152 BEITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS 



May and beginning of June ; it may often be noticed 

 on the trunks of trees and on palings. 



The Dark Tussock (Dasychirafascelina), though less 

 generally distributed, is common in healthy situations 

 where it occurs ; the larva passes the winter and feeds 

 up in the spring, whereas the larva of the Pale Tussock 

 enters the pupa state before winter. 



FAMILY IV. 

 ORGYIA ANTIQUA. THE VAPOURER. 



A very abundant insect, which may be seen flying 

 along the streets of London any fine day in August and 

 September. 



The expansion of the wings of the male averages 

 about 1J inch. (The females of this genus have no 

 apparent wings, but only small rudimentary appendages.) 

 The fore-wings of the male are of a rich brown clouded 

 with darker brown, with a small white spot near the 

 anal angle ; the hind-wings are of a rich brown. 



The larva is curiously tufted, and has a very singular 

 appearance ; it is slaty-grey, with four or five red warty 

 spots on each segment ; there is a short tuft of ochreous- 

 brown hairs on the back of each of the fifth to the eighth 

 segments ; a long yellow tuft on the- sides of the fifth 

 segment, and a blackish tuft on the sides of the sixth 

 segment ; moreover, on the second segment are two long- 

 blackish tufts pointing forwards (like horns), and on the 

 twelfth segment is another long tuft pointing backwards. 

 The larva, which is plentiful in all our gardens, may be 

 found on all sorts of trees and shrubs, from June to 

 September. 



The males, which fly briskly by day, may be constautly 



