Insects.] 



MUSEUM OF ANIMATED NATURE. 



391 



butterflies), or to define the multitudinous genera, 

 is not cur present purpose ; we aim merely at calling 

 attention to some of the species likely to attract 

 from their beauty and habits, and at the same time 

 convey an idea of the extent of variation of form 

 which obtains among them. 



Fig. 3719 represents — 1, the vapourer moth (Or- 

 gygia antiqua) ; 2, the pebble prominent (Nsto- 

 dontaziczac) ; 3, the groat-moth (Cossus ligniperda) ; 



4, the clouded buff moth (Eiithemonia Russula) ; 



5, the pink underwing (Calloraorpha Jacobaea) ; 6, 

 the double-o moth (Cymatophora Oo) ; 7, the orange 

 underwing (Brepha Parthenias). The caterpillars 

 and pupiE are referred to by the same figures as the 

 perfect insects. 



The vapourer moth (Orgygia antiqua), perfect 

 insect, caterpillar, pupa, and wingless female. This 

 species is very diurnal in its habits, and is far from 

 uncommon in our island, and is, indeed, abundant 

 in the neighbourhood of London, occurring even in 

 the streets. Its flight is short, jerking, vacillating, 

 and interrupted. It rests with its anterior wings 

 extended, and its antennae elevated. The wings are 

 ferruginous ; the anterior are clouded with brown, 

 with two undulated and almost obsolete streaks, a 

 pale crescent-shaped spot on the disc, and a snow- 

 white sublunate spot at the lower angle ; the hinder 

 wings are unspotted. The female is of a dark cine- 

 reous tint, destitute of wings, and with the antennae 

 seriated. This is often seen surrounded by crowds 

 of suitors. 



The pebble prominent (Notodonta ziczac), perfect 

 insect, caterpillar, and pupa. The pebble promi- 

 nent is by no means one of our common moths, nor 

 is it very ireiierally distributed. In the male the 

 anterior wings are pale chestnut, brown at the base, 

 with two abbreviated streaks on the anterior margin, 

 between which is a large subquadrate whitish patch, 

 followed posteriorly by a larger ocelliform one, 

 tinged with purplish, intersected by black dashes on 

 the nervures, margined anteriorly by a deep brown 

 lunule, and posteriorly by greyish clouds and a 

 whitish streak ; hinder margin with a narrow black 

 line : posterior wings ash-coloured, with a central 

 hinular dusky spot, and a narrow marginal line. 

 The female has the anterior wings of a more uni- 

 form chestnut tinge, and the hinder wings mouse- 

 coloured. 



The perfect insect first appears in May ; but from 

 this month to July there is a gradual accession of 

 individuals, though not in great numbers. 



The goat-moth (Cossus ligniperda), perfect insect, 

 caterpillar, and pupa. In many pans of our island 

 this fine moth is by no means uncommon. It is 

 found from June to the end of July, infesting oaks, 

 willows, poplars, aspens, &c., upon the wood of 

 which the caterpillar feeds, working its way through 

 the solid substance of the tree, and consequently 

 proving highly destiucfve, the more especially as 

 It is three years before it assumes the pupa state. 



The perfect insect measures from two inches ten 

 lines to upwards of three inches, or in the female to 

 three inches six or nine lines, in expanse of wings. 

 The anterior pair are clouded with greyish and 

 brown, with numerous transverse irregular black 

 streaks and reticulations. The posterior wings are 

 dusky, with obscure reticulated streak* towards the 

 hinder margin. This moth is not very active, at 

 least during the day. and may be observed reposing 

 amidst the foliage of the trees, which it habitually 

 frequents. 



