230 COMMON BRITISH MOTHS 



As a rule the larva hybernates through the winter, is full grown 

 in the following May, and the moth appears in July ; but in 

 Scotland the caterpillar does not spin its cocoon till September, 

 hybernates in the chrysalis state, and emerges in the following 

 June. The same is true of the Cornish Eggars ; but along the 

 coast of South Devon both varieties are to be met with. 



The male Eggar seems to enjoy the bright sunshine, for I have 

 seen large numbers flying over the rugged cliffs of the south-west 

 throughout all hours of the day. 



The Drinker (Odonestis potatoria) 



The popular name of this species is applied on account of a 

 peculiar feature of the larva, which sucks up the dewdrop that lies 

 on its food plant. 



The colour of the male is tawny and brown, with a reddish tinge ; 



that of the female is yellow. 



Ifcv ji ,^^A ^^ e fr nt wm nas an oblique 



^^^^^t .ff ^^^1 dark bar passing from the apex 



^^^^^^^( 9 to tne middle of the inner 



margin ; also two white spots 



one in the middle of the 



*jj m wing, and the other between 



it and the costal margin. 



The caterpillar is dark 

 bluish grey above, and has a 



Fm. 128. THE DRINKER MALE. ii ne o f orange spots on each 



side. Along the spiracles are 



oblique orange streaks, and a series of tufts of white hair. It feeds 

 on the annual meadow-grass (Poa annua), and several other grasses. 

 It is a hybernator, commencing its caterpillar state in the autumn, 

 and reaching its full dimensions about the end of the following May. 

 The moth flies during Juty and August. 



TJie Lappet (Lasiocampa quercifolia) 



Our last example of the Bonibycidce is the Lappet (Plate X, 

 fig. 6), a large moth, the female often measuring considerably 

 over three inches from tip to tip. The wings are of a rich reddish 

 brown, and exhibit a beautiful purplish bloom in a newly emerged 

 insect. Scalloped black lines pass transversely across each wing, 

 and a small black dot lies near the centre of the fore wings. 



