228 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS 



The perfect insect makes its appearance towards the 

 end of May and beginning of June, and may sometimes 

 be observed sitting on the leaves of the spindle, or on 

 palings ; it comes not unfrequently to light. 



FAMILY XIV. HYBERNID.E. 



EYBEENIA LEUCOPHEARIA. THE SPRING 

 USHEE. 



(Plate XL, Fig. 4 <J.) 



This variable and pretty in sect, which so often tempts 

 the young collector into woods in February and March, 

 is generally distributed throughout the country and 

 very common. 



The female is perfectly apterous. In the male the 

 expansion of the wings is about 1J inch. The fore- 

 wings are whitish, marbled with brown and dark fuscous, 

 near the base is a curved black line, and the space 

 between it and the base is sometimes entirely dark 

 fuscous; nearly in the middle of the wing is a very 

 sinuous transverse black line, which is immediately 

 followed by a broad brownish band, between which and 

 the hind margin there is frequently a slender pale band. 



The larva is pale yellowish-green, with a double 

 yellowish dorsal line and paler subdorsal lines ; some- 

 times it is dotted with yellowish-white ; it varies con- 

 siderably in colour. It feeds on oak in April and May, 

 attacking the young buds before they are expanded. 



The perfect insect appears in February, and continues 

 out some time ; in forward seasons it may be met with 

 in January. The male is frequently found sitting on 



