THE PYRALIDINA. 12,7 



of our subject, as it does not bear very much upon the question 

 of metamorphosis, can just as well, and more appropriately, be 

 studied in classificatory works. The Pyralidina are very 

 numerous, and are generally gregarious. Most of them are 

 readily disturbed by day, are generally active on the wing 

 before dusk, and a few fly late in the night, and others, like 

 butterflies, enjoy the sunshine. The moths may generally be 

 recognised at a glance ; the body is slender, the wings are large, 

 the front pair being much longer than the hind ones. Their 

 trunk is usually well developed, and the palpi are always long 

 and often very large. The abdomen and the legs are long. The 

 caterpillars have a remarkably glassy appearance, and their few 

 hairs have an unusually bristly look. They have five pairs of 



Male. Female. _. 



WINTER MOTH — THE MOTTLED UMKER. 



membranous legs, and they are generally very agile, being able 

 to advance and retreat with ease. Disliking the light, they 

 remain hidden up, but they are always ready for any emergency 

 which is likely to produce a fall. Their silk glands are well 

 developed, and the caterpillars, like many others, use this secre- 

 tion in order to prevent themselves from falling. The moths 

 are very readily attracted by candles and lamps, and this pecu- 

 liarity has caused them to be brought into association with the 

 Greek word for fire. In England the peculiar lustre of the wings 

 of some has caused them to be called " Pearls." Some of these 

 Lcpidoptera form cocoons before metamorphosis, and others, like 

 some of the butterflies, hang themselves up by the tail, and place 

 a silk band round the body before becoming pupae. The group of 

 the Pyralitcs contains a singular medley. One species of it was 

 formerly considered to belong to another order of insects alto- 

 gether, namely, the Neuroptera, or the Dragon Fly tribe. Others 



