DESCRIPTIVE NOTICES OF CONSPICUOUS SPECIES 143 



fore-wings are white, senii-transparent, with numerous 

 blue-black spots. The hind- wings are very similar, but 

 the spots are much less distinct ; the thorax is white, 

 with six large blue-black spots, three on each side ; the 

 abdomen is blue -black, more or less densely clothed 

 with white scales, especially towards the base. 



The larva is yellow, with shining black spots ; the 

 head has two black spots and the anterior half of the 

 second segment is black. It feeds from the autumn to 

 spring in the woods of various trees, elm, horse-chestnut, 

 pear, apple, etc. 



The perfect insect makes its appearance early in July. 



FAMILY II. ZENZERID^E. 

 COSSVS LIGNIPERDA. THE GOAT MOTH. 



This large insect seems widely distributed throughout 

 the country, and very common in the south, though less 

 frequent in the north. 



The expansion of the wings is from rather less than 

 3 inches to more than 3^ inches. The fore-wings are of 

 a pale brown, clouded with whitish, and marked with 

 numerous short, irregular, wavy, transverse black lines ; 

 the hind- wings are pale smoky, with similar transverse 

 dark lines, but less distinct. 



The larva is reddish-black on the back, the sides are 

 of a dull yellowish or flesh-colour ; the head is black. 

 It feeds on the wood of willows, poplars, and oaks, 

 sometimes perforating the trees in all directions. It is 

 said to live three years in the larva state, and if a tree 

 infested by these larva? be cut down in the winter, it 

 will be found to contain larvae of various stages of growth. 



