ARGENT AND SABLE MOTR. 83 



Moth, it cannot be compared, as to the latter 

 quality, with the ARGENT AND SABLE (Melanippe 

 hastata), a Moth which is almost startling by the 

 strong contrast of colours which it exhibits, and 

 the bold manner in which the opposite hues of 

 deep black and pure white are arranged. A 

 figure of this Moth is shown in Plate VI. fig. 

 11 ; and as the colours are simply black and 

 white, a glance at the figure will give a better 

 idea of the insect than any amount of detailed 

 description. 



The ordinary arrangement of colours is shown 

 in this figure ; but, like many Moths, this in- 

 sect is liable to variation, and, although the 

 colours remain the same, their proportion is 

 altered, the white predominating greatly over 

 the black. 



The caterpillar feeds chiefly on the birch, 

 drawing the leaves together with silken threads, 

 and living in the midst of them, where it finds 

 at the same time shelter and food. The Moth 

 appears about June. 



The reader must remember, by the way, that 

 the time mentioned for the appearance of any 

 insect can never be definitely fixed, and must only 

 be looked upon as an approximation to exact- 

 ness. The same species appears at different times 

 o 2 



