338 LEPIDOPTERA. 



transformed to shining brown chrysalids. Early in July, 

 and in the middle of the day, I have seen the moths flying 

 about grape-vines and creepers, at which time, also, they 

 pair and lay their eggs. A more full account of this insect, 

 illustrated by figures, will be found in Hovey's Magazine, 

 for June, 1844. 



III. MOTHS. (Phalcence.)* 



The third great section of the Lepidoptera, which Lin- 

 naeus named Phalcena, includes a vast number of insects, 

 sometimes called millers, or night-butterflies, but more fre- 

 quently moths. The latter term, thus applied, comprehends 

 not only those domestic moths which, in the young or 

 caterpillar state, devour cloth, but all other insects belong- 

 ing to the order Lepidoptera which cannot be arranged 

 among the butterflies and hawk-moths. 



These insects vary greatly in size, color, and structure. 

 Some of them, particularly those with gilded wings, are 

 very minute ; while the Atlas-moth of China (Attacus 

 Atlas), when its wings are expanded, covers a space meas- 

 uring nearly nine inches by five and a half; and the owl- 

 moth (Erebus Strix) has wings which, though not so broad, 

 expand eleven inches. Some female moths are destitute 

 of wings, or have but very small ones, wholly unfitted 

 for flight ; and there are species whose wings are longitu- 

 dinally cleft into several narrow rays, resembling feathers. 

 The stalk of the antennae of moths generally tapers from 

 the base to the end. These parts sometimes resemble 

 simple or naked bristles, and sometimes they are plumed 

 on each side of the stalk, like feathers. There is often a 

 good deal of difference in the antennae, according to the 

 sex ; feathered or pectinated antennas being generally nar- 

 rower in the females than in the males; and there are 

 some moths the males of which have feathered antennae, 



* See page 320. 



