GHOST MOTH— CO.AIMON SWIFT 



male may often be seen suspended from various kinds 

 of herbage. It seems less inclined for exercising its 

 powers of flight than the females, who possess a well- 

 sustained mode of progress, and have an unfailing habit 

 of finding one of the waiting males. 



Common Swift. — {Ilcpialus lupulina.) First cousin of 

 the last-mentioned species, the Common Swift Moth 

 (Fig. 48), is of frequent occurrence wherever there is a 

 wealth of grassy ground, and may be seen pursuing its 

 airy course towards evening, or, as more often happens. 





Common 5oj;i t' riqA-e 



resting upon a paUng, fence, or other environment. 

 It is on the wing from June onwards. The larva is 

 glossed with whitish, with a brown head, and raised 

 brownish dots. Its body is fairly well covered with 

 hairs. Grass-roots form its staple food, and it becomes 

 full-fed about the same time that the voice of the wander- 

 ing Cuckoo is heard again in our land. The yellowish to 

 brownish wings of the imago are not of a very attractive 

 nature unless, as obtains in the male form, the fore- 

 wings are relieved with whitish markings. 



Here we take leave of these scale-winged insects, 

 deeply sensible of the large number it has not been 

 possible to include in this volume, but conscious of the 

 fact that the life-story of any one species would be 



lOJ 



