Arct/a. 103 



* 2. N. Plantaginis (Linn.), (Wood Tiger). — Fore-wings black, with a longitudinal basal streak 

 above the inner margin, two interlacing transverse stripes before the hind margin, and a spot below 

 the middle of the costa, all pale yellow ; hind-wings in the male nearly orange, and in the female 

 often reddish, with black streaks from the base, and black spots before the hind margin ; abdomen 

 yellow in the male, and reddish in the female, with a broad black streak on the back. In some 

 males the ground colour of the hind-wings is white (variety Hospita, W. V.), or almost entirely 

 black (variety Matronalis, Friv.). Expands from li to if inches. Common in woods throughout 

 Europe and Northern Asia ; in South Europe it occurs in the mountains. Only the type-form 

 occurs in Britain. The larva is black, with the six middle segments brick-red. It is figured, with 

 the red variety of the female, and the variety Hospita, at PI. 23, Fig. 5, a — c. {N. Metalkana, 

 Led., a rare Hungarian species, has yellow fore-wings, and rosy hind-wings, spotted with black ; 

 the fore-wings are also suffused with rosy beneath, and have two black spots in the cell. Expands 

 i^ inches.) 



GENUS VIII. — ARCTIA (SCHRANK.). 



Body thick in both sexes, the tongue soft ; the fore-wings dark-coloured, with white or 

 yellow markings, or yellow, with dark markings ; and the hind-wings red or yellow. The larvae 

 have long hairy warts, and are very active ; they feed on many low plants, so that it will 

 seldom be necessary to specify their food. They generally hybernate, and the moths appear 

 in summer. 



* I. A. Caja (Linn.), {Tiger Moth). — Fore-wings brown, with white interlacing bands crossing 

 each other before the hind margin ; hind-wings and abdomen dark red, with large bluish-black 

 spots. Varieties occur in which the white borders of the fore-wings are absent, and the spots of the 

 hind-wings are confluent. Expands from 2 to 3 inches. It is common throughout Europe (except 

 the extreme south) in July and August. The North American A. Americana (Harr.) does not 

 appear to differ from A. Caja by any constant characters. The larva is black, with white warts 

 and long hair, which is rust-coloured on segments 2 — 4, and on the sides ; but elsewhere black, 

 tipped with white. It may be found late in autumn, and in spring till the beginning of June. 

 Many varieties may be obtained by rearing larvae on plants placed in salt-water ; and specimens 

 reared from larvs which have been fed on walnut-leaves are unusually dark. The transformations 

 are figured at PI. 23, Fig. 6, a — c. 



2. A. Flavia (Fuessly). — Fore-wings black, with white bands which cross each other obliquely 

 before the hind margin, and a transverse band near the base, with which it is connected by a streak 

 below the costa at nearly right angles ; hind-wings pale ochre -yellow, with blackish spots before 

 the hind margin ; abdomen rose-colour, with a black streak on the back. Expands from 2 to 2.\ 

 inches. It is found at a great elevation in the Alps and Altai in July, but is always a much-prized 

 rarity. The larva is dark brown, with warts of the same colour, and greenish-yellow hairs, with 

 whitish tips. It lives through two winters, and undergoes its transformations in June. It feeds on 

 Cotoneaster vulgaris, but on various low plants also, and hides itself in clefts of the rock during 

 the day. 



*'3. A. Villica (Linn.), {Cream-spot Tiger). — Fore-wings black, with large oval white spots 

 (yellow in variety Angelica, Boisd.) ; hind-wings yellow, irregularly bordered and spotted with 

 black. Expands from 2 to 2i inches. Widely distributed throughout Europe (including the 

 south of England) and Western Asia, but local. The larva is black, with pale brown hairs, and a 

 reddish-brown head. The moth is figured at PL 23, Fig. 7. 



4. A. Purpurea (Linn.).^Body and fore-wings yellow, the latter with many small brownish 



