280 COMMON BRITISH INSECTS. 



Moths. They are always to be found in the open air, 

 whereas the Many-Plume Moth is almost invariably 

 taken in outhouses or similar buildings. I have fre- 

 quently found it on the windows of my own rooms, its 

 peculiar shape immediately betraying it. It can easily 

 be taken by the plan called * pill-boxing,' i.e. putting 

 an empty pill-box over the Moth, slipping a piece of 

 card or paper under it, and then putting on the lid of 

 the box as the card is withdrawn. The box can then 

 be put into the laurel bottle, or into a vessel in which 

 a few drops of chloroform have been placed, and in a 

 few minutes a perfect specimen will be at the collector's 

 disposal. The colour of this little Moth is very pale 

 brown, speckled with grey and dark brown, and taking 

 an ochreous tint towards the base of the wings. 



The larva of this Moth feeds on the buds of the 

 honeysuckle, and is very common. About the end of 

 July or the beginning of August the caterpillar is full- 

 fed, and then spins for itself a cocoon, in which it 

 undergoes its changes. This, I believe, is the only 

 Plume Moth that makes a cocoon. In three or four 

 weeks from the time of its change into the pupal state 

 it is fully developed, and then makes its way to the 

 nearest place of concealment, in which it may remain 

 dormant throughout the winter. 



