202 LLOYDS NATURAL HISTORY 



the largest of the British Geometrce^ the expanded wings often 

 measuring two inches and a half across. The fore-wings are 

 pointed at the tip, and somewhat falcate, the hind-margin being 

 entire, while the hind-wings are prolonged into a rather acute 

 tail. The colour is delicate sulphur-yellow, shaded at the base 

 of the wings into satiny-white, and deepening towards the hind- 

 margin. The surface is marked with numerous dark evanescent 

 transverse streaks. The fore-wings are crossed by two yellow 

 transverse lines, and the hind-wings by one, which corresponds 

 to the first line of the fore-wings. At the base of the tail are 

 two small blackish spots, the larger of which is centred with 

 reddish. The fringes are ochre-yellow, inclining to reddish- 

 brown. 



The larva feeds on the leaves of willow, lime, elder, pear, 

 and various other trees and shrubs. It is dark-brown, dark- 

 grey, or reddish or yellowish-brown, with waved longitudinal 

 darker lines. The head is flat and oval. The pupa is whitish, 

 yellowish-brown, or reddish-brown, with dark brown and grey 

 spots, and is enclosed in a web between leaves. 



The moth appears in June and July. It flies at dusk, and 

 is not uncommon in suburban gardens and elsewhere. 



FAMILY ENNOMID^. 



This is an extensive family of moderate-sized Moths, with 

 the antennce generally pectinated, at least in the male, and 

 the wings frequently angulated or dentated. The colour is 

 generally of some shade of yellow, more or less varied with 

 darker lines and spots. The larvos have only ten perfect 

 legs, the three first pairs of pro-legs being usually absent, or 

 imperfectly developed, and not used for walking. The 

 larvae are often furnished with lateral appendages, or humps 

 on the back. They feed exposed on trees or shrubs, and 

 the pupce, which are very lively, are formed between leaves 