The caterpillar emits a most disgusting odour ; it 

 attains to a huge size, and is of a dull rufesccnt 

 colour, with large shining red patches on the back, 

 and two triangular black spots behind the head, 

 which latter is black. It lives three years before its 

 change into a pupa, which is generally in the 

 autumn. The caterpillar searches for a convenient 

 place, and then shrouds itself in a case composed 

 of pieces of wood, which it unites, together by means 

 of a strong glutinous substance, lining the whole 

 with silk. Tne pupa is brown, and strongly denti- 

 culated on the margin of each segment. 



The clouded buff moth (Euthemonia Russula, 

 Stephens), perfect insect, caterpillar, and pupa. The 

 clouded buff moth measures about an inch and a 

 half in the expanse of its wings. It frequents 

 heaths and commons. The male generally flies in 

 the all e I noon, and may be observed during the day 

 resting on furze-bushes and rough shrubs; but the 

 female is seldom to be seen, as she generally con- 

 ceals herself at the roots of plant.s or bushes, amidst 

 dense vegetation. She is, moreover, far more slug- 

 gish in her habits than the male, numbers of the 

 latter being often noticed active on the wing around 

 her resting-place. 



In the male the chest and anterior wings are pale 

 yeMow, the anterior margin near the apex, the inner 

 margin, and long basal haira bright sanguineous ; 

 posterior wing* and abdomen yellowish white, the 

 lormer with a dusky lunate spot on the disc, and a 

 marginal frifige of the same colour. Shaft of the 

 antenna} and legs rufescent. In the female the an- 



tennae, head, thorax, and anterior wings are reddish 

 or fulvo-rufous, the margins of the latter, the ner- 

 vures and central lunule, bright sanguineous. The 

 posterior wings are fulvous ; with the base, an ovate 

 spot near the centre, and the margin dull black. 



The cateepillar is of a dusky tint, with yellow 

 spots along the sides, and dull orange hair closely 

 set in fascicles. Various grasses, plantain, hounds- 

 tongue, &c., constitute its food. It changes in May 

 to a reddish brown pupa, shrouded in a web upon 

 the ground. The perfect insect appears in June. 



The pink underwing (Callomorpha Jacobaea), 

 perfect insect, caterpillar, and pupa. This beautiful 

 moth is extremely abundant in certain localities. 

 It is partially diurnal in its habits, and in favourite 

 spots great numbers are often seen together, flitting 

 about or resting on the stems of the ragwort. The 

 head, body, and limbs are black; the anterior wings 

 ashy brown, with a longitudinal streak of scarlet 

 parallel to the anterior margin, and two roundish 

 spots of the same colour on the external margin. 

 The hinder wings are bright sanguineous on both 

 surfaces, with a posterior narrow frmge of ashy 

 brown. 



■the caterpillar of this species is to a certain 

 extent gregarious. 



The double-o moth (Cymatophora Oo), perfect 

 insect, caterpillar, and pupa. This moth is local in 

 its distribution, being rare in some places and tole- 

 rably abundant in others. It is nocturnal in its 

 habits. 



The head and thorax are of a pale ochre-yellow, 

 sprinkled with dusky ; the anterior wings are pale 

 yellow, with a pale ferruginous mark near the base, 

 and finely reticulated with the same colour, two 

 rings something like O O appearing in the centre 

 of the wings. Reticulations and a narrow line are 

 conspicuous along the outer margin. The hinder 

 wings whitish, with a tinge of buffy yellow. Ex- 

 panse of wings about one inch and a quarter. 



The caterpillar feeds on the oak, and the perfect 

 insect appears in May and June. 



The orange underwing (Brepha Parthenias), per- 

 fect insect, caterpillar, and pupa. " The brephae," 

 observes Mr. Stephens, "are distinguished by the 

 beauty of the under surface, and the liveliness of 

 the colouring of the posterior wings, which are ge- 

 nerally orange or flavescent with black or dusky 

 fascia; and margins;" the palpi are concealed, and 

 the head is densely pilose. 



