THE PEA-GREEN MOTH. 505 



by the formation of his upper wings, which have a narrow fold 

 that reaches nearly to the middle. 



As its popular name imports, the caterpillar of this Moth 

 feeds mostly on the hazel, though it is found on other trees. 

 It is not one of the actual leaf-rollers, but draws the leaves 

 together with silk, and feeds snugly between them. The 

 caterpillar is full-fed about the end of April or beginning of 

 May, according to the weather, and the perfect insect appears 

 in June. 



The very pretty, but very destructive Pea-GTreen Moth or 

 Oak-Moth, as it is indifferently termed, requires a short notice. 

 The scientific name of this insect is Tortrix viridana. The 

 appearance of this little Moth is very prepossessing, the upper 

 wings being leaf-green, and the lower pair greyish-brown. 

 When the wings are closed, the green is the only portion of 

 the insect that is visible, so that the Moths may be thickly 

 spread over a branch, and yet not one be distinguishable from 

 the leaves. This insect is in some years very destructive among 

 the oak trees. It may be found in abundance at the beginning 

 of summer, in any place where oaks are numerous. 



Next comes the Straw Oblique Bar {Tortrix costana), 

 which is seen on Woodcut LVIII. Fig. 4. 



This pretty Moth derives its popular name from the colour- 

 ing of the wings. The upper pair are a very glossy straw- 

 colour, sometimes taking rather a pale tint. Upon them are 

 some markings of rather dark warm brown, arranged as shown 

 in the illustration. There is some variation in different in- 

 dividuals, but the central bar, which runs obliquely, is most 

 distinct at the costa. The other markings are not so distinct. 

 This is a common insect in nearly all marshy places, as the 

 larva feeds upon almost "any plants that grow in such situa- 

 tions. The colour of the caterpillar is dull brown, and its 

 head is black. 



Passing by a number of species, we come to the Button 

 Tortrix (Peronea cristana), which is shown on Woodcut LIX. 

 Fig. 3. ^ 



This is the insect of which so many varieties have been 

 recorded. So variable an insect cannot be described in detail. 



