GEOMETRY 271 



The August Thorn (Eugonia quercinaria) 



Our last example of this family is the August Thorn, repre- 

 sented in the accompanying woodcut. The fore wings are ochre- 

 ous yellow, crossed by two nearly parallel lines of dark brown. 

 In order to distinguish between this and one or two similar species 

 it must be observed that both these 

 lines are angulated near the costa, 

 the inner one very sharply so ; and 

 between the two is a distinct brown 

 spot near the costal margin. The 

 hind wings are paler, and are crossed 

 by an indistinct darker line. The 

 antennae of the male are strongly FIG. 178. THE AUGUST 

 fringed ; those of the female are THORN. 



simple. 



The moth is very common in August and September, and is 

 readily attracted by lights in the evening. 



The larva is grey, marbled with reddish brown. It has three 

 small humps on each of the sixth and seventh segments, two on 

 the twelfth, and one larger one on the ninth. It feeds 011 the oak 

 and various other trees during the month of June. 



Family AMPHIDASYD^ 



The seven British species of the family Amphidasydcc are 

 generally to be distinguished by their rather stout abdomens, and 

 the long shaggy hair that covers their thoraces. The antennae of 

 the males are pectinated, and those of the females simple ; and in 

 three cases the latter sex is wingless. 



The caterpillars have long and slender twig-like bodies, and are 

 never provided with more than two pairs of claspers. The chrysa- 

 lides terminate behind in a sharp spine, and are always to be found 

 buried in the soil. 



The Brindled Beauty (Bis ton hirtaria) 



Early in April, and sometimes in March, this moth may be seen 

 in abundance, resting on the lime trees in and around our towns. 

 In fact, so strongly marked is its partiality to the haunts of man in 

 the neighbourhood of our great metropolis that it has received the 

 name of the Cockney. The male is represented in fig. 5 of 



