538 THE LARGE SWORD-GRASS MOTH. 



often enduring severe pain from touching a caterpillar which a person of stouter integu- 

 ments can handle with perfect impunity. 



The STING-MOTH is a native of New South Wales, and the caterpillar feeds on the 

 leaf of the stringy hark-tree. About the month of February it changes into the pupal 

 state, and resides for some time in a curious kind of habitation. Just before it throws off 

 the last larval skin, the caterpillar weaves a small and close cocoon or case, of an egg-like 

 shape, which it suspends to the stem of a leaf, and therein awaits its final change. 



The colour of the inoth is simple, but rather pretty. The fore wings are chestnut, 

 edged with green and white, and the hinder wings are bluish grey, edged with yellow 

 and marked with green, yellow, and brown. 



The family of the Lithosiidae is represented in England by several moths, of which 

 the CINNABAR-MOTH (Callimorplia Jacobcea) is perhaps the best known, on account of its 

 vermilion and scarlet wings of precisely the same colour on both sides. The two examples 

 which are given in the illustration are chosen on account of their singular resemblance to 

 the Heliconia butterflies ; both of them are natives of Brazil and the neighbouring 

 countries. The first of these species, the ISSE, has the upper wings black, beautifully 

 diversified by some red longitudinal stripes at the base, succeeded by two broad yellow 

 patches. Near the edge there are some white spots. The hinder wings are red, veined 

 with black and bordered with a broad black band on which are some red spots. 



The second figure in the illustration represents a very pretty moth, a native of Brazil, 

 which derives its specific name from the resemblance already mentioned. The ground 

 colour of the fore wings is black, upon which are placed two large oblique patches of 

 transparent membrane which is of a dull yellowish hue, and a few white spots are set 

 upon the outer edge. The hinder wings are almost wholly transparent, of the same 

 yellowish tint as the spaces on the fore wings, and are edged with a broad black border. 

 There are some white spots near the edge. 



WE now come to the large family of the Noctuidse, containing a very great number 

 of species, many of which so closely resemble each other that to distinguish them is not 

 a very easy matter. 



The delicately coloured PEACH-BLOSSOM MOTH derives its name from the colours upon 

 the wings, which closely resemble the soft pink upon the peach blossom. Although 

 spread over the southern parts of England, it does not appear to be very plentiful, and 

 does not assemble near one spot, as is the case with many rare and local moths. The 

 caterpillar is easily known on account of a large hump that projects just behind the head, 

 the summit of which is cleft into two bands, and also by the series of triangular elevations 

 along the back, upon which runs a pale zigzag line. The colour of this larva is originally 

 dark brown, but it sometimes assumes a paler hue. It may be found sparingly upon the 

 common bramble about May. The fore wings of the Peach-Blossom Moth are soft brown, 

 with a few waved lines running nearly parallel with the edges, and having five spots of 

 delicate pink, the shape and position of which can be seen in the illustration. The hinder 

 wings are simple greyish yellow, with a single waved line running across the middle. 



The LARGE SWORD-GRASS MOTH derives its generic name from the handsome 

 appearance of the caterpillar, the word calocampa being derived from two Greek words, 

 the former signifying beautiful, and the latter a grub. The larva may be found in 

 summer and autumn upon many plants, but especially on spinach, lettuce, and asparagus, 

 and is not very common. Its colour is rich green ; a double row of white spots runs 

 along the back, the rows being divided by a yellow line, then a row of white spots 

 arranged in groups, and lastly a line of scarlet. The moth itself, although of pleasing 

 tints, is not nearly so handsome as the caterpillar. The general colour is brown, in some 

 individuals marked with yellow and in others with chestnut. The curiously shaped marks 

 upon the wings are brown-black. The hinder wings are grey, and the fringe is yellow. 

 \Vhen this moth is alarmed it has a habit of falling to the ground, with the upper wings 

 drawn closely round the body and the antennae and legs folded. In this attitude it looks 



