126 THE BROOM MOTH. 



does much harm in the field and garden. It 

 also feeds on the common bracken fern. 



The ground colour of the upper wings is 

 chestnut brown, but both this hue and those of 

 the lighter markings are rather variable. On 

 reference to the illustration, the reader will see 

 that almost parallel with the hind margin of the 

 upper wings runs a jagged, light-coloured streak. 

 The colour of this streak varies from white to 

 yellow. The colour of the hind- wings is paler 

 than that of the upper pair, and they become 

 nearly grey towards the base. 



The larva is a very pretty one, being striped 

 with various shades of green, black, white, and 

 yellow. The Moth appears about the beginning 

 of summer. 



OP the next family, the Xylinidae, we shall 

 lake one or two examples. 



First comes the SWORD-GRASS MOTH (Calocampa 

 exoleta), a figure of which, together with one of 

 the beautiful larva, is here given. 



The colouring of the Moth is not easily 

 described, but a good idea of it may be gained 

 by reference to the illustration. The upper 

 wings are grey with a very slight tinge of blue, 

 and upon them are a number of dark streaks, 



