\ 9 - 





The insects assembled ia this Vignette afford only average specimens of 

 Nature's decorative skill, but serve to illustrate the three modes above men- 

 tioned of insect adornment. In the Moth Caterpillar, with its goldfinch 

 colours (scarlet, yellow, black, white, and brown), resting on a branch of elm, 

 we have an example of gay painting wanting permanence. This latter quality 

 is supplied in the Ruby-tailed Wasp (Chrysis ignita) on the paling. Above, are 

 two larvae (pseudo-caterpillars) of the Currant Saw-fly (JKematm Ribes"), their 

 skins of greenish yellow, studded with raised dots of shining black. On the 

 nettle-stalk adjacent hangs the gilded chrysalis of a Tortoiseshell Butterfly 

 ( Vanessa Urticai) ; and above, flying upwards, its superior wings laden with 

 seeming gold, is one of the little Moths (TYneufe) come of caterpillars which 

 feed on the bark of Birch-trees. Also inscribed in mimic gold is the Greek y, 

 which gives name to the larger Moth (Plusia gamma}, seen on wing beneath 

 the flower-head of Knapweed ^(Phrygia nigra\ seated on which, her closed 

 pinions "freaked" on their reverse, not with gold, but silver, is a brown Fri- 

 tillary (Argynnis Ad'tppe). The only specimen of insect Carving for which 

 room has been here found is one of the sculptured eggs of the y Moth on a 

 leaf of Knapweed. 



