METAMORPHOSES OF BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS 23 



evening, and often enters houses attracted by light, 

 when its noisy gambols on the ceiling at once announce 

 its arrival. 



Now let us turn to another group of moths, and con- 

 sider the transformations of the Common Yellow Under- 

 wing (Tripbsena pronuba). The eggs are deposited in 

 July and August ; in a few weeks these hatch, and the 

 larvae commence feeding on dock, chickweed, and other 

 low plants. During the daytime they conceal them- 

 selves amongst leaves close to the ground, often going 

 underground, and at night they come out to feed on the 

 plants ; in gardens we may find them by examining 

 primrose and polyanthus plants with a lantern. They 

 feed throughout the winter, growing slowly, and are full 

 fed about the month of April ; then they bury them- 

 selves deeper in the earth, and there undergo their 

 change to the pupa state. About the beginning of 

 June the pupa pushes itself up to the surface, and then 

 the skin cracking, the moth makes its escape, and 

 proceeds to expand and dry its wings. This moth is 

 extremely active with its legs, and can run quickly 

 directly it has made its escape from the pupa. 



Now let us consider the transformations of the Silver 

 Y Moth (Plusia gamma}. Of this there are two 

 broods in the year, and probably more in very warm 

 summers. If we take the case of eggs deposited in June, 

 their career will be as follows : The eggs hatch in a few 

 days, and from them proceed small green larva?, which 

 in walking have this peculiarity, that they hunch up a 

 portion of their body. This arises from the legs on 

 two of the segments, which usually possess legs, being 

 absent ; hence the larva in walking elevates or loops 

 this portion of its body, so as to bring the prolegs of 



