XVI 



INSECTA : LEPIDOPTERA 



229 



become compact reddish-brown pupae as shown in Fig. 156, C. 

 The rudimentary mouth-parts, antennae, and wings of the moth 

 are now distinctly visible through the semi-transparent shell of 

 the pupa, and the spiracles can also be seen on the segmented 

 abdomen. In this quiescent state, only moving the abdomen 

 very slightly if disturbed, the pupa remains all the winter, the 

 moth not emerging until June or July. It is not often seen, 

 for it flies chiefly at night, and when at rest its beautifully 

 marked brown and fawn wings, folded over its body, make it 

 difficult to distinguish from the bark of the tree on which it 

 settles (Fig. 155). 



Belonging to this same family is the strange Puss Moth, 

 the caterpillar of which is well known because of the grot- 

 esque attitudes into which it contorts itself when disturbed. 



A family of moths well represented in Britain 

 (Sphingidae) 8 is that of tbe Hawk Moths (Sphingidae) ; it is a 

 family specially easy and interesting to study, 

 because of the size and 

 the beauty of both 

 caterpillars and perfect 

 insects. The cater- 

 pillars are usually 

 smooth - skinned, and 

 are peculiar in having 

 a projecting horn on 

 the eighth abdominal 

 segment. In most of 

 them, also, the sides 



FIG. 157. Caterpillar of the Privet Hawk 

 (Sphinx ligustre) feeding on Privet. 



FIG. 158. The Privet Hawk Moth, (f nat. size.) 

 are marked with seven oblique coloured stripes. In the 



