220 COMMON BRITISH INSECTS. 



IN the illustration accompanying this description 

 may be seen a common and very pretty Moth belong- 

 ing to the family Zygaenidae. 

 The insects belonging to this 

 family may be distinguished 

 by their very brilliant and 

 boldly contrasted colours, 

 their habit of flying by day, 

 the stout and hairy caterpillar, 



Anthrocera filipendulae. _ . . 



and the cocoon fastened in an 



upright position against the stems of grasses. Only 

 one genus inhabits England. The Moth which is 

 given in the illustration is called scientifically Zygcena 

 or Anthrocera filipendulce, and is popularly known as 

 the SIX-SPOTTED BURNET. There are several species 

 of Burnet Moth, the greater number of which are so 

 much alike that none but a practised entomologist 

 can distinguish them, especially as the spots, from the 

 number of which they derive their popular name, are 

 almost precisely similar. This very beautiful insect 

 has the upper wings of the deepest possible green, so 

 deep indeed as to appear black unless the light be 

 properly thrown upon it. The lower wings are rich 

 crimson, edged with black. The peculiar form of the 

 antennae is so well shown in the illustration as to need 

 no description. 



PASSING of necessity over many Moths, we come 

 to an insect which is both pretty and interesting. 

 This is the CINNABAR MOTH (Callimorpha Jacobece), 

 which is represented in the accompanying woodcut. It 

 is an example of the family Euchelidae, in which the 



