THE ERMINE MOTH. 331 



anterior wings of a white colour, usually more or less 

 tinged with grey, and covered with numerous small 

 black spots, and the hinder wings of a leaden grey tint. 

 Its wings usually measure about five-sixths of an inch 

 in expanse, although specimens may frequently be 

 met with a good deal smaller ; during the daytime it 

 remains concealed amongst the leaves of low shrubs, 

 but at the approach of night issues from its retreat, 

 and may be seen flying slowly over the vegetation. 

 This is the common Ermine Moth (Hyponomeuta Pa- 

 della), so called from the resemblance which its white 

 wings, with their black spots, present to the well- 

 known far, which is supposed to play such an import- 

 ant part in conferring grandeur upon royal and noble 

 personages. 



The caterpillar of this moth feeds upon the apple and 

 hawthorn (unless, as Mr. Stainton seems to think, each 

 of these trees is infested by a distinct species), and in 

 the course of July the female lays about thirty eggs 

 in a small mass upon the twigs. The caterpillars are 

 hatched in the course of the autumn, but from their 

 small size they do but little damage at first, and at 

 the approach of winter, collecting into small so- 

 cieties, they spin a common web between the leaves 

 of the buds, and here pass the cold season without 

 fear of frost. But as soon as the trees begin to push 

 out their tender leaves in the spring, the caterpillars 

 awaken from their torpid state, and commence their 

 appointed work of destruction. Still keeping in so- 

 ciety, and constantly spinning a common web as they 

 proceed, they march over the tree, destroying all the 

 foliage on one shoot, and then passing to another, 

 until, when they abound in unusual numbers, the 

 trees are sometimes completely stripped of their 



