454 INSECTS AT HOME. 



that, like Goldsmith's Traveller, they ' drag at each remove a 

 lengthening chain.' If they be alarmed in any way, they at 

 once drop towards the ground, supported by their ^read. 

 Generally, they drop only a few inches ; but if the alarm 

 continue, they drop more and more, until they reach the 

 ground, where they lie until they are assured of safety. They 

 climb up again rather slowly, but steadily, vising their legs for 

 the purpose, and packing up the line into a series of loops as 

 they proceed. 



On Woodcut XLIX. Fig. 2, is drawn the Moth which is pro- 

 perly called the Gret ScALLorED Bar {Scodiona helgiaria), 

 which is an example of the family Fidonidse. 



In this insect there is a very marked distinction between the 

 sexes. In the male, the upper wings are greyish-white, and 

 covered with a number of black marks, whose shape and 

 number can be seen by reference to the illustration. The 

 female is blackish-grey instead of white, but the black mark- 

 ings are nearly the same. In the male the antennae are 

 feathered, and in the female they are simple and thread-like. 



The larva of this Moth feeds on the common ling {Golluna 

 vulgaris), which is so much used for thatching, for rude but 

 strong ropes, for broom making, and for a good yellow dye. 

 Like many other larvae, if alarmed, it falls at once to the 

 ground, coils itself in a ring, and will lie motionless for hours 

 together. Its colour is dull-brown, with a few grey mottlings, 

 and one or two small streaks of white. It is full-fed at the 

 beginning of May, and the perfect insect appears at the end of 

 the same month. 



Quiet and simple-looking as is the Winter Moth {Gheima- 

 tohia brumata), which is represented on Woodcut L. Fig. 1 , 

 there are few of our British insects which do more harm to the 

 trees, especially the fruit-trees. 



The colour of the upper wings is greyish-brown, more or less 

 tinged with yellow, and marked with a few waved transverse 

 bars of a darker tint. The lower wings are much the same 

 colour, but almost without markings. Owing to its peculiar 

 habits, this is one of our most familiar Moths. It appears in 

 the cold months of November and December, and on a sunshiny 



