690 



INSECTS ABROAD. 



The habits of these Moths are very much like those of our 

 large Underwings (Catacola). They will sit motionless on the 

 trunk of a tree or any similar surface, the mottled grey, the 

 brown and black of their wings so exactly coinciding with the 

 object on which they rest, that they can scarcely be detected 

 even by a practised eye. Sometimes, when disturbed, it will 

 fly deliberately to some trees, suddenly whirl, and settle so 

 quickly that it is practically undiscoverable. Mr. Gosse men- 

 tions that the under side of felled trees is a favourite resting- 

 place for the Erebida. 1 . Sometimes one specimen takes a fancy 

 to a particular spot, " to which it resorts with such uniformity 

 during its hours of repose, that it may almost with certainty be 

 dislodged on any afternoon by giving a smart rap on the outside 

 of its shelter. Out it rashes with such a startling suddenness, 

 and with so irregular and zigzag a motion, as often to defy cap- 

 ture, even though we are all on the watch for it." 



The handsome and variable Moth called Brana calopasa is a 

 native of Ceylon. There is but one species of the genus at 

 present known to entomologists. 



Although there is some variety both in the colour and the 



markings, the insect 

 may be briefly described 

 as follows. The ground 

 colour of the upper 

 wings is pale brown 

 glossed with gold, and 

 the marks which stud 

 its surface are black, 

 edged w T ith white. At 

 the tips of the wings 

 there is a large patch 

 of dark blackish brown, 

 traversed by a narrow 

 white bar. The lower 

 wings are sooty brown 

 edged with white. 

 The thorax is grey 

 with a brown tuft, and the abdomen is black, with a patch of 

 bright grey at its base, and the last few segments are of the 



Pig. 425. — Brana calopa 

 < Pale gold, brown, and black.) 



