PUSS CATERPILLAR. 241 



This insect affords another example of the effect 

 which can be got out of simple black and white. The 

 upper wings are soft greyish-white and rounded at 

 the tips, and have a peculiar softness in their general 

 aspect. Most of the larger nervures are without 

 scales, and show themselves conspicuously, but at the 

 branches they are thickly covered with black scales. 

 These wings are traversed by bold markings in black 

 and dark grey, as seen in the illustration. The lower 



Dicranura vinula. 



wings are white at the base, deepening to blackish 

 grey towards the margin, and having a few dark spots 

 on the fringe. The large thorax is covered with long, 

 soft down of a snowy- white colour, diversified with 

 eight very black spots, so that it strongly reminds the 

 observer of minever. The head is also white, and is 

 held so much under the thorax that, when the creature 

 is at rest, the head is quite invisible, and nothing can 

 be seen but the ends of the antennae, which are laid 

 along either side of the thorax. 



The caterpillar of this pretty Moth affords a 

 singular example of grotesque form and beautiful 

 colouring. The head is flat, and, when the creature 

 is at rest, is drawn back into the second segment. 



R 



