LEPIDOPTERA. 357 



fied. The larva of these inhabit the interior of 

 the stems of certain plants, eating the pith and 

 heart-wood; they are usually whitish, and desti- 

 tute of a horn. They pass the pupa state in the 

 same situations. 



FAM. III. NOCTURNA,* MOTHS. 



In form and general appearance, this family ap- 

 proaches the preceding, but the antenna taper from 

 the base to the point ; the wings are linked toge- 

 ther as in the former ; they are rarely erected, being 

 usually extended horizontally, or inclined, roof-like, 

 on each side of the body. A few, it is true, are 

 active during daylight, especially in the afternoon, 

 but the great majority appear abroad only during 

 the night ; and the sober colours, grey and brown, 

 in which most of them are arrayed, show the ob- 

 scurity of the season for which they were intended. 

 The males of many genera have the antennae set with 

 parallel rows of bristles, like the teeth of a comb, 

 or the beards of a feather. The sucker is some- 

 times long, but in other cases it is so short as 

 scarcely to be found ; the species do not, usually, 

 feed on the wing. The caterpillars vary much in 

 appearance, some being smooth, others clothed with 

 hair, either plain, or arranged in tufts or brushes. 

 Some live between the membranes of a leaf, eating 

 out the green pulp, the traces of which may be 

 readily seen in the winding white lines on the leaf 



* NocturmiS) belonging to the night. 



