SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR THE STUDY OF INSECTS. 161 



anterior border there is a short set of black markings in a 

 double row with orange between. 



The under wing, which is but slightly exposed when the 

 moth is at rest, has also a cream white colour with a border 

 of black semi-lunar markings. In front of this there is an 

 irregular line of small black spots, while in the anterior 

 region of the wing there are a few scattered spots of the 

 same colour. There are no orange markings. 



The body itself is of a rich orange colour, having a single 

 row of black spots on the upper side and a double one of 

 smaller spots below. There is a larger black mark upon 

 the thoracic region, i.e. between the place of attachment of 

 wings to body. The wings are symmetrically marked and 

 the body markings form a median set fitting in well with 

 their pattern. 



There is no doubt that here we have an arrangement 

 and combination of colour which is pleasing to the eye, and 

 a few minutes devoted to a close examination and com- 

 parison of different specimens are well spent. We may be 

 struck with the fact that these insects are so conspicuously 

 marked, or at any rate they appear to be so. But it is one 

 thing to see them as we perhaps are doing, i.e. indoors or 

 in the hand at close quarters away from their natural sur- 

 roundings, and another as they rest upon a wall or against 

 the trunk of a currant bush. Here they are much less 

 readily observed. Further reference to the significance of 

 colour is made below. 



The pupils should here make a coloured drawing of the 

 moth. 



It cannot but be noted that the moth at rest spreads its 

 wings flat so that the upper surfaces are exposed, the front 

 wings overlapping all but a small portion of the inner and 

 posterior borders of the hind pair. These and similar 

 details will be verified in the making of the sketch, which 

 should not be omitted. * 



We become very familiar in handling the moth with the 

 delicate nature of the surface of its body. It rubs off all 

 too readily, and if we shake on to a glass slip a little of the 

 fine dust of the wings, we discover it is made up of a great 

 variety of exquisitely formed and delicately ridged and 



N.S. 11 



