270 LEPIDOP TERA . 



at a low temperature is said to have some effect in producing 

 darker colour in the moths. The late Mr. E. Hopley tried 

 experiments in the direction of keeping larvae feeding under 

 glass of various colours ; the only results noticeable were that 

 those under violet glass fed faster than those under red, 

 while yellow and black proved fatal to the larvae. As it is a 

 sun-loving larva, these results were natural enough. 



This species seems to be found in every part of the three 

 kingdoms, except perhaps in the Shetland Isles ; inhabit- 

 ing the gardens in the outskirts of towns, in some places 

 even more commonly than the fields and hedgerows. 

 Formerly this was the case in all the suburbs of London, 

 the larva being everywhere visible, but for some years past, 

 there is a great change in this respect and it is now com- 

 paratively seldom seen ; indeed the same may be said of 

 many districts in which it formerly abounded. 



Abroad it is common all over Europe except in the extreme 

 South ; in Siberia, Tartary, Japan, the mountainous regions 

 of Asia, through the Himalayas to Assam, and over large 

 portions of North America, including Vancouver Island. In 

 Japan besides being of large size it shows a slight variation 

 in shape, its fore wings being rather more pointed. The 

 propoi'tions of the transverse stripes are also somewhat 

 different. This form is known as phceosoma and its variety 

 with yellow hind wings as mmpennis. In the Asiatic moun- 

 tain region the form with paler brown colour in the fore wings 

 seems to have become recurrent and is known as orientalis, 

 while ordinary typical specimens from North America are 

 distinguished by the name Americana. 



2. A. villica, L. — Expanse 2 to 2^ inches. Fore wings 

 glossy black-brown with large creamy spots ; hind wings rich 

 yellow, with apex and spots deep black. 



Antennas shortly and closely pectinated in the male, the 

 teeth very thick and solid ; very slightly dentated in the 

 female, wholly black ; head deep black ; thorax covered with 

 long downy black-brown scales, but having a broad creamy 



