222 COMMON BRITISH INSECTS. 



TlGER MOTH (CJielonia or Arctia cajd], so called on 

 account of the bold cream and black markings of its 

 upper wings. The lower wings are red, with some 

 large black spots glossed with blue. The body is red, 

 barred with black. This is a most variable insect, the 

 number, size, shape, and tint differing in a most be- 

 wildering manner. But however variable it may be, 

 there is never any possibility of mistaking it. 



It is one of the commonest of British insects, and 

 towards the end of summer the Moth is quite plentiful. 

 It is wonderfully quick of foot, and, as it runs with 

 closed wings among the herbage, has a most curious 

 resemblance to a small mouse. 



The larva is covered with long, brown, stiff hairs, 

 and is popularly known by the name of the Woolly 

 Bear. It feeds principally on the common dead nettle, 

 but is not in the least particular as to its food, and, 

 being very hardy, is an admirable subject for experi- 

 ments in Moth-breeding. 



PASSING by one or two well-known insects for 

 which we have no space, such as the Ermines, the 

 Brown-tail, the Golden-tail, the Gipsy, we come to 

 that interesting insect, the common VAPOURER MOTH 

 (Orgyia antiqita}, the male of which is represented in 

 the accompanying woodcut. 



This is rather a pretty Moth, though the colours 

 are anything but brilliant. The wings are warm 

 chestnut, the upper pair having some waved transverse 

 marks, as shown in the illustration, and a bold nearly 

 semilunar white spot at the anal angle. 



He is very common, and is one of the few Lepi- 



