THE LOOPERS. 67 



a short tail. It is of a very pale yellow, with two olive-brown lines on the fore wings, and one on the 

 hind wings, and two small brown dots at the root of the tail. The family Ennomidce includes smaller 

 insects, mostly of a yellow colour. Among these is the well-known " Brimstone Moth " (Kumia cratv- 

 >jata}, so common in hedges. It measures about an inch and a half across the wings, which are sulphur 

 yellow, with rust-coloured spots on the costa. The genus Ennomos includes insects of a paler yellow, 

 i narked with transverse lines. Their bodies are rather thick, the thorax is covered with a close fur above, 

 and the hind margins of the wings are irregularly dentated. The family Arnphidasidce includes dull 

 coloured Moths with stout bodies. They appear in spring, and one of the commonest is the Pepper and 

 Salt Moth (Amphidasi-s betidaria), which is white, speckled with black, and with more or less distinct 

 black costal spots and transverse lines. Some of the allied species have apterous females. The family 

 Geometridce includes a number of broad- winged green species, with whitish transverse lines. Their bodies 

 are rather slender, and the wings, which expand from one to over two inches according to the species, 

 are seldom angulated. These Moths are usually called " Emeralds," on account of their colour. The 

 Acidcdidce, or " Waves," comprise a large number of small species, generally of white, ochreous, 

 brownish, or reddish colour, with dusky, or occasionally reddish lines. The Heath Moths, or 

 Fidonidce, fly by day, and several species, tessellated with cream-colour and black, are very common. 

 The Euschemidce are an East Indian group of large Moths, which have only lately been referred to 

 the Geometrce, on account of the discovery of their transformations. The Soldier Moth (Euschema 

 militaris) is the commonest. It expands about three inches, and the wings are bright yellow, with 

 bluish-black lines and spots, and the fore wings have a broad bluish-black border, spotted with white. 

 The Magpie Moth (Abraxas grossulariata) belongs to the family Zerenidce. It is common in 

 every gai-den, and varies very much, but is generally white, spotted with orange and black at 

 the base of the fore wings, and with an orange stripe across the middle, bordered with 

 black spots on each side. The hind margins of all the wings are spotted with black, and there 

 are several other black spots. The body is yellow, spotted with black. The Moth expands 

 rather more than an inch and a half, and the caterpillar feeds on gooseberry and currant bushes. 

 Several brownish or yellowish Moths, with darker transverse lines, belonging to the families 

 Hybernidw and Larentidce, are found only in winter. It is remarkable that most of these have 

 apterous females, as is likewise the case with some of the Amphidasidce, which appear in very early 

 spring. The large family Larentidte includes a great number of other Moths with brown and white 

 wings, arranged in festooned patterns, which has led to their being called " Carpets." Some of these are 

 white, with black lines ; and in the genus Lobophora, there is so large an additional lobe to the 

 hind wing as to give them the appearance of having six wings, whence they are called " Seraphims " 

 by collectors. These Moths seldom measure more than an inch and a half across the wings, but the 

 great genus Eupithecia includes a number of smaller species (called " Pugs "), seldom expanding an inch 

 across the wings, which are generally brown, with darker transverse markings, though a few ai-e varied 

 with white or green. Their small size, and the indistinct character of the markings, render most of 

 the species difficult to distinguish from each other. The Erateinidce are a South American family of 

 Moths, ornamented with bright colours, such as red, black, and white. The fore wings are triangular, 

 and the hind wings are produced and often tailed. These insects look very unlike Moths, and, but for 

 the filiform antennae, might readily be mistaken for Erycinidce. 



The Pyrales are a group of small Moths, with rather long wings, and long and slender bodies. 

 The Meal Moth (Pyralis farinalis), belonging to the family Pyralidce, is one of the commonest. It 

 measures about an inch across the fore wings, which are dark chocolate brown at the base and tip, and 

 dull yellow in the middle, the colours being separated by white lines ; and the hind wings are bluish- 

 grey, with white lines. The caterpillar feeds on flour, as well as on straw, &c., and is sometimes found 

 in meal-tubs. The most beautiful species of this group belong to the Ennychidcv. The species of 

 Pijrausta are common in waste places in many parts of the country, flying by day. They are small 

 Moths, not exceeding three-quarters of an inch in expanse, and the fore wings are red, with golden 

 yellow lines or spots. The Hydrocampidw are small white Moths, about an inch in expanse, found 

 in marshy places or ponds ; the caterpillars feed on water-plants. They are white, with black, 

 and occasionally yellowish, lines or markings, and are known as " China Marks." The Botydce are 

 often called "Pearls," on account of the slightly shining appearance of some of the species. Two of 



