RUBY TIGER-MOTH. 215 



cell ; or the surface nearly all black, having the 

 inner edge only tinged with red ; fringe as in the 

 anterior wings. The thorax is reddish-brown, the 

 abdomen bright carmine-red, with a row of black 

 spots on the back and another on each side. 



The caterpillar is very thickly covered with hairs, 

 which vary in colour in different individuals, but 

 are commonly brown or reddish ; the head and legs 

 of a corresponding hue. Scarcely any of our or- 

 dinary plants are rejected by it as food. Fabricius 

 has remarked of this caterpillar, that when it is 

 seen to run over the snow in the winter, it may be 

 taken as a sign that the ensuing summer will be 

 cold and ungenial; " Hieme in nive obambulans, 

 aestates frigidiores et annonae caritatem pnenun- 

 ciat;" a prognostication which the French natu- 

 ralist Godart proves not to be infallible, by gravely 

 stating the result of his observations to the contrary ; 

 and he has actually known a beautiful summer and 

 plentiful harvest follow the phenomenon alluded to. 



Of occasional occurrence during the months of 

 July and August, in many parts of the country. 

 We once found it at Duddingston, near Edinburgh , 

 and have seen several specimens which were taken 

 in Roxburghshire. The neighbourhood of New- 

 castle, York, Darenth Wood, &c. are mentioned 

 among its English localities. It has likewise been 

 found in Caithness and Sutherland. 



