THE SWALLOW-TAILED AND THE WHITE-PLUME MOTH. 647 



The Swallow-tailed Moth is a well-known British species, very 

 common in woods, and being mostly found among the underwood, 

 whence it may be dislodged by beating the branches. The caterpillar 

 feeds on many shrubs, but prefers the willow, the lime, and elder trees, 

 the elder being its chief favorite. The cocoon is made of withered leaves. 



The color of the larva is reddish brown, with some dark longitudinal 

 lines, and before it changes into the pupal state it makes a slight silken 

 cocoon among leaves. The color of the wings is delicate sulphur yellow, 

 fading to shining white at the base of the wings, and diversified with 

 narrow streaks of brown. 



The family of the Hyponomeutidse contains many beautiful species, 

 none of which are of great size, but which, when magnified and a strong 

 light thrown upon 

 them, seem to be 

 amongst the loveliest 

 of the moth tribes. 



Our last example 

 of the Lepidoptera is 

 the beautiful White- 

 plume Moth, an in- 

 sect which never fails 

 to attract attention 

 on account of the 

 singular elegance and 

 beauty of its form. 



This insect belongs 

 to a small family 

 which is remarkable 

 for the fact that, ex- 

 cept in one genus, 

 the wings, instead of 

 being broad membra- 

 nous structures, are 



cleft into narrow rays _ ,^ ^^ , .j ., x 



feathered in a most'^^^ White-Plume Moth {Pteiophorus pentadactylus). 

 , 1 T ^ Natural size and magnified. 



soft and delicate 



manner. The White-plume Moth is to be seen in the evenings, fly- 

 ing in a curious, uncertain manner, and looking not unlike a snow- 

 flake blown casually by the wind. It seems never to fly to any great 

 distance, settling quite openly on leaves or plants, without taking the 

 precaution of clinging to the under side, as is the custom with so many 

 of the smaller moths. When it rests it folds the wings, so that they 

 look like only a single broad ray. The legs are very long and slender. 

 The color of this insect is pure white. 



