242 THE BRITISH NATURE BOOK 



P.p. Yellow and hedge bed-straw, dyer's weed, and goose-grass. Flies by day, 

 hovering from flower to flower ; poising on vibrating wings, like a humming- 

 bird, whilst thrusting its long proboscis into the flowers for their nectar. It is 

 especially fond of jasmine. Larvae found in July and August. Double brooded, 

 June and October. 



Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth (Remans fuciformis). E. if-2 inches. 

 Recognized by its transparent wings, with broad reddish brown borders and 

 short stumpy body covered with yellowish olive hair like a bee, crossed by a 

 band of darker brown. Found in May and June. L. whitish green above, 

 and reddish below ; feeds in July and August on honeysuckle. The moth may 

 often be found at rhododendron blossoms, and harebells, thistles, bugle, and 

 other flowers. Common locally. 



Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth (Hemaris tityas). E. i-if inch. Like 

 the former, but having narrower blackish borders to the wings. Flies in 

 May and June. Ly. Rough meadows near woods. P.p. Scabious, honey- 

 suckle. L. found in June or July. Like its predecessor, much resembles a 

 humble-bee in flight. 



Family : Notodontida Prominents. 



The members of this family fly by night, fairly rapidly ; but some may be 

 found by day on tree trunks and palings. The majority are distinguished by 

 a curious projecting tuft of scales about the middle of the inner margin of the 

 fore-wings. When the moth is at rest, these are brought together and raised, 

 thus making a little " prominence " above the level of the closed wings. An- 

 tennae are bipectinated in most of the males, and shortly pectinated, ciliated, or 

 serrated in the females. They are attracted by light. Larvae are mostly 

 naked or have a thin coating of hair. The true Prominents have one hump 

 on the back. Pupa is generally in a hard cocoon on tree trunks or in a soft 

 cocoon underground. 



Alder Kitten (Cerura bicuspis). This species much resembles the Poplar 

 Kitten and Sallow Kitten. E. ij-if inch. May be distinguished by observing 

 the central band of black or dark grey, which bends inwards on both sides ^^ 

 L. feeds on alder and birch in July and August. Cocoon placed on bark. Moth 

 found in May and June. Local in woods. 



Poplar Kitten (Cerura bifida). *?. i-if inch. Grey fore-wings, distinguished 

 by the shape of the dark grey central band, the inner margin of which is almost 

 straight and outward curved ^j Found in June and July. L. feeds from 

 July to September on poplars. Cocoon placed on the bark. Fairly common 

 where poplars abound. 



Sallow Kitten (Cerurafurcula). E. i-i| inch. Distinguished by its smaller 

 size and by the outer margin of the central band, which is sharply angled 

 towards the edge of the wing JrfjJJh L. feeds from July to September 



