220 



COMMON BRITISH MOTHS 



August) it descends to tlie groimd, and there changes to a sniooth 

 and shining reddish-brown chrysahs. 



The moth appears in June or early in July. 



The Scarlet Tiger {Callimorpha Dominidn) 



This is certainly one of the most beautiful of all our moths. 

 Its fore wings are dax'k olive green, with a lovely metallic lustre, 

 and boldly marked with large white and yellow spots. These sjDots 

 are arranged generally like those in the illustration, but are subject 

 to great variation. The hind wings are crimson, with large black 



patches, chiefly distributed 

 near the hind margin. The 

 thorax is black, with two 

 white streaks ; and the ab- 

 domen crimson, with a 

 black line down the back. 

 This moth is a common 

 one. It may be taken in 

 June and July. I have 

 seen it flying somewhat 

 freely while the sun was still shining brightly. 



The caterpillar is very dark lead colour, nearly black ; and is 

 covered with little wart-like projections, from each of which pro- 

 trudes a short black hair. There is a broad yellow broken line down 

 the back, and two others on the sides. It feeds on the hound's- 

 tongue {C ijnoglossum officinale) and many other low-growing 

 plants, hybernates through the winter, and is fully grown in May. 

 Like the other members of this familj^ it spins a light silken 

 cocoon, in which the hairs from its body are interwoven. 



Fig. 113.- TiJK Scaklkt TuiEu. 



Family — Cheloniid.e 



The Wood Tiger {Nemeojjhila Plantagiins) 



The Cheloniiihr are popularly known as the Tigers — a title 

 suggested by the tiger-like colouring of some of the prominent 

 species. They differ from the Scarlet Tiger and the other 

 members of the Eucheliiche in that the males have ciliated or 

 fringed antenna^. The larvit, too, are more densely covered with 

 hair. 



The Wood Tiger (lig. 2, Plate X) is a beautiful insect, some- 



