139 



THE GREAT TIGER MOTH. 



Phalana Caja. 

 PLATE XCVI. 



Phaleena Caja, Linn. Syst, Nat. ii. p. 819. Turton's 

 Linne, iii. p. 223. Donovan's Brit. Ins. i. pi. 15. 



THE superior wings are of a cream colour, with 

 large irregularly- shaped black patches, which vary 

 considerably, both in shape and size, and frequently 

 two are united to form one. The inferior wings, and 

 annulations of the body, are of a rich orange, which 

 also admit of equal variety ; the spots near the thorax 

 are often united, and the small black stripes on the 

 back are fewer in some specimens than on others ; 

 the back and thorax are of a raw umber brown, 

 thickly beset with fine hairs and bristles ; under the 

 head is a semilunar stripe of a fine pale crimson. 



The caterpillar is of a fine high coloured chestnut, 

 thickly covered with long hairs of nearly the same 

 colour. It feeds on lettuces or nettles ; and wheu 

 apprehensive of danger, rolls itself up like a hedge- 

 hog. It changes into the chrysalis state in May ; 

 and the latter end of June, or the beginning of July, 



