276 TIGER MOTHS. 



somest of our night-fliers, yclept " the Tiger ; " the rich embla- 

 zonment of whose ample pinions has been likened by no mean 

 poet to that of an ancient window : 



" All diamonded with panes of quaint device, 

 Innumerable of stains, and splendid dyes, 

 As are the Tiger Moth's deep damask wings." l 



The prevailing hues of this beautiful genus are black, 

 crimson, and yellow, or cream-colour, disposed elegantly in 

 spots and bars. The most common of several species is the 

 "Great Tiger," 2 found in all parts of Britain from June to 

 August. Its foremost wings are of rich dark brown, varied by 

 zigzag bars of cream colour; the hinder, of brilliant scarlet 

 with black spots, surrounded mostly by a yellow circlet, the 

 body being also scarlet barred with black. 



The Tiger caterpillar, seen more frequently even than the 

 moth, and sometimes in winter as well as summer, has a black 

 velvety skin, covered with long brown-tipped hairs, proceeding 

 from white tubercles. It is a feeder on dandelion, lettuce, and 

 other salad plants, and, from its habit, when touched, of rolling 

 round (an innocent measure of self-defence), has acquired the 

 misnomer of Devil's Ring. 3 



Having said as much of our night-fliers, with reference to 

 peculiarities of size and colour, as our proscribed limits will 

 permit, we shall now notice a few of them distinguished 

 especially with regard to form. Amongst the latter is the 

 moth called the Oak Lappet, 4 already made known to our 

 readers as a " Walking Leaf" the only specimen of British 

 growth ; and the very image of a "feuille morte" or, more 

 properly, of several dead leaves together, does it present, in its 

 large wings of rusty brown, deeply indented, and projecting, 

 the hindmost beyond the foremost pair. 5 



In the majority of moths the hinder wings are rounded ; but 



1 Keats. a Arctia caja. 3 Vignette to "Life in Death." 



4 Gastj-opacha quercifolia. 5 Vignette to " Resemblance and Relation." 



