223 



however, one or two exceptions to this rule. The "Old Lady-moth" is very 

 fond of coming into a lighted room in an August evening. The " Red Under- 

 wing" and the "Yellow Underwing" may often be seen flying about in the 

 day time, but seldom unless disturbed in their resting-places, or to sun them- 

 selves in a very hot day. The species Plusia Gamma may be seen buzzing 

 round the flowers of the Scabious in the sunshine on a September morning. 

 The " Hart and Dart " and some others are very abundant. 



The greater number of the remaining species- some 300 — are only to be 

 got by artificial means, viz., by putting a mixture of sugar, rum, and beer, 

 on trees at night, and looking for them with a lantern. If the evening be 

 damp and favourable great numbers may be taken in this way. Of this 

 group I have as yet taken only 62 species, many of the remainder are very 

 scarce. 



The only remaining group that contains any large or showy moths is 

 that of the Oeometrce, so called from the singular formation of the caterpillar, 

 which in crawling loop up the middle of their bodies. The moths are shaped 

 much more like caterpillars than those of any other group. The "Large 

 Magpie" or " Gooseberry Moth," is one of the most common, generally 

 abounding in gardens. The beautiful "Emerald" and the delicate "Swallow- 

 tail " are occasionally to be found. They are two of the most prominent 

 insects in the group, which presents an almost endless variety of delicate 

 markings. 



In the next group (Tortrices), the moths are nearly all of them "leaf- 

 rollers." They appear to be well represented in this county, especially by 

 one individual, the Green Oak-moth. This is remarkable for the destruction 

 it causes in the caterpillar state. In the year 1862 this creature completely 

 denuded the oak woods of foliage, making them, in the beginning of June, 

 look quite brown, instead of the verdant appearance they usually present at 

 that time. The caterpillars were so abundant that in a very short time they 

 ate up, or destroyed by rolling them up, all the oak leaves, and to prevent 

 starvation, took to the leaves of the nut, maple, and other trees. This had 

 the curious effect of compelling the other tree-feeding caterpillars to descend 

 and hunt over the ground for a substitute for theii- proper food. From this 

 cause, many species were thus to be met with that cannot usually be obtained 

 without the trouble and difficulty of climbing for them. The division has 

 about 300 species. 



I will not detain you by commenting at any length on the remaining 

 groups. We have a familiar example of one of the Crambites in the little 

 Grass- moths, which are so abundant after midsummer; and of another, the 

 Tinena, in the Clothps- moths, which need little description, as most house- 

 wives know its provoking h.abits only too well, I may, however, observe that 

 it is not the moth, but its caterpill.ar that commits such destruction : it 

 makes itself a woollen jacket, in whieh it lives and feeds, and in this disguise 

 often escapes destruction, being taken for nothing more than an emxity cocoon. 



