76 Lloyd's natural history. 



Bomhyx compressa^ Fabricius, Gen. Ins., p. 279 (1777) ; 



Esper, Schmett, ii. (2), p. 24, Taf. Zt,, fig. 6 (1786). 

 Platypteryx spinula, Laspeyres, Neue Schrift. Ges. Nat. 



Frcunde Bed., iv., p. 54 (1803); Treitschke, Schmett. 



Eur., V. (3), p. 400 (1826); Duponchel, Lepid. France, 



vii., p. 94, pi. 140, no. 7 (1829). 

 Cilix conspersa, Stephens, 111. Brit. Ent. Haiist., iv., p. 9 (1834). 

 CtlLx glai/cata, Kirby, Eur. Butterflies and Moths, p. 124, 



pi. 30, fig. I (1880); ? Hampson, Fauna Brit. Ind., i., 



p. 347, fig. 23S (1892). 

 Cilix spimda^ Buckler, Larvce of Brit. Lep., iii , pi. 52, 



figs. 2, 2 a (1889), Barrett, Lepid. of Brit. Isl., iii., p. 79, 



pi. 100, figs. 2, 2 a-c (1895). 



The Chinese Character ( Cilix spinnla). Larva of C. spiniila 



The Chinese Character is one of the commonest British 

 species of this family, and is often beaten out of hedges. It 

 is white or bluish white, with a grey band through the middle, 

 which does not reach the costa ; through this passes a 

 network of silvery nervures, somewhat resembling a stag's horn 

 in shape. Near the hind margin is a row of bluish lunules. 

 The hind-wings are sometimes dusted with grey, and have a 

 grey marginal l)and. 



The larva feeds on sloe. It is reddish-brown of a ligliter or 

 darker shade, with two slight elevations on the head, and 

 several small tubercles on the back. 



The pupa is formed in a cocoon between leaves. It is 

 elongated ; brown in front, and blue behind. 



