162 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS 



FAMILY VI. CHELONID.E. 



SPILOSOMA LUBRICEPEDA. THE BUFF 

 EBMINE. 



Very abundant in the south and indeed common 

 throughout England, but not, extending its range as far 

 north as Scotland ; in Ireland it is common. 



The expansion of the wings varies from 1J to If inch. 

 The fore-wings are pale ochreous, with several black 

 dots, two or three of which are near the base, two near 

 the middle of the costa, and others almost form a streak 

 from the middle of the inner margin to the tip of the 

 wing ; the hind-wings are rather paler, with two or 

 three black spots. 



The larva is whitish, with long, pale, brown hairs ; on 

 each side of the slender, whitish, dorsal line, is a broad 

 dark-grey stripe, and on the sides are oblique stripes of 

 a pale grey ; it feeds on all sorts of low plants in August 

 and September, and can run with great rapidity. 



The perfect insect makes its appearance in June and 

 July. 



FAMILY VI. CHELONLD^:. 



DIAPHORA MENDICA. THE SPOTTED 

 MUSLIN. 



This curious species, of which the male is black and 

 the female white, is not uncommon throughout the 

 country. 



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

 The male is entirely of a smoky-black, with eight or ten 

 black spots irregularly placed on the fore-wings and 

 with one central and several marginal black spots on the 



