Scales of Insects and Fish. 39 



bluish green. When highly magnified, the scales of 

 this moth are seen to be covered with a sort of orna- 

 mental carving ; each of the larger scales has six or 

 seven ridges on it, and rows of hollows between (fig 6). 

 The smaller scales are very similarly ornamented with 

 a pattern not quite so much raised. 



This little moth is common in the beginning of 

 June. There is another, somewhat like it in shape, 

 and still commoner at the same time of year ; it is 

 called the Burnet-moth (fig. 7) . Its upper wings are 

 of a beautiful, very dark green, with round red spots ; 

 its lower wings red, edged with bluish black. The 

 dark green scales are glossy like satin, and the red 

 very bright in colour, but dull like cloth or flock paper. 

 This variety of surface forms a very striking contrast. 

 The dark scales of the Burnet-moth are sculptured in 

 a way similar to those of the green Forester. When 

 these scales are viewed as transparent objects, they no 

 longer appear green, but the pattern on them, when 

 viewed with a high magnifying power, assumes a 

 strange and almost startling appearance. 



It must be remembered how small these scales are. 

 They are only like the finest dust or powder, and a 

 single one could scarcely be seen with the naked eye. 

 Yet every scale may be seen (with a magnifying power 

 of 150) to be marked with some dozen lines, clear and 

 sharp as staves of music, and between them are rows 

 of characters wonderfully resembling some old Baby- 

 lonish inscription (fig. 8).* 



* The figure represents this object magnified 420 diameters, not 

 150. It could, however, be sufficiently well seen with the latter 



