156 NATURAL HISTORY. 



long ; the color is reddish-gray, green, and brown, in wavy 

 panels, beautifully marked ; tufts of hair on the breast- 

 plate. The brown or green caterpillar, with irregular 

 white lines on the back and yellow stripes on the sides, 

 lives on mallows, cabbage, celery, etc. ; eats only at 

 night, and conceals itself in day time under the leaves. 

 It passes through its tranformation in a web under the 

 earth, which retreat is covered with bits of leaves and 

 sand. The pupa is dark brown. 



The Gamma Moth (noctua gamma). About the 

 same size with the above; upper wings brown, with a 

 brilliant metallic luster of copper, silver, and gold, inter- 

 mingled and beautifully marked with light and dark lines ; 

 underneath is a white y, from whence its name ; the 

 lower wings dull yellow. The caterpillar, one inch long, 

 is green, and covered with short hairs ; is very common, 

 and feeds upon all kinds of vegetables, particularly flax ; 

 found living in companies, and therefore do great damage. 

 They make a transparent case or web upon the ground, 

 where they enclose themselves when ready for their 

 metamorphosis. The pupa is green at first, but after- 

 wards changes to dark brown. 



The Copper Wing (noctua chrysitis) exceeds an inch 

 in length ; upper wings of a brillia,nt copper color, with 

 large black spots ; lower wings and body brown. The 

 caterpillar resembles the above described ; lives on hoar- 

 hound, mint, and nettles. The pupa is olive-brown. 

 This butterfly is very rare. 



Red Winged Moth (noctua pyramidea). One inch 

 and a half long; upper wings red-brown, with light, 

 somewhat jagged, transverse lines; the hinder wings are 

 of a copper red. The caterpillar is two inches long ; 

 green, with longitudinal white stripes, and on the pos- 



