LEPIDOPTERA. 



The Tiger-Moths, — Family Arctiidje. 



Two families, including many tropical species, come between the Lymantriidce 

 and the Arctiidce, namely, the Pterothysaniclce and the Hypsidcc. The forms 

 included under the name Arctiidce, embracing a number of beautiful moths, 

 such as the tigers, ermines, etc., are usually divided into four subfamilies, the 

 Arctiince, represented by the tigers, properly so called, the Lithosiince including 

 the footmen, the Nolince, and the Nycteolince. Of the first subfamily, the most 

 familiar member is the common tiger-moth (Arctia caja), which in summer comes 

 freely to light. The fore-wings are rich chocolate-brown with cream-coloured 

 markings ; and the hind-wings crimson with black blotches. Two very beautiful 



1, COMMON TIGER-MOTH 



2 and 3, Varieties of same ; 4, Larva of same ; 5, six-spot burnet ; 6, Its larva ; 

 7 the spangled white. (Nat. size.) 



varieties of this exceedingly variable moth are figured in the accompanying 

 illustration. The larva is the well-known woolly bear, a large swiftly moving 

 caterpillar, clothed with long bristling black hairs, red at their base, which spins a 

 loose web, thickly covered with the hairs with which it is clothed, and turns to a 

 naked pupa. 



The Owl-Moths,— Family Noctuid^:. 



Passing over the family Agaristidce, we reach the true night-flying moths, 

 now included in the family Noctuidce. This enormous group has been subdivided 

 into no less than ten subfamilies. Of the first subfamily (Trifeince) the rustic 

 shoulder-knot (Hadena basilinea) is a well-known example. In this moth the 

 fore-wings are grey-brown, with a central transverse darker band, and a distinct 

 dark streak at the base of the wing. The larva is grey-brown, with three white 

 lines along the back. It feeds on various kinds of grass, and often on the ears of 



