, or scale-winged insects, 
as are not included among the Butterflies (Rhopalocera). 
(See Insects for the characters that distinguish Lepi- 
doptera from other insects.) Butterflies are a far more | 
uniform group than Moths, and differ from them in 
having the antennæ, or feelers, almost always clubbed 
at the tip, but elsewhere slender. Rhopalocera means 
elub-horned. Their wings are usually folded back, when 
at rest, so as to display the lower surface, which often 
bears bright colours; and the body is usually slender. 
Moths, on the other hand, have the antenne sharp- 
pointed, with no club, but otherwise variable, being 
branched, slender, feathery, or of some other form. 
Heterocera means varied-horned. Some have the body 
slender, and the wings folded, as in Butterflies, in which 
ease, the lower surface is seldom conspicuously coloured ; 
but usually the body of the insect is heavy, without 
marked distinction between the middle body (thorax) 
and the hind body (abdomen); and the wings are usually 
folded flat on the back, the hind wings being so folded, 
lengthwise, as to lie entirely below the narrower fore- 
wings when at rest. In almost all, the two wings on each 
side are connected by a bristle, or a tuft of stiff hairs, 
that projects from the front edge of the hind wing, and 
plays in a kind of socket or ring on the fore-wing. 
It is more difficult to state any constant differences 
between the caterpillars of Butterflies and Moths than 
between the perfect insects, though it is usually possible 
for a practised entomologist to distinguish the groups 
even in this stage; and so also with the pupa. 
Moths are of far greater practical importance than 
Butterflies, for the caterpillars of several species do very 
serious injury to fruit-trees, to potherbs, and to other 
cultivated plants. It is possible to ward off, or at least 
to lessen, the evil done by such species in some cases; 
but in others the insects are so well protected in the 
leaves, or other parts of plants, as to render remedial 
measures practically hopeless; and the affected parts, or 
the entire plants, must be destroyed to prevent exten - 
tioh òf thé irre 
Moths - continued. 
There is usually little difficulty in recognising the 
caterpillars of Lepidoptera, the only other group of 
insects in which somewhat similar larve are found being 
the Sawflies, among the Hymenoptera. But, while they 
retain a strong general likeness, they yet vary exceed- 
ingly in many points, such as the number of prolegs, 
or fleshy legs, on the hinder rings of the body; the 
colour and markings; and the skin, in some smooth, in 
others warty, or covered with hairs, bristles, or long 
spines. Nor are they less varied in their habits and 
modes of life, though, with few exceptions, they feed 
on, or in, living plants. The larve of a great majority 
of the Butterflies, and those of many Moths, live on 
the surface of the leaves, or other organs of thoir food- 
plants, exposed to full view. Frequently, such exposed 
larve are brightly coloured; but, on experiment, it has 
often been found that they are distasteful to birds, 
because of unpleasant fluids thrown out by them, or 
of the hairs or spines on their bodies. The cater- 
pillars of most Moths feed hidden from view in some 
way. The concealment is secured, by some, by hiding 
below the soil, or in crevices, during the day, and 
crawling out to feed only during night. Others roll up 
leaves, or spin two or more together, and feed in shelter 
of the cover so formed; while others combine to form 
large webs (see Hawthorn Caterpillars), in which 
they lie, and feed protected. Many others bore into the 
roots or stems of plants (see Leopard Moth), or 
between the surfaces of leaves (see Leaf Miners), and 
thus find food, as well as protection. A few others, 
chiefiy small kinds, prefer dead and dried vegetable or 
animal products, such as corn, peas, woollen cloths, 
bees’ combs, &c.; and these are frequently very trouble- 
some in houses. 
The methods of remedying injuries caused by larve 
of Moths, and of preventing future attacks, must depend 
largely on the habits of the insects, both in the perfect 
and the larval stages of development. They are men- 
tioned under Insects (which see), and under special 
tribes. or genera, noted below. Moths pass through a 
complete metamorphosis. The larvæ seek out safe 
retreats in which to become pupe, or chrysalides. 
These retreats may be in crevices, or in the galleries 
made by them in the plants; or among dead leaves; or 
under the soil, in earthen cells, lined with silk. Less 
often they spin a silken cocoon, in some exposed situa- 
tion, and trust to this covering for their protection. 
The pupz are defenceless, with the limbs all firmly 
bound down to the body by a hard shell or coating of 
chitine. The only power of motion they possess is that 
of wriggling some of the hinder rings of the body. In 
the pupa-case the Moth becomes fully developed; it 
then bursts the case, along the front half of the back, 
and crawls out, with the wings small and soft at first. 
But these organs at once begin to grow, and in an hour 
or two they reach their full size, and soon become firm, 
and fit for flight. 
The females of various kinds of Moths (see Hybernia) 
never have the wings useful for flight; but in them 
the wings remain small, or may even be entirely absent. 
Moths form several well-marked tribes; though these 
grade into one another in such a way that it is difficult, 
at times, for a beginner to distinguish to which tribe 
certain individuals belong. The more reliable distinctive 
characters of the groups are noted below. 
Most kinds of Moths can be reared with comparative 
ease, from the larval state, in confinement; hence, the life- 
histories of these insects are far more thoroughly known 
than those of any other group. But it would be beyond 
the scope of this work to enter on the methods of 
rearing, capturing, and preparing Moths for permanent 
preservation, despite the interest of such pursuits. 
Moths are divided into two great sections: the Macro- 
