540 THE WINTER-MOTH. 



markings of brown. The hinder wings are deep blackish brown, with a curved band of 

 light blue across the middle. Both pairs of wings are surrounded by a narrow fringe 

 of pure snowy white. 



The family of Noctuidae comprehends at least four hundred British species, and twice 

 the number belongs to Europe. 



THE next family derives the name of Geometridse from the mode of walking adopted 

 by the larva. These creatures have no legs on the middle of the body, and are in conse- 

 quence unable to crawl in the usual manner. Their mode of progression is popularly and 

 appropriately termed " looping," and the caterpillars are called " loopers." When one of 

 these larvae desires to advance, it grasps the object firmly with its fore feet, and draws the 

 hind feet close to them, forming the body into an arched shape, not unlike the attitude of 

 a cat which meets a strange dog. The hinder feet then take a firm hold, the body is 

 projected forward, until the fore feet can repeat the process. The whole action of the 

 larva reminds the observer of the leech when crawling. 



The power of grasp and general strength of muscle enjoyed by these larvae are really 

 surprising. Many of them can seize a branch with their hind feet, stretch out the body 

 nearly horizontally, and remain in that position for hours. Some slight idea of the mus- 

 cular force required to perform this action may be imagined by grasping an upright 

 pole with the hands, and trying to hold the body out horizontally. Several of these 

 caterpillars are of dull brown hues, and being furnished with sundry projections in 

 different parts of their bodies, they resemble dried sticks so closely that they can hardly 

 be distinguished from the branches to which they cling. In order to avoid the danger of 

 falling, or for the sake of escaping birds and other foes to caterpillars, they always take 

 the precaution of spinning a thread from the branch, so that if alarmed they instantly drop, 

 and lower themselves gradually to the ground. Entomologists take advantage of this 

 habit by shaking the branches of trees, and catching the caterpillars as they descend, in 

 order to escape the foe which they imagine is assailing them from above. 



The SWALLOW-TAILED MOTH is a well-known British species, very common in woods, 

 and being mostly found among the underwood, whence it may be dislodged by beating 

 the branches. The caterpillar feeds on many shrubs, but prefers the willow, the lime, and 

 elder trees, the elder being its chief favourite. Two specimens of the caterpillar are given 

 for the purpose of showing its attitudes while at rest and while walking after the 

 " looper " manner. The cocoon is also shown, made of withered leaves, and hanging from 

 an ivy twig. 



The colour of the larva is reddish brown, with some dark longitudinal lines, and 

 before it changes into the pupal state it makes a slight silken cocoon among leaves. The 

 colour of the wings is delicate sulphur yellow, fading to shining white at the base of the 

 wings, and diversified with narrow streaks of brown. 



The PEPPERED MOTH derives its name from the colour of the wings, which are white, 

 covered with little black dots, that look as if they had been shaken out of a pepper- 

 castor. The stripes on the fore wings are black. 



The V-MOTH, another of a very common species of this family, is so called on 

 account of the dark brown mark upon the fore wings, which much resembles the letter 

 after which it is named. The general colour of this moth is greyish white, variegated 

 with dark brown marks. All these species are very sluggish in their habits, flying slowly 

 even in the evening, and in the daytime hiding among the densest underwood ; and if 

 disturbed, only flying for a few yards, and then diving into their shelter. Many species 

 of this family have broad waved marks upon the wings, and are therefore called 

 carpet moths. 



The colours of the ARGENT AND SABLE MOTH are explained by its name, the ground 

 colour being white with a delicate creamy tint, and the markings all jetty black. 



Our last example of this family is the WINTER-MOTH, a species which is remarkable 

 for the shape of the female, which, as may be seen by reference to the illustration, 

 is without wings, those organs existing only in a rudimentary state. On many parts of 



