528 THE LUNAR HORNET CLEAR-WING. 



with two rows of black dots along the back, and a row of red dots on either side. 

 The color of the moth is very simple, the upper wings being of a soft golden-green, 

 with a peculiar silken gloss, and the under wings brown. The body is green, but with 

 reflections of blue. 



The well-known BURNET-MOTH, so familiar on account of the rich velvety-green, 

 spotted with scarlet, which decorates its wings, also belongs to this family. The cater- 

 pillar feeds on many plants, and is notable for making a spindle-shaped cocoon in 

 which it passes through its pupal state. This cocoon is of a light brown color, and is 

 usually fastened to an upright stem of grass. The species which is given in the illus- 

 tration is marked after the same manner as the Brunei Moth, except that the spots 

 are white. 



In the ^Egeriidae, the wings are as transparently clear as in the Sesiadae, and the 

 general aspect is equally unlike that of a moth. The species which is shown in the 



LUNAR HORNET CLEAR-WING.-7>ocAj///um bembeciforme. Syatomls phegea. 



GREEN FORESTER. /no tatices. 

 CURRANT CLEAR-WING. ^Egeria tipullformis. 



illustration is very common in England, and is fond of haunting currant-bushes, where 

 it may be captured without much difficulty, being rather dull and sluggish in taking to 

 flight, though when once on the wing it is quick and agile in its movements. On ac- 

 count of its resemblance to the large gnats, it is popularly called the GNAT CLEAR- 

 WING. The caterpillar of this insect feeds upon the pith of the currant-trees. 



THE large insect in the same illustration represents the LUNAR HORNET CLEAR- 

 WING, an insect which is of tolerably, but not very frequent occurrence. Its popular 

 name is given to it in allusion to its singular resemblance to a hornet, the similitude 

 being so close as to deceive a casual glance, especially when the insect is on the 

 wing. In common with all the members of this genus, the Hornet Clear-Wing is a 

 rather sluggish insect, being oftener seen at rest than on the wing, and being mostly 

 found while clinging to the trunks or leaves of the trees on which they lived in the 

 larval state. Their flight is rather slow and heavy, and as their tongues are compar- 

 atively short, they are not able to poise themselves on the wing, and sip the sweets of 

 flowers while balancing themselves in the air. 



The larva of the present species feeds upon the willow, boring into the young wood 

 and sometimes damaging it to a serious extent. All these insects inhabit, while in 

 the larval state, the interior of branches or roots, and make a kind of cocoon from the 



