1 92 OTHER DENIZENS OF THE WOODS 



about the same size, is the large tortoiseshell (V. polychloros), which is tawny 

 in colour, marked on the front edge of the fore-wing by three large black 

 blotches, with yellow between them, and having no white spot. The caterpillar 

 is brownish grey or greyish blue, marked with yellow stripes on the back and 

 sides, with knotted yellow spines. It is abundant from April till June 

 throughout Europe and northern Asia, and is a hibernating butterfly, the 

 individuals that have passed through the winter appearing in April, while 

 those of the year emerge in May and continue till August. The caterpillar 

 feeds on willow, elm, cherry, pear, and apple trees. Another butterfly whose larva 

 feeds on the willow is the splendid purple emperor (Apatura iris), which has a 

 wing-spread of about 2| inches and upwards, the wings of the male being black and 

 shimmering blue, those of the females having no shimmer, but both sexes having a 

 broad white band across the wings and a small red-ringed eye-spot on the hind- 

 pair. The caterpillar, which is green marked with yellow, and has two yellow 

 tentacles, is found on the poplar, aspen, and willow in May and June. 



Unlike the butterflies, the hawk-moths have stout bodies, short 

 antennae, which are thickest in the middle, long fore-wings, and 

 short narrow hind-wings, and, when at rest, hold their wings flat or ridged like 

 a roof. A well-known representative of this family is the privet hawk-moth 

 (Sphinx ligustri), the larva of which is more than 3 inches long, and light 

 green in colour, marked on each side with seven oblique white and violet stripes 

 and having orange spiracles and a dark brown horn on the last segment. When in 

 repose, the attitude of this larva resembles that of the Egyptian sphinx, and from 

 this it takes its name. From the larva the name was naturally transferred to the 

 moth ; from S. ligustri the name was adopted for the other species of the genus, 

 and from the genus it became that of the group. This larva feeds from June till 

 September on privet, lilac, and elder, and develops into a moth nearly 5 inches 

 in wing-spread. The moth is common from May to July throughout Europe, 

 northern Asia, and South Africa, and recognisable at once by its abdomen being 

 ringed with black and rose. The fore-wings are brown with ashy edges and black 

 streaks, while the hind-pair have alternate bands of black and rose, the rose being 

 occasionally replaced by buff. Larger is the convolvulus hawk-moth (S. con- 

 volvuli), notable for its invasions of England at irregular intervals. 



The clear-wings, with their transparent wings and long abdomens 

 Clear-Wings. . 



are more like wasps and bees than other moths. A characteristic 



representative of this group is the hornet-clearwing (Trochilium apiforme), whose 

 larva lives in the stems of poplars, aspens, and willows, which are somewhat 

 damaged by its presence, from May to July. The moth, which bears a close 

 resemblance to a large wasp, has a wing-spread of over 1A inches, the trans- 

 parent wings showing rusty brown edges and veins, while the long abdomen 

 is ringed with black and yellow, and the head yellow with a brown collar. 

 The larva is hairy and pale yellow, with a dark line down, the back and a 

 dark brown head. 



As representing another family mention may be made of the goat 



moth (formerly C'ossus ligniperda, now Try partus cossus), the larva 



of which feeds in the stems of willow, poplar, oak, lime, walnut, elm, and horse- 



