250 . Lloyd's natural history. 



and Western Asia. The female expands about three inches, 

 the male somewhat less. 



It is light grey with numerous blackish transverse lines, 

 fewest towards the base, most marked and zig-zag towards 

 the hind margin. The hind-wings are almost white in the 

 male, grey in the female. The thorax has two pairs of large 

 black spots ; it is slightly tinged with greenish. The abdomen 

 is grey with two black dorsal longitudinal lines. The tarsi are 

 black, ringed with white. 



The larva of this insect is one of the most curious found in 

 this country, and its form and attitudes are so grotesque that it 

 rarely fails to attract the notice even of the most indifferent 



The Puss-Moth (Male). 



observers. When at rest it holds its large and singular-looking 

 head somewhat raised and drawn back upon the front segments 

 of the body like the larva of a Sphinx, and the tail is held erect 

 at the same time. Its threatening aspect has sometimes inspired 

 most ludicrous notions of its powers of doing mischief, as in 

 the instance quoted by Dr. Shaw from a country newspaper, 

 where it is described as a monster with a head like a lion, jaws 

 like a shark, a hornlike an unicorn, and two tremendous stinf^s 

 in its tail. Isaac Walton in tlie " Angler," chap, v., gives the 

 following quaint account of this larva : — ■ 



