MOTH. 239 



the very remarkable aspect of its wings, which 

 are divided into the most beautiful distinct plumes, 

 two in each upper, and three in each under wing, 

 and formed on a plan resembling that of the long 

 wing-feathers of birds, viz. with a strong middle 

 rib or shaft, and innumerable lateral fibres. This 

 moth, which is the Phalcena pentadactyla of Lin- 

 naeus, appears chiefly in the month of August. Its 

 caterpillar, which is yellowish-green, speckled with 

 black, feeding on Nettles, and changing into a 

 blackish chrysalis enveloped in a white web. 



Another very remarkable species of this division 

 is the Phal&na hexadactyla of Linnaeus ; each 

 wing consisting of six distinct plumes. The In- 

 sect is of a pale grey-brown colour, with several 

 transverse lines or bars across the feathers, and 

 exhibiting a very curious spectacle in the micro- 

 scope. It chiefly makes its appearance in the month 

 of September. This little moth is by the Eng- 

 lish collectors somewhat improperly called the 

 twenty-plumed Moth, the plumes being in reality 

 twenty-four in number. 



END OF PART I. 



