GEOMETRY 281 



the trees, or occasionally taking a short flight in the sunshine. In 

 colour it is very variable. The wings have always a whitish ground 

 marbled and dotted with dark brown, but in some the fore wings 

 are almost entirely dark brown with the exception of a transverse 

 central bar. The female has only the 

 slightest rudiments of wings. 



The caterpillar feeds on the young 

 buds and leaves of the oak (Quercus 

 Robur) and sycamore (Acer Pseudo- 

 platanus], concealing itself among the 



small leaves which it has spun together. p m t 192. THE SPRING 



It is full grown in June, when it USHER. 



changes to a chrysalis on the surface 



of the ground, and remains here throughout the summer and part 

 of the following winter. 



The colour of the caterpillar is very variable, but is usually pale 

 green with white markings. 



The Mottled Umber (Hybernia defoliaria) 



This very pretty moth is represented in fig. 8 of Plate XII. It 

 is very common in most parts, and visits us at the fall of the leaf, 

 generally appearing in October, and remaining on the wing till 

 November. Our illustration gives the usual appearance of the male, 

 but in some specimens the four wings are all of one uniform 

 reddish-brown colour, evenly dotted all over with a darker tint. 

 The female is quite wingless. 



The caterpillar is exceedingly pretty. Its head is large and 

 brown. The back is brown, bordered with a fine black li-ne. Below 

 this is a broad and bright yellow line, with a red spot on each 

 segment. The spiracles are white. It feeds during spring on oak 

 (Quercus Ifo&wrl, whitethorn (Cratccgus oxyacantha), blackthorn 

 (Primus spinosd), and other trees. When disturbed it always allows 

 itself to fall for a foot or two, and then remains swinging at the end 

 of a silken fibre till danger is over, or hunger recalls it to its food. 

 It changes to a chrysalis on the ground about the middle of 

 June. 



The March Moth (Anisopteryx cescularia) 



This is another common moth, and should be looked for during 

 March and April on the barks of trees in oak and other woods, 



