244 



COMMON BBITISH MOTHS 



black spots. The hind wings are whitish, tinged with brown near 



the hind margin. 



The caterpillar is of a dull pinkish colour, with a shining 



brownish plate on the 

 second segment. The 

 spiracles are black. It 

 feeds inside the stems 

 of the reed-mace (Ty- 

 l)ha latifolia), and 

 changes to a chrysalis 

 within the gallery it 

 has excavated, after 

 making a hole through 

 which it can escape 

 when it attains the per- 

 fect foi'm. 



The caterpillar may 



be found in May and June, the ehrj-salis in August, and the motli 



in September. 



Fir;. 145. -Tin-: JJullrush. 



Family — Apameid.e 



This large family contains no less than forty-four British species, 

 many of which are exceedingly' common ; and of the others only 

 about half a dozen can be regarded as rare. 



Most of them are of medium size, and with one or two excep- 

 tions are dressed in rather dingy garbs ; but, although the ground 

 colours are dull, the various markings of the wings are sharply 

 defined. They may be searched for on palings and the bark of trees 

 \>y daj', at which time they repose with their wings sloping like the 

 sides of the roof of a house. Some are easily attracted by lights, 

 and others partake freely of the entomologist's ' sngar.' 



The larvae have small retractile heads, and feed on low-growing 

 plants, keeping themselves well concealed on the lower leaves close 

 to the gromid. 



The Frosted Orange (Gortijna Ochracea) 



We commence with one of the brightest members of the family, 

 the Frosted Orange. Its fore wings are dark yellow or ochreous, 

 with distinct brown markings, the chief of which are two broad 



