LEPIDOPTERA. 271 



and black spotted hind-wings, the delicate Ermine, and 

 the magnificent Peacock-eyed Emperor-Moths, are all 

 well-known examples of this group, which contains more 

 than 100 species. The greater number of these fly by 

 day. One family, which flies at twilight, has obtained 

 the name of the Sivifts, from the character of its motions. 



In the Genus Psyche in this group, not only is the 

 female wingless, like that of the Vapourer, but she is 

 legless, antenna-less, and lives and dies within a portable 

 case formed and lived in by the larva. There must have 

 been some ingenuity in the naturalist who selected this 

 Moth, of all Moths, to bear the name of Psyche ! 



The antenna? in this group vary : in the principal 

 genera the antennae are flattened in the male, if not in 

 both sexes. Those of the Swifts are thread-like. The 

 most common attitude of repose is with the fore-wings 

 laid over the hind, and deflexed, as in the Tiger-Moth, 

 the Goat, the Leopard, &c. ; but some, as the Emperor, 

 rest with the wings extended. Others, again, assume a 

 peculiar position, allowing the under-wings to show 

 beyond the sides of the fore-wings. 



This group is rendered interesting by the habits of 

 some of the larvse, which will be noticed hereafter. 



Most of the night-flying Moths belong to the third 

 group Noctuina (whence this derives its name). These 

 insects are of smaller size than many of the preceding, 

 but are generally heavy-looking when in repose, their 

 bodies being stoutish, and their fore-wings narrow con- 

 cealing the broader hind- wings, which are folded beneath 

 them. The antenna are generally slender and simple, 

 the thorax is sometimes crested, and at rest the fore- 

 wings usually cover the hind, and are deflexed. 



Nearly all the Noctuina are marked on the fore- wing, 



