DESCRIPTIVE NOTICES OF CONSPICUOUS SPECIES 151 



each wart bearing a tuft of bristly hairs ; it feeds on 

 oak, fir, and other trees, in May and June. 



The perfect insect makes its appearance in July and 

 August, and may sometimes be found resting on the 

 trunks of trees, its contrast of colour making it very 

 conspicuous. 



FAMILY IV. LIPAEID^. 



DASYCHISA PUDIBTTNDA. THE PALE 

 TUSSOCK MOTH. 



This species, of which the larva is so remarkably 

 handsome, is generally distributed throughout the 

 country. 



The expansion of the wings varies from If to 2J 

 inches. The fore-wings are pale grey ; near the base 

 is a short, blackish, transverse streak; before the 

 middle is a slender black band, and beyond the middle 

 is a slender, curved transverse line ; between these lines 

 is a faintly darker central spot, somewhat kidney- 

 shaped ; towards the hind-margin are a few darker 

 clouds ; the hind -wings are whitish-grey (more whitish 

 in the female), with a transverse greyish band, and 

 greyish central lunule. 



The beautiful larva is either pale yellowish-green or 

 reddish-yellow ; strongly contrasted with the general 

 colour are the incisions between the fifth to eighth seg- 

 ments, which are of a rich, velvety-black ; each of the 

 fifth to eighth segments has a dense tuft of yellow hairs 

 on the back, and the twelfth segment has a longer and 

 more slender tuft of a dull reddish ; it feeds on various 

 trees and shrubs in August and September. 



The perfect insect makes its appearance at the end of 



