88 LEPIDOPTERA. 



wings. As a rule, the colouring in the members of this 

 group is not conspicuous, though some species are 

 striking enough, the Ked Underwing, for instance, a 

 large greyish moth, with red hind-wings, barred with 

 broad black bands; the splendid Clifden Nonpareil 

 {Gatocala fraxini), with fore- wings marbled grey, and 

 hind-wings rich lilac, bordered with deep black, tliough 

 it is doubtful whether this magnificent moth — about 

 four inches in the expanse of the wings — is properly 

 a native. The Plusias are very beautiful, glittering 

 with gold and silver. 



The Geometrina derives its name from the peculiar 

 mode of locomotion in the larvae, or " looper " cater- 

 pillars, as they are called. The creature attaches its 

 hind-legs to the substance on which it is walking, 

 stretches out its body to its full length, depresses its 

 fore part, and grasps with its fore-legs, bringing up the 

 hind-legs to them, in this way forming for a time a 

 loop. It then stretches out the fore part again, repeat- 

 ing the process as before. The larvae, having only ten 

 legs, are obliged to adopt this mode of migration. Mr. 

 Stainton says we have upwards of 260 British species ; 

 all have slender bodies when contrasted with the Noc- 

 tuina and Bombycina, most rest with wings extended, 

 and a few with them erect like the butterflies. I have 

 space only for mentioning two or three species of this 

 group ; one of the commonest and prettiest — here, at 

 least, in Shropshire — is the Swallow-tail moth (Ourap- 

 teryx sambucaria), so called from the hind-wings being 

 prolonged into a kind of tail. The wings are of a light 

 yellow, with several pale olive transverse streaks. It is 

 very like a small brimstone butterfly, but its tapering 



