ioo INSECTS. 



those of the closely allied species, as may be seen from the illustration. The moth 

 is found, but not commonly, throughout Europe, and the larva feeds in July upon 

 the oak, birch, and other trees. It is supposed that the extraordinary attitude, 

 with head and tail erect, has proved beneficial in warning off noxious enemies. 

 Another type is represented by the figure-of-eight moth (Diloba ceruleocephala), 

 in which the fore-wings are lead-colour, with a pair of white spots which sometimes 

 bear a very close resemblance to figures of eight. The larva is blue-green, with 

 a central yellow stripe along the back, another below the spinners, while each 

 segment bears a number of black warts, each with a black hair springing from the 

 top. Illustrations of the moth and larva will be found on p. 112. Of other forms, 

 the dromedary prominent {Notodonta dromedarius), the zigzag (N. ziczac), the 



l 2 



puss-moth (1) with caterpillar (2) in two stages of development, and (3) cocoon ; (4) caterpillar of 



THE LOBSTER-MOTH. 



kitten -moth (Cerwra bifida), and the swallow prominent (Pheosia dictea), are 

 amongst the more remarkable of the Notodontidce indigenous to England. But 

 we must leave this interesting group, and passing over the family Cymatophoridce, 

 including the peach-blossom (Thyatira batis), frosted green (Polyphloca ridens), 

 buff-arches (Habrosyne derasa), and others, we reach 



The Clear- Wings, — Family Sesiidje. 



These elegant insects — whose transparent wings, attenuated bodies banded with 

 yellow and red, dilate and hooked antenna?, give them no small resemblance to 

 members of the Hymenoptera — are diurnal in their habits, flying swiftly to and 

 fro in the bright sunshine. The larvae are what is called internal feeders, burrow- 

 ing in the trunks of various trees, or in the pith of shrubs. The pupae are armed 

 with little hooks, which enable them to move up and down their tunnelled 

 galleries. There are many species even in England, one of the largest being the 

 hornet clear- wing ; and so closely do this moth {Trochilium apiforme) and its near 

 relative (T. bembiciforme) resemble the common hornet, or perhaps more nearly 

 the female of one of the smaller wasps, that only a practised naturalist would be 



