132 THE BLACK NECK MOTH. 



flowsrs of the season as merriij as in the begin- 

 ning of summer. 



The insect which, is figured on Plate X. fig. 2, 

 is the only British example of the family Toxo- 

 campidae. Its popular name is the Black I^eck 

 Moth, and the scientific title is Toxocampa 

 pastinum. 



The colour of the upper wings is very pale 

 brown, across which are drawn a multitude of 

 delicate black lines not reaching completely 

 across the wing. The dots which are seen on 

 the wings are black. The name of Black Neck 

 is given to this insect in consequence of a very 

 dark black-brown band that is drawn between 

 the head and the neck ; another similar band 

 marks the junction of the thorax and abdomen. 

 The caterpillar feeds on the vetch, and is rather 

 remarkable in appearance, its long and slender 

 body having gained for the insect the generic 

 name of Toxocampa, or Bow-caterpillar. Seven 

 narrow stripes of yellow and grey run along the 

 upper surface, and the lower surface is very dark 

 blackish brown. The Moth appears in the early 

 summer. 



"We now come to the family Catocalidse, which 



