540 THE WINTER-MOTH. 



festoon-like 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 Geometridae from the mode of walking adopted 

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

 consequence unable to crawl in the usual manner. Their mode of progression is popu- 

 larly 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 

 muscular force required to perform this action may be imagined by grasping an up- 

 right 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 ad- 

 vantage 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 favorite. 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 hang- 

 ing from an ivy twig. 



The color 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 color 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 color 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 color of this moth is grayish 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 colors of the ARGENT AND SABLE MOTH are explained by its name, the ground 

 color 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 



