THE BURNET MOTHS. 



651 



and is arranged in symmetrical spots, two on each wing, which 

 have given to the insect the specific name of octomacidata, or 



Fig. 384. — Alypia octouiaculatu. 

 (Black and yellow.) 



" eight-spotted." There is a stripe of similar yellow on each side 

 of the thorax. 



The group of Moths called the Zygtenidse is familiar to 

 English entomologists on account of the well-known Burnet 

 Moths, which, although not large, are among the most beautiful 

 of British insects. Why such a name should be given to these 

 Moths, or indeed to any insect at all, is more than I can under- 

 stand, for the word, which is 

 Greek, signifies a kind of shark, 

 and is used by Aristotle in that 

 sense. 



The accompanying insect is 

 a beautiful example of the 

 Zygsenidse, and loses none of 

 the prestige of its family. The 

 wings are transparent, but are ^ 

 edged with black. The head, 

 part of the thorax, and the 

 middle of the abdomen are 

 black, and the rest of the abdomen is rich scarlet, this colour 

 gaining for the insect the specific name of hcemorrhoidalis, or 

 " blood-stained." The end of the abdomen has a peculiarly soft, 

 velvet-like appearance. The insect is a native of Brazil. 



Although not so brilliantly splendid as the preceding species, 

 the insect which is here given is a very handsome one. The 



\ ij\-fS*» 



Fig. 385. — Eunomia luemorrhoidalis. 

 (Scarlet and black.) 



