THE STING-MOTH. 537 



light are seen to be of the deepest imaginable green with a velvety lustre. The hinder 

 wings are rich crimson scarlet, decorated with three or four black spots. This species 

 is found in several parts of Europe, though not apparently a native of England. It is 

 shown in the upper right-hand corner of the illustration. (*- " 



THE moth which is represented in the accompanying illustration presents while in 

 its perfect state but few points of interest, and would not be likely to attract the atten- 

 tion of any but an entomologist searching for new species. But in its preliminary stage 

 of existence, and especially during the larval life, it is a very remarkable creature, both 

 for its odd shape and its offensive qualities. As may be seen by reference to the 

 engraving, the larva is stout, broad, and strong, and furnished with four protuberances 

 in front and an equal number behind. From these protuberances the creature is able 

 to project bundles of slight filaments of a bright yellow color, which are capable of 

 piercing the skin like so many darts ; and whether through mechanical action, which 

 irritates the nerves, or through any poisonous substance with which they are imbued, 

 they act on the skin like venomed stings, and inflict exceedingly painful wounds. 



STING-MOTH. Doratlfera vulaeraas. (With larva and cocoon.) HELICONIA-MOTH Hyclosl* hellcemHn. 



ISSE. Pericopls Isse. 



The reader may possibly be aware that many caterpillars, common in England, 

 possess a highly irritating power, and are able to cause no small inconvenience to 

 those who handle them roughly. The well-known and handsome palmer-worm cater- 

 pillar (the larva of the gold-tailed moth) possesses this property in a very high degree, 

 as I can testify from personal experience. In the course of dissecting a series of these 

 creatures, my face and the back of my hands were swollen into hard knots, as if 

 moderate-sized potatoes had been inserted beneath the skin, and the sensation caused 

 was not unlike the dull pain that ensues after the sting of a wasp, mingled with the 

 intense irritation of nettle-rash. 



There are, besides this insect, several other British species of caterpillars which have 

 a greater or less power of injuring those who handle them incautiously. None of them, 

 however, appear to possess any poisonous secretion, the unpleasant and even painful 

 effects being apparently due simply to the irritating mechanical action of the sharp hairs 

 upon the nerves. All persons do not suffer alike from these larvae, the tender-skinned 



