DESCRIPTIVE NOTICES OF CONSPICUOUS SPECIES 161 



disk beyond the middle ; the hind- wings are blackish 

 or dull pink, with the hind margin and two central 

 spots black. 



The larva is rusty-brown, with brownish hairs. It 

 feeds on various low plants in the autumn and spring ; 

 it seems rather partial to ragwort (Senecio Jacobsea). 



The perfect insect appears in June and July ; 

 occasionally it comes to light. 



FAMILY VI. CHELONLD^. 



SPILOSOMA MENTHASTRI. THE WHITE 

 ERMINE. 



An abundant species throughout the country. 



The expansion of the wings is from 1J to 1} inch. 



The fore-wings are whitish, with more or less of a 

 yellow tinge, and with numerous small black dots, 

 arranged rather in four curved transverse rows ; the 

 hind-wings are white, with one central and several 

 marginal black spots. The abdomen is yellow, with a 

 central row of black spots, and black spots on the sides. 



The larva is black, with long brown hairs, and an 

 orange stripe straight along the back; it feeds on all 

 sorts of low plants in August and September. 



The perfect insect appears in the beginning of June, 

 and continues out for some time ; it comes very freely 

 to light, and hence is often found in houses. 



The closely allied, but much scarcer Spilosoma 

 papyratia, the Water Ermine, has only a few black 

 spots on the fore-wings, and the hind-wings are 

 altogether spotless; it rather frequents moist places, 

 such as sides of canals, etc. 



K 



