THE MICEO-LEPIDOPTERA 291 



which is divided into families and genera, as we have seen in the 

 case of the ' Macros.' 



Pyralides 



The Pyralides may be easily distinguished by the proportionately 

 long fore wings, long legs, and elongated abdomen. Some of 

 them have wings of a pearly lustre, and are accordingly known 

 popularly as the ' Pearls.' Some species fly in bright sunshine, 

 others appear on the wing before sunset, and fly till dusk ; others, 

 again, are purely nocturnal in their habits. All, however, are 

 apparently light sleepers, and may be easily beaten out of their 

 resting places and netted by day. Some of these moths are 

 common everywhere, but the majority of them are very local, 

 though they may be extremely abundant where they occur. 



The larvae have a glossy and bristly appearance, and are 

 generally gregarious in their habits. 



This group contains about eighty species, arranged in five 

 families as follows : 



1. Pyralididce, including about forty species. 



2. Botydce, about thirty species. 



3. Steniiadce, containing only five species. 



4. Hydrocampidce, four species. 



5. Acentropodidce, containing only one. 



The Tabby (Aglossa pinguinalis) 



The first of these families contains the Tabby or Grease Moth, 

 commonly met with both in the larval and perfect states in barns 

 and stables. 



Its fore wings are brownish grey, 

 crossed with zigzag darker lines, and 

 having a black spot near the centre of 

 the costal margin. The term ' Tabby ' 

 has been applied on account of the 

 fancied resemblance of the transverse FlG 2 09 THE T\BBY OR 

 markings to the fur of a tabby cat, ' GREASE MOTH. 



and the other popular name was given 



under the belief that the caterpillar feeds on fatty matter, but it is 

 extremely doubtful whether this supposition is correct. 



The caterpillar probably feeds exclusively on the vegetable 

 accumulations that lie in the undisturbed corners and crevices of 