This elegant species is diurnal in its habits, ap- 

 pearing early in the spring, and flitting about in 

 wooded places on rapid but vacillating pinions, 

 generally over the tops of the bushes or patches of 

 underwood, and occasionally descending and settling 

 near little pools of water, but ever on the alert, and 

 flitting oft' on the least alarm. It is very local in 

 its distribution, being common in a few places only. 



The general colour is fuscous. The anterior wings 

 are sprinkled with cinereous, and marked with se- 

 veral obscure whitish strigae ; two decided spots are 

 seated on the anterior margin ; the first forming a 

 transverse bar. The posterior wings are dull orange, 

 with the base and inner margin broadly black, wi;h 

 an interrupted transverse bar of the same colour, 

 and also a posterior marginal fringe. We may 

 observe, however, that in the arrangement of the 

 markings there is considerable variation. The ca- 

 terpillar is yellowish green, with a bluish black 

 lateral line, and some black spots. It feeds upon 

 the leaves of the poplar and oak. 



Fig. 3720 represents the caterpillar of the goat- 

 moth in a willow-tree. Fig. 3721, the winter nest of 

 the same caterpillar, in which it hybernates. Fig. 

 3722, pupa in its cell. Fig. 3723, a, the pupa of 

 Cossus, compared with b, the pupa of the cleai-wing 

 hawk-moth (^geria asiliformis). Fig. 3724 repre- 

 sents — 1, the lappet moth (Gastropachaqueicifolia) ; 

 2, the emperor moth (Saturnia Pavonia) ; 3, the 

 oak egger moth (Lasiocampa Quercus) ; 4, the 

 small egger moth (Eriogaster Lanestris) ; 5, the 

 great tiger moth (Aictia Caja) ; 6, the cream-spot 

 tiger molh(Arctia Villica); 7, the ground lackey 

 moth (Clisiocampacastrensis) ; 8, the glory of Kent 

 (Endromis versicolora). 



The lappet moth, perfect insect, caterpillar, and 

 chrysalis (Gastropacha queicifolia). The lappet 

 mo'h seems to vary considerably with respect to 

 the numbers in which it makes its appearance, being 

 rare during some seasons, and abundant in others; 

 in some districts, moreover, it is in greater plenty 

 than in others. The name of lappet moth is taken 

 from a peculiarity in the caterpillar, which has each 

 segment furnished with fleshy lateral appendages or 

 lappets; and though the term is only applicable to 

 the caterpillar, it has been transferred to the perfect 

 insect, and universally adopted. The sexes of this 

 moth vary considerably ; the body and antennie are 

 dusky, or of a deep ferruginous broWn ; the wings are 

 of the same tint, the anterior pair having three ob- 

 lique waven stripes, and a central black spot ; the 

 hinder pair are unspotted. The female exceeds the 

 male in size, and is of a lighter hue generally, with 



the stripes darker. Occasionally the stripes are 

 almost obsolete ; sometimes remarkably broad and 

 deep ; and occasionally the posterior wings have a 

 few dusky markings. When at rest, the wings are 

 deflected, and the moth resembles a withered oak- 

 leaf in form and colouring. 



The emperor moth, perfect insect, caterpillar, and 

 pupa (Saturnia Pavonia). Heaths and marshy 

 places are the haunts of this beautiful moth, of 

 which the males may be often seen during the warm 

 afternoons of summer, playfully flitting about in 

 quest of their less active mates. This species is by 

 no means uncommon, and is rather widely sjiread. 



The emperor moth is of considerable size, mea- 

 suring two inches six or ten lines in the expanse of 

 the wings, the female often exceeding three inches. 

 In the male the body is fulvous; the anterior 

 wings are griseous, powdered with whitish and with 

 three purplish stripes edged with blaijk. Between 

 the two anterior stripes is an ocellated spot, of large 

 size, with a black pupil, a white ring, encircled with 

 black, and a bluish lunule towards the base of the 

 wing. The apex of the wing is purplish, with a 

 few black, white, and rufous spots. The hinder 

 wings are tawny, with a ferruginous tinge, and an 

 ocellated spot very closely resembling that on the 

 anterior wings. The female is of a paler colour 

 generally; bnt both sexes vary m markings, and 

 sometimes in the female the wings are beautifully 

 suffused with purplish. 



