32 THE YOUXG COLLECTORS 



(Porthesia Aurijltia and Chrysorrhcea), which are provided with 

 a tuft of down at the extremity of the body, which the female 

 uses to cover her eggs. The moths are common on hedges at 

 dusk in summer. They expand about an inch and a half across 

 the wings. The White Satin Moth (Stilpnotia Salicis), another 

 very common species, is rather larger, and is pure white, with 

 no coloured tuft at the extremity of the body, and no black spot 

 towards the hinder angle of the fore wings, as is generally the 

 case in Porthesia. 

 Commoner still is the Vapourer Moth (Oi'gyiaAntiqua), which 



Vapourer Moth (Male). Vapourer Moth (Female). 



(Orgyia Antiqiia). (prgyia Antiqua). 



measures about an inch across its reddish-brown fore wings, 

 which have a white spot near the hinder angle ; the hind wings 

 are paler. The male may be seen fluttering about in the day- 

 time everywhere where trees or bushes grow ; for its tufted 

 larva is not particular about its food, and will eat even laurel. 

 The female moth has rudimentary wings. 



The Psy chides are small black moths, with broad rounded 

 wings, expanding an inch or less. The males fly among the 

 grass by day, but the females are apterous. The larvae form 

 cases for themselves, like those of caddis-worms. 



The Notodontida are large whitish or brownish moths, with 

 rather long bodies, more or less tufted at the extremity, and the 

 males have pectinated antennae. One of the largest and com- 

 monest species is the Puss Moth (Centra Vinnla), which measures 

 nearly three inches across the wings, which are greyish -white, 

 with zigzag black lines on the fore wings. The green larva 

 feeds on poplar and willow, and its last pair of prolegs are 

 converted into two long tail-like appendages which enclose 

 retractile threads. Another well-known representative of this 

 family is the Buff Tip (Phalera Bitcephala), which is rather 



