BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS 



confinement, perform its change from larva to imago 

 within a few weeks ' time, almost under one's eyes, the 

 larva, as indicated, passes the Winter in a state of 

 suspended animation until the following Spring. The 

 mature insect is subject to much variation in colour, and 

 when reared in captivity some very striking examples 

 are likely to be obtained. 



Cinnabar. — {Hipocrita jacuhcece.) Wherever there is 

 waste ground, or flower-laden wayside and heaths, this 

 striking little species (see Frontispiece) may be met with. 

 It has its off and on seasons in a similar way to many 

 other butterflies and moths, but in a good year the orange 

 and black banded larvae may be found in numbers on 

 ragwort during July and August. The pupa is reddish- 

 brown, and is enclosed in an apology for a cocoon which 

 is hidden on the surface, or just underground. The 

 imago in both sexes is dark brownish on the forewings, 

 with a Hne and two spots of scarlet, and the latter, 

 bordered with a fringe of dark colour, almost entirely 

 covers the hind ones. It is not a strong flier, and 

 is easily captured. 



The Uttle moths called Footmen come next, some 

 prettily attired, others of unattractive colouration, but 

 we shall now make acquaintance here with our first 

 member of the Noctua, or Noctuids, in the person 

 of the Poplar Grey Moth, belonging to the Family 

 Acronyctidct. 



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