BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS 



Winter, but recommences feeding in Spring. It then 

 makes amends for its fasting, and attains the proportions 

 above mentioned. It is a dark, hairy larva, and is 

 calculated to cause some alarm to the unwary. The 

 pupa is also dark-coloured, but looks lighter because it is 

 dusted with a permanent whitish substance. It is 

 hidden in a lengthy cocoon of silk and hair which is 

 attached to the food-plant. Both sexes are almost 

 identical in the perfect insect, the male being the smaller 

 of the two. Warm reddish-brown is the prevailing 

 colour, with a tinge of greyish, and prominent venation. 

 The outer edges of all four wings are deckled. The 

 bipectinate antennae (having a double row of hairs) is a 

 conspicuous feature, and the way in which the fore- 

 wings are allowed to lap over the hind ones like tiles on a 

 roof when the moth is at rest, is worthy of special men- 

 tion. The handsome Emperor Moth, and the Hook- 

 Tips (which have curious hooked tips on the forewings) 

 come next, but we pass by these and others until we reach 

 representatives of the next Family upon our selected list. 



FAMILY ARCTIID^ 



White EiYxAnQ.— {Spilosoma tiienthastri.) This com- 

 mon species will be familiar to country or town dwellers, 

 and is often found in gardens during June. The furry 



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