22 THE GENERA OF BRITISH MOTHS, 
tidi; and are generally white or pale pearly gray, and semi-transparent with various well-defined markings. The 
Caterpillar has the posterior legs wanting ; and they are replaced by two singular tail-like appendages. The 
Chrysalis is formed in a hard cocoon, attached to the bark of the tree upon which the Caterpillar has fed. 
The genus Cerura, with Stauropus, form the second sub-family of Notodontida, see page 16. 
Cerura Vinula (the Puss-Moth, No. 5). This fine inscet is as remarkable in the larva, as in the perfect 
state, and has often been minutely described by our old naturalists. The soft gray colouring and the brindled 
markings resemble those of a tabby cat, from which resemblance its highly characteristic popular name has 
arisen, The long, soft hair of the body adds greatly to the fancied likeness, and the clothing of the wings, too, 
assumes the appearance of a nap of short, close hairs, instead of the usual appearance of the ordinary ‘‘seales,” 
which in the Buff-tip just described are of a positive scale-like form and texture, The male is smaller than the 
female, and has the antenne much more strongly pectinated. The Caterpillar (No. 6) feeds on Willow and other 
trees. The tail-like appendages which supply, in the curious larva of this insect, the place of the usual anal feet, 
are, as it is supposed, a meansof defence, as they form tubes from which the creature is enabled to put forth long 
filaments, which the Caterpillar can move about with great activity, and they possibly serve to keep off the attacks 
of Ichneumons.* There is a fine variety of this Moth sometimes made a species, under the name of Erminia, 
from the somewhat more ermine-like markings of the thorax, and small elongated touches of black at the sides 
of the abdomen, 
There are also three other distinct species, all very much smaller, and popularly termed ‘ Kittens” on that 
account :— F 
1. Cerwra Bicuspis (the Dark-barred Kitten, No. 7) is extremely rare.. The Moth appears in July, so that 
the Caterpillar (No.8) must be sought in June, or late inthe autumn, It has been found in Kent, and in the 
neighbourhood of Dublin. My drawings of this Moth and its larva were taken from foreign specimens. 
2. Cerura Furcula (the Kitten) very closely resembles the preceding species, and is nearly as common as 
Bicuspis is vare. It differs from the last-named species in having the dark band broader and more regular, and 
in being almost without the markings in the white space between the broad dark band in the centre of the wing, 
and the irregular band towards the edge. Its ‘specific name, Furewla, refers to the upper nervure or vein of the 
hind-wings, which is described as forked in this species, while it is simple in Bicwspis, The Caterpillar is similar 
in form to that of the other small species of Cerwra, but is distinguished by a red patch at the back of the head and 
in the middle of the back, both bordered with yellow, and in the form of what has been called the ‘‘saddle” in the 
Caterpillar of the large species, C. Vinula, The description of this Caterpillar is taken from a beautifully 
prepared skin, furnished by Mr. Gardner, the well-known Naturalist of 51, High Holborn, 
3. Cerura Bifida (the Barred Kitten). This species is very rare, but less so than Bicuspis, being ocea- 
sionally found in the neighbourhood of London. It has the central dark band of the front-wings rather narrower 
than the other species, with five irregular spots beyond, and the band near the external margin is very pale. It 
has the first nervure of the hind-wings more deeply forked than /wreula. The Caterpillar is variously described by 
different authors, there being evidently some confusion in assigning the respective Caterpillars to the smaller 
species of Cerura. It is most probable that the Caterpillar, which has the red ‘‘saddle” descending quite down to 
the legs, is that of C, Bifida. 
Four other species have been reported as native, but they are no longer found in British catalogues, and it 
is most probable that they are Continental varieties, 
* The generic term Cervra is founded upon this singular formation, from the words ztge;, a horn, and ovga, a tail—meaning 
horn-tailed, 
