DESCRIPTIVE NOTICES OF CONSPICUOUS SPECIES 159 



The expansion of the wings varies from 2J to 2f 

 inches. The fore-wings are brown, with numerous 

 whitish streaks irregularly ramified, and some whitish 

 spots ; the hind- wings are of a deep reddish-orange, 

 with six or seven spots of a blue-black. 



The larva is black, with long white hairs along the 

 back, and with reddish-brown hairs along the sides and 

 on the anterior segments ; the head and legs are black. 

 When the larva is young, the hairs are entirely of a 

 rusty- brown colour. It feeds on various low plants in 

 the autumn and spring, the full-fed larvae occurring in 

 May and at the beginning of June. 



The perfect insect appears in July, but is far less 

 frequently seen than the larva ; it comes rather freely 

 to light, and thus finds its way into houses. 



FAMILY VI. CHELONIM;. 



ARGTIA VILLICA. THE CREAM SPOTTED 

 TIGER. 



(Plate V., Fig. 5.) 



This beautiful insect is not scarce in the south of 

 England, where it seems very generally distributed; 

 but its northern range seems very limited, scarcely 

 reaching the midland counties ; it is rare in Ireland. 



The expansion of the wings varies from about 2 to 

 2| inches. The fore wings are rich velvety-black, with 

 about eight creamy- white spots ; the hind- wings are of 

 a deep yellow with four or five small central black spots, 

 and an irregular black patch at the anal angle. 



The larva is black, with brown hairs ; the head and 

 legs are of a dull reddish, a character by which it may 

 be at once distinguished from the larva of the preceding 



