GEOMETBJE 269 



markable by the attitude assumed by the caterpillar when at rest. 

 It fixes itself to a twig by means of its two pairs of claspers, with 

 its body standing out at an angle in a perfectly straight posture ; 

 but its head is always supported by means of a very slender and 

 almost invisible silk fibre. It feeds on a number of plants and trees, 

 including elder (Sambucus nigra), blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), 

 whitethorn (Cratcegus oxyacantka), bramble (Rubus fruticosus), 

 honeysuckle (Lonicera Periclymenum], and forget-me-not (Myo~ 

 sotis arvensis). It may be found feeding in the autumn, or hyber- 

 nating in the crevices of the bark of trees in winter. In April or 

 May it comes out again; and in June, in which month it is full 

 grown, it binds together some fragments of leaves, and forms 

 them into a little swinging hammock in which it changes to a brown 

 chrysalis spotted with black. 



Just at this time it seems to be particularly sensitive. In the 

 caterpillar state it will strongly resent any kind of disturbance, 

 and will give a blow to an intruder by suddenly swaying its 

 body right and left ; and while in its hammock a gentle irritation, 

 such as a puff of wind from the mouth, will set it wriggling in a 

 furious manner. 



Family E NNOMID^E 



This family contains about twenty species, several of which rank 

 among the commonest as well as the most beautiful of the Gco- 

 metrce. Their wings are more or less angulated ; and the antennae 

 are generally pectinated in the males. 



The larvae are generally humped and twig-like ; and, as in the 

 last species, the semblance is increased by the position they assume 

 when at rest. The number of limbs varies from ten to fourteen, but 

 where the claspers exceed two pairs, the additional two or four, as 

 the case may be, are seldom used in walking. 



The Brimstone Moth (Rumia luteolata) 



As soon as the warm evenings of May set in. this lively and 

 bright little moth may be seen flitting about among our hedges at 

 sunset ; and it continues with us throughout the whole of the sum- 

 mer, but is particularly plentiful during the month of June. 



The moth itself need not be described, since it is shown on Plate 

 XII (fig. 3) ; but the caterpillar (fig. 25) must receive a passing 

 notice. It varies considerably in colour, being either green, brown, 



