THE ANGLE-SHADES MOTH. 481 



On Plate XVI. Fig. 3, is seen the Motli which goes by tlie 

 popular name of the Pink-bakked Yellow {XanfMa silago). 

 This insect belongs to the large family of the Orthosid®. 



This is of a brighter hue than the last-mentioned insect, 

 the ground colour of the upper wings being yellow. It is for 

 this reason that the generic name of Xanthia, or Yellow, 

 is given to this and other Moths of the same genus. The 

 markings on the wings are purplish brown, and the hind wings 

 are pale brown, taking a yellowish hue towards the hind 

 margin. There is a good deal of colour about the body, the 

 liead and the front of the thorax being dark rust-red with a 

 purple gloss, the rest of the thorax yellow, and the body grey 

 with a yellowish tinge. 



The larva of this pretty Moth feeds on the sallow, and the 

 perfect insect appears in the middle of autumn. It seems to 

 be widely spread, though not very plentiful. 



Passing over a considerable number of species, we come 

 to an example of the Hadenidse, the familiar Angle-Shades 

 (Phlogophora oneticulosa), which is shown on Woodcut LV. 

 Fig. 2. 



I have always felt a great predilection for this insect, 

 because it is one of the first Moths that I ever reared. I had 

 found a number of pupae in the summer, and put them into 

 a small box, which I covered with stout wire gauze, having in 

 those days some hazy idea that a Moth could get through 

 muslin or linen. I had also made up my mind that no Moths 

 could emerge until the following year ; and my astonislimeut 

 was extreme on finding one morning a fine Angle-Shades 

 Moth clinging to the wire gauze, and shaking out its newly- 

 developed wings. Insignificant as is such an incident in itself, 

 it often forms a stand-point in life ; and such was the case with 

 this Moth, the development of which under my own eye 

 inspired an interest in this branch of natural history that has 

 never been and never will be forgotten. 



The name of Angle-shades is given to this Moth on 

 account of the manner in which the wings are coloured. The 

 upper wings are pale grey, tinged either with ochreous yellow 

 < r olive green. In the middle is a bold marking, shaped much 

 like the letter V, and formed of several shades of brown. The 



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