212 



CREAM-SPOT TIGER-MOTH. 



A rcfia Villica. 

 PLATE XX. Fig. 2. 



Fhal. Bomb. Villica, Linn. ; Donovan^ ii. PI. 71 Bombyx 



Villicus, Haworth. Eyprepia Villica, Ochsen , Curtis. 

 Cream Spot Tyger-moth, Wilkes, PI . 37 ; Harris* Aurel. 

 PI. 4 Arctia Villica, Steph. 



THIS genus comprehends some of the most striking 

 and richly coloured moths with which we are ac- 

 quainted. Deep black, crimson, and yellow are the 

 prevailing colours ; and these are combined in 

 strongly contrasted spots and bars in such a man- 

 ner as to produce a most agreeable effect. The 

 most common species is the beautiful Great Tiger- 

 moth (Arctia caja), found occasionally in all parts 

 of Britain, produced from a larva of much more 

 frequent occurrence, well known throughout the 

 country as the hairy worm, and in the south of 

 Scotland by the name of hairy oubit. The generic 

 name likewise bears allusion to the hairy caterpillar, 

 being derived from afxrof a bear. The distinctive 

 characters are to be found in the palpi, which have 

 the basal joint longer than the second ; in the an- 

 tennae being rather long, bipectinated in the males, 

 and serrated in the females, each of the radii and 



