BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS 



upon birch, hazel, hop, oak, and other leaves from July 

 onwards. It is green, or yellow, in colour, but five 

 tussocks of yellow hair, and the profusion of it elsewhere 

 on the body, are distinctive features. There are also 

 black spots and markings. The male imago is greyish, 

 with dark powdery frecklings, and a dark body. The 

 female is larger, and lighter-coloured. The hindvvings 

 are greyish, suffused with darker tints. 



TaIfcT«xesoc}<, 



'^V (fern:) Fie 



l6. 



Go\d-TsLi\.~{Porthesia similis.) This is a very familiar 



species, and the black larva, ornamented with rich red 



and snow-white, is a common object on hawthorn 



during the early days of Summer. It is a sluggish 



creature, and may be readily picked off by hand. Large 



numbers must fall a prey to insectivorous birds, though, 



as has been previously mentioned, the feathered tribe 



are not, as a rule, partial to hairy larvse. The clusters of 



eggs may be found in June and July, and the brownish 



pupa is fringed with hairs. The larva hibernates in a 



silky envelope soon after August, and remains quiescent 



until the Spring, when it commences to feed again. 



The pure white imago has a powdery body, with a gold 



or yellow tip on the abdomen, hence its popular name. 

 41 