The caterpillar is gregarious, and feeds on the 

 heath, blackthorn, alder, oak, willow, birch, &c., 

 and also on the leaves of the strawberry. 



The oak egger moth, caterpillar and perfect insect 

 (Lasiocampa Queicils). In the New Forest, Hamp- 

 shire, in various parts of Devonshire, and certain 

 isolated localities, this moth is not uncommon, while 

 in other localities it is rare. In the extent of it» 

 wings it nearly equals the emperor moth ; and, as 

 in that species, the male often flits about during the 

 sultry afternoons of summer. 



The general colour of the male is deep chestnu 

 brown ; the wings have a broad yellow band mar- 

 gined abruptly on the inner edge, and gradually 

 shaded off towards the hinder margin of the wing, 

 which has a broad brown fringe : the anterior wings 

 have a central spot of white, usually of a triangular 

 form, and a conspicuous yellow patch at the base. 

 The female exceeds the male in size, but the general 

 tints are paler : both sexes are subject to variations 

 of colour. 



The small egger moth, caterpillar, and perfect in- 

 sect (Eriogaster Lanestris). This species is common 

 in dift'erent localities, abounding some years and 

 rare in others. Occasionally nests of its caterpillars 

 may be seen in the hedges, for the caterpillars, or 

 larvae, are gregarious, and make a common tent, in 

 which they crowd together; this they enlarge from 

 time to time, leaving it during the night, when they 

 search for food, and returning to it in the morning 

 at daybreak. Before assuming the pupa stage they 

 quit this silken tent, and seek the surface of the 

 ground, where they enclose themselves in an oval 

 rigid cocoon, whence the perfect insect emerges in 

 the months of February and March. 



In the motn the thorax is griseous ; the abdomen 

 fuscous, with a paler apex ; the anterior wings are 

 subfeiruginous, with a large white spot at the base, 

 and, in the male, a dark cloud in the centre, and an 

 incurved white line beyond a central white spot ; 

 the hinder margin ashy grey. The hinder wings 

 are grey, with an obsolete central line of white. 

 Extent of wings one inch two or four lines. The 

 colour of both sexes is subject to variation. 



The great tiger moth; caterpillar, pupa, and per- 

 fect insect (ArctiaCaja). The tiger moths (Arctia) 

 ai'e remarkable for the brilliant and showy contrasts 

 of their colouring, which render them very attrac- 

 tive. The body is stout and robust ; the larvae are 

 solitary, thickly clothed with long pencils of hairs, 

 each pencil arising from a tubercle ; when touched 

 they roll themselves into a ring. The pupa is in- 

 closed in a loose extended web. 



The great tiger moth is a very beautiful species, 

 and is everywhere in tolerable abundance. It is 

 subject to considerable variety in the arrangement 

 of its markings and its tints. In general the thorax 

 is brown, with a narrow white ring anteriorly ; the 

 body reddish white, or red, fasciated with bhick. 

 The anterior wings are ornamented with white or 

 cream-colour, and black or brownish black in dis- 

 tinct abrupt patches; the hinder wings are red, 

 with glossy bluish black marks. The caterpillar is 

 black, hirsute, with three bluish tubercles on each 

 segment laterally. It feeds on various plants, as 

 lettuces, chickweed, &c. The moth appears in 

 spring. 



The cream-spot tiger moth, caterpillar, and per- 

 fect insect (Arctia Villica). This elegant moth is 

 rare in some districts but common in others. Like 

 the preceding species it is subject to considerable 

 variation of colouring. Generally, however, the an- 

 terior wings are black, relieved by several abrupt 



