BOMBYCES 221 



what variable in its markings, but so conspicuously coloured that 

 oiu" illustration cannot fail to lead to its identification. It may be 

 found commonly among the undergrowth of our southern woods 

 during May and June. 



The caterpillar is dark brown or brownish black, covered with 

 little hair-bearing warts. The liairs are long and black on the fore- 

 most and liind segments, but shorter and of a brown colour on the 

 middle of the body. It issues from the egg in September, feeds for 

 a week or two on the leaves of violets ( Viola caniiia and V. odorafa), 

 heartsease {V. tricolor), plantain {Plantago), or groundsel {Senccio 

 vidgaris), and then hybernates till the following March. It is 

 fully grown in May, and then spins a light cocoon, with which its 

 hairs are interwoven, among the leaves of its food plant. 



The Tiger (Arctia caiti) 



This sjjlendid moth is exceedingly variable in its colour and 

 markings, but its usual appearance corresponds closely with that of 

 the illustration on Plate X (fig. 3). In some specimens the cream 

 colour almost entirely covers the fore wings, while in others all four 

 of the wings are completely covered with shades of brown. This 

 insect is probably known to all my readers, for it is abundant every- 

 where. 



The larva is as well known as the perfect insect. It is a kind 

 of universal feeder, partaking readily of almost every low -growing 

 plant, with perhaps a special partiality for dead nettles {Laminm 

 alhum and L. purpwreum). It feeds also on the lime tree (Tilia 

 vulgaris), and is commonly met with on apple trees and on the 

 various plants of our flower beds. The young caterpillar makes its 

 appearance in the autumn, and hybernates after feeding for two or 

 three weeks only. It is full grown in June, when it spins a silken 

 cocoon, and changes to a shiny black chrysalis. 



The ground colour of the larva is black, but it is covered all over 

 with long hairs, those down the middle of the back being grey, and 

 the others brown. This familiar larva is known popularly as the 

 Woolly Bear. 



The Cream-spot Tiger {Arctia villica) 



There is yet another Tiger— the Cream-spot — too beautiful and 

 too common to be excluded from our list. It is represented on 

 Plate X (fig. 4) ; and, like the others of its genus, is so boldly marked 

 that mistaken identity is impossible. 



