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LOCAL ENTOMOLOGY. Part 4. 



By GEO. DAWSON. 



(Read at Carlisle.) 



CUSPIDATES. 



These form the smallest group of moths we have, as there are 

 only thirty-three species of them found in the British Isles. Of 

 these I have found eighteen in this locality. These moths are 

 easily distinguished from any other in either the larva state or that 

 of the perfect insect. All the larvje of this group have humps on 

 their backs ; and some have, in addition, a kind of horny tail. 

 The perfect individual insects are very variable in coloration. 

 This, I think, may arise chiefly from differences in the nature of 

 their food ; and partly, also, from the nature of their surroundings. 

 The first species I shall take is — 



The Pebble Prominent {Notodonta ziczac). The larva of this 

 moth is very variable in coloration. The commonest variety has 

 the head dark brown, and the remainder of the body brown of a 

 paler shade. They have three humps of a pale pink colour on 

 their backs, and the abdomen is of a light green. This variety is 

 taken at Newby Cross on the sallows, as well as on the small 

 poplars that grow in the wood there. Those I have taken at 

 Orton and at Thurstonfield are much brighter in colour, and they 

 are also larger. At these localities I find them more commonly 

 on the small birch trees. The larvje here have the head of a bright 

 brown, and about half of the body is of the same bright colour ; 



