THE PROMINENT MOTHS OF BUCKINGHAMSHIRE. 99 
of all the Prominent family are prettily feathered and plumed, but 
the plumes of this species are so singularly large and beautiful 
that it has been styled, par excellence, the Plumed Prominent. 
When almost all nature is asleep in the gloomy month of 
November this beautiful and delicate moth is busy and alive. It 
generally makes its appearance with Guy Fawkes, about Nov. 5. 
Tt is of a uniform reddish-brown ; the wings semi-transparent and 
indistinctly marked with yellowish streaks. It lays its eggs, 
which are of the same colour as the bark, on the twigs of the 
maple; and in May and June the caterpillar, which is long and 
slender, whitish or bluish-green with white lines on the back, 
may be beaten full fed from the maple bushes at the edges of the 
woods. Ihave frequently taken it in the woods at Drayton- 
Beauchamp. It is uncertain in its appearance. 
5. Ptilophora palpina (the Pale Prominent).—This pale ashy- 
erey insect proclaims its own name. It is one of the common 
species of the family. The colour of its wings may best be 
described as oak-wainscoat-brown. It appears in June and July, 
and in the two following months its curious powdery greenish- 
white caterpillar may be found feeding on various species of 
willow and poplar, especially the aspen and the abele. It hasa 
rough wrinkled back and a conspicuous yellow stripe on the sides. 
The little white conspicuoue eggs of this moth may be found on 
the backs of the poplar leaves in July and August, and the little 
larvee are easily reared. It is found throughout the county. 
6. Notodonta Camelina (the Coxcomb Prominent).—This moth, 
which from its red colour and large wing protuberance, has been 
named the Coxcomb, is the only one of the Prominents which can 
really be called common. It is extremely abundant in the cater- 
pillar state in the months of August, September, and October, 
and may be beaten from ash, beech, hazel, lime, elm, maple, 
sallow, apple, and birch. It is whitish—or bluish-green, with two 
conspicuous red warts near tho tail, by which it may always be 
distinguished from the rest of the genus. ‘The moth is mostly red 
with darker shadings. It appears from May to September, and 
occurs everywhere. ° RS 
