ON THE HABITS OF BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS 35 



several, like the Cream-spotted Tiger (Arctia villica), fly 

 readily in the afternoon ; others fly at dusk or after 

 dark. Amongst the Bombycidse, the Oak Eggar (Lasio- 

 campa quercus) is a true day-flying insect, whereas the 

 nearly-related Fox Moth (L. rubi) flies a little before 

 dusk ; both have a very bold flight, swooping in circles, 

 and the males fly vigorously in search of the females ; 

 most others of the family fly after dusk, and come 

 readily to light. 



The handsome Kentish Glory (Endrowis versicolora) 

 flies swiftly by day in the first half of April, frequenting 

 woods. The showy Emperor Moth (Saturnia Pavonia- 

 minor) is so freely obtained in the larva state that the 

 imago is rarely collected. 



The species of the family Platypterygidss all fly at 

 dusk; and one of them, Cilix spinula, is very common, 

 flying along lanes at the end of May, with a wild irre- 

 gular flight ; others may be occasionally startled from 

 their haunts by beating bushes, in the afternoon. The 

 insects of the family PsycMdse are peculiar in this re- 

 spect ; in the first place, the larvae construct portable 

 cases, which they carry about with them all their lives, 

 and in which they change to the pupa state ; and, in the 

 second place, the females are wingless. The females of 

 the genus Fumca possess legs and antennae, and sit on 

 the outside of the case awaiting the arrival of the males. 

 The females, however, of the genus Psyche are far more 

 helpless ; they never quit the case, have neither legs nor 

 antennae, but are worm-like sacks, and literally egg- 

 bags. In this genus the males are extremely vivacious 

 and restless, and those who breed a male of Psyche nigri- 

 cans must promptly secure him after his escape from 

 the chrysalis, or he will soon batter himself to pieces. 



