MOTHS 243 



on willow or sallow. Cocoon fixed to bark and covered like the preceding with 

 fragments of wood. Moth appears in June and July, and is common. 



Puss Moth (Dicranura vinula). A common moth of great interest. The 

 larva is green, with a purplish brown band or saddle on the back and a hump 

 on the third segment. The head has a most curious " face " or " mask," and 

 the tail is armed with two filaments or whips. When disturbed the creature 

 assumes a terrifying attitude, with the head drawn back into the next segment, 

 exposing the " mask " as if in a hood, while the two whips are raised and 

 curved forward. In this position, it ejects an acid secretion, which is suffi- 

 ciently powerful to sting and inflame the eyes, as I know from experience. 



The pupa is enclosed in a very hard cocoon on the tree (willow or poplar), 

 made of fragments of wood glued together by a very hard varnish. The 

 moth (E. 2^-3 inches) appears in May and June. Head and body are fluffy, 

 the whitish fore-wings have several ripple-like lines ; the nervures are ochreous 

 and blackish. Hind-wings whitish. 



Lobster (Stauropus fagi}. E. 2^-zf inches. The name is given to this 

 moth from the extraordinary shape of the caterpillar, a reddish brown creature 

 with six pairs of wedge-shaped humps on its back, two clubbed filaments on its 

 " tail," which it twists about in a remarkable manner, intended to be alarming 

 to its enemies. It possesses long, lobster-like legs. It feeds on beech, birch, oak, 

 and other trees from July to September. Cocoon of dense white silk between 

 dead leaves. The moth flies from May to July in most parts of England, but 

 is not common. It is a large brown insect, central shade darker, a distinct 

 sub-marginal row of dark-brown spots, with ochreous tips on the inner side. 



The Marbled Brown (Drymonia trimacula] and Lunar Marbled Brown 

 (Drymonia chaonia). E. ij-if inch. These are much alike. Fore-wings pale 

 brown, marbled with dark brown and grey. Hind-wings pale grey or brown. 

 L. feeds on oak. Moth appears in May and June. 



The Swallow Prominent (Pheosia tremula) (E. 2-2\ inches), and the Lesser 

 Swallow Prominent (P. dictceoides). These are much alike, the latter being 

 smaller (E. 1^-2 inches). They have creamy white fore-wings, with a brown 

 patch along the upper edge, and a variegated dark-brown band along the 

 inner margin. They appear in May and June. L. feeds on poplar, willow, and 

 birch. Cocoon under the soil. 



The Pebble Prominent (Notodonta ziczac). E. i|-2 inches. It has pale 

 ochreous brown to darker brown fore-wings, tinged with reddish. Look for a 

 pebble-like mark on the apical area, made by a blackish crescent and the 

 curved outer line. This is characteristic. Hind-wings are pale ashy grey. 

 L. feeds on sallow, willow, and poplar, June to September. Moth flies in May 

 to June, and August. Ly. Marshes and fens. 



The Iron Prominent (Notodonta dromedarius) is much darker, and rather 

 smaller. L. feeds on birch, alder, and hazel from June to August. 



The Great Prominent (N. trcpida). E. 2.-2\ inches. Grey or yellowish 

 grey fore-wings, with dark cross-lines, and a sub-marginal line of dark, some- 



