RED UNDERWINGS, 257 



wings is soft brown-grey, with a downy surface, and 



slightly powdered with rust-red. On the middle of 



the wing is a broad dash of bright rust-red reaching 



as far as the base, and 



having a tiny, but 



conspicuous spot of 



pure white in its 



middle. Parallel with 



the hind margin a 



whitish-grey line runs 



across the wing and Conakry* matrix. 



has a narrow, pale brown streak accompanying it. 

 The front of the thorax is furnished with a ruff of 

 long, soft down, of the same rust-red as that of the 

 wing The rest of the body and the lower wings are 

 greyish-brown. The caterpillar is green, with a 

 narrow grey streak along the sides. It feeds on the 

 Sallow, and when full-fed 'spins a cocoon within two 

 or three of the leaves, which it draws together with 

 silk. 



The popular name of Herald is given to this Moth 

 because it appears at the end of autumn, and is sup- 

 posed to be the herald of the coming winter. Though 

 feeding in the open air, it has a singular predilection 

 for the habitations of man, and contrives to make its 

 way into stables, outhouses, and even into houses that 

 are inhabited. 



JUST as one group of Moths is popularly termed 

 the Yellow Underwings, so is another termed the Red 

 Underwings, the ground colour of their lower wings 

 being brilliant red. 



S 



