STRUCTURE OF WINGS. 345 



In moths and butterflies the nervures are in a great 

 measure concealed by the feathery scales; but when 

 these are removed they are rendered apparent, and 

 appear to resemble in some measure the arrangement 

 observed in the two-winged flies. To this arrange- 

 ment there occurs a remarkable exception in the 

 family of plumed moths (JHucitidce, LEACH), of 

 which Stephens enumerates twenty-nine British 

 species. One of the most common of these is the 

 large white plume (Pterophorus pentadactylus, 

 LEACH), which may be seen, during the summer, in 

 hedges and gardens, flitting about like a tuft of down 

 or a snow-white feather dropt from the breast of the 

 eider duck. From being slow in its motions it is 

 easily taken; but if rudely handled all its snowy 

 plumage will come off. Another of the family, also 

 very common, is the twenty-plume moth (Alucita 

 hexadactyla, LEACH), which may be seen from March 



a, the twenty-plume moth. 6, the same magnified, c, the white 

 plume moth. 



till October, on windows and the walls of rooms, or, 

 still more probably, on the leaves of honey-suckles, 



