THE REED TUSSOCK. lOI 



five, and eleven is velvety black and slightly raised, especially 

 on ring four. Head black and glossy. 



The caterpillars hatch from the eggs, which are laid in 

 batches, in August, hibernate, each in a silken case, and re- 

 commence feeding in the spring (Plate 42, Figs, i, in). In 

 May, when nearly full grown, they separate and are then 

 common objects on hawthorn hedges in many districts. 

 They also feed on the foliage of oak, beech, birch, sallow, 

 rose, apple, pear, and other fruit trees. Sometimes a nearly 

 fully mature caterpillar has been found in August, this has 

 pupated and produced a moth the same year. The chrysalis 

 is rather hairy and of a brownish colour ; the cocoon is 

 similar to that of the last species. In late June and through 

 July the moth is generally common throughout the Southern 

 part of England, and as far northwards as Lancashire and 

 Yorkshire. It has been very rarely seen in Scotland, and not 

 at all in Ireland. 



Distribution, Central and South-eastern Europe, extending to 

 Amurland, China,'Corea, and Japan. 



The Reed Tussock (L^/ia coawsa). 



This insect (Plate 45) was formerly abundant in some parts 

 of fenland, and was first met with, as a British species, at 

 Whittlesea Mere about 1819 or 1820. It was subsequently 

 found in Yaxley and Burwell fens. Up to i860 it continued 

 to occur freely in all stages, but by 1865 larva: at a shilling 

 per dozen, the price at which they had been sold by the 

 reed cutters, were no longer obtainable, and they became 

 so scarce that in the year 1871 or thereabouts, only two 

 caterpillars were seen. The species was at that time seemingly 

 on the decline, but a year or two later a good many males 

 were attracted by the rays of a powerful lamp that had been 

 set up at Wicken. Then the moths became fewer and fewer 



