254 



COMMON BRITISH MOTHS 



FIG. 161. THE GOTHIC. 



Family AMPHIPYRID^E 

 The Gothic (Mania typica) 



The above family contains only four British species, two of 

 which we shall briefly consider. 



The first of these is the Gothic a very common moth that may 

 be seen everywhere about midsummer. Its fore wings are brown 



with darker marblings, and 

 there are numerous lighter 

 markings which may be easily 

 made out by reference to the 

 accompanying woodcut. 



The caterpillar is smooth 

 and velvety, of a dull brown or 

 greenish colour, with darker 

 dorsal and side stripes. The 

 latter are crossed obliquely by 

 a series of whitish lines. It 

 feeds on fruit and other trees 



in clusters wlien very young in early autumn, and afterwards 

 descends and feeds on low plants. It hybernates in the winter, and 

 feeds again on low plants in the spring. When full grown it bur- 

 rows into the soil to undergo its changes. 



The Old Lady (Mania Maura) 



This fine moth is so very different from the last in appearance 



that the reason 

 for placing the two 

 in the same genus 

 is not apparent 

 till the earlier 

 stages and life his- 

 tory have been 

 studied. All its 

 wings are very 

 deep brown ; the 

 front pair has a 

 darker band con- 

 taining the orbicu- 

 lar and reniform spots, and the hind pair a lighter band across the 

 middle. 



FIG. 162. THE OLD LADY. 



