414 European Butterflies a.vd AIoths. 



Linn., may often be seen covering our hedges and apple-trees, which the larvae soon defoliate 

 if their ravages are not checked. We have figured two species of this genus — *//. Evonymella, 

 Linn. (PI. 62, Fig. 12), the larva of which feeds on bird-cherry; and *H. Cognatclla, Tr. (PI. 62, 

 Fig. 13, a, b — moth and nest of larva;), which feeds on spindle-tree. These gregarious species 

 are naturally abundant wherever they occur. 



We have figured * Cerostoma DciitelLi, Linn. (PI. 62, Fig. 11), remarkable for its hooked 

 wings, as our representative of the family Pliitellidce. The larva lives on honeysuckle in May, ' 

 and the moth appears in summer. 



The Chimabacchidcr are a very small family, comprising only three European species, all 

 British. * Chimabaccke Fagc//a,W. V. (PI. 62, Fig. 14), is found in woods in early spring; the 

 wings of the female are short, and unfitted for flight. The greenish larva lives between leaves 

 at the end of autumn. 



The great family GclccJiidce includes about one-fourth of all our British Tinece. We have 

 figured two species of the genus Psccadia, which is now placed in this family, though formerly 

 included with the Hyponomeutidcs. P. Pusiella, Roem. (PI. 62, Fig. 15), is found in Central and 

 Southern Europe in summer ; the larva feeds on Lithospertimm and Puluionaria in May. 

 P. Biptinctdla, Fabr. (PI. 62, Fig 16), is double-brooded, occurring in spring and autumn ; its 

 larva feeds on vipers' bugloss. Both these species are of very rare or doubtful occurrence in 

 England. The genus Depressaria includes a number of common brown species, not unlike our 

 Fig. 14 in shape, but rather smaller, which the old authors regarded as Tortrices. The 

 abdomen is rather flattened, whence they are frequently called " Flat-Bodies " by collectors. 

 They appear in summer and autumn, and generally hybernate, re-appearing in spring. 



Most of the remaining families include very small insects, and no representatives are here 

 figured. Many of them are highly beautiful, with brilliant metallic spots and markings. 



A familiar representative of the family Gracilaridce is * Gracilaria SyringcUa, Linn., a 

 delicate little pale grey moth, measuring half an inch across the wings, which is common 

 among lilac and privet. Its larva lives gregariously in blotches on the leaves. 



The larvae of the Colcophoridce form themselves cases, like those of the PsychidcB, but smaller. 

 The moths are long and narrow-winged insects, expanding from half to three-quarters of an 

 inch, and generally of pale colours ; some are nearly white. 



The majority of the Elachistidce, Lithocolletidcs, Ncpticulida, &c., mine in the leaves of 

 various plants; many species of ElacJiista mining in the leaves of grasses. The family 

 Nepticulida is remarkable for containing the smallest known Lepidopterous insect, * Nepiicttla 

 Microtltcridla, Staint., which is purplish-brown, with a narrow white stripe across the fore- 

 wings. It expands only one-eighth of an inch ; and its larva mines in the leaves of the 

 nut. It is so small that Mr. Stainton has sometimes counted more than twenty mines in a 

 single leaf Many of the allied species approach it in minuteness, but are not quite so small ; 

 one common Ncptiaila, *N. Aurella, Haw., mines in bramble. The moth expands about a 

 quarter of an inch, and is of a purplish-bronze, with a yellow stripe on the fore-wings. 



PTEROPHORL 



The Pteroplioridre, or Plume Moths, have the fore-wings divided into two, and the hind- 

 wings into three, by deep clefts, as shown in our figares. They are very delicately-formed 

 insects, with long slender legs and bodies. (In the genus Agdistis, Hiibn., the wings are not 



