HATERS OF THE SUN. 113 



. Strikingly contrasted with these gay and richly-coloured 

 Butterflies (Lovers of the Light), there is a beautiful and 

 delicate oak moth, called the Misdia, meaning, literally, a 

 Hater of the Sun. In the "Emperor" of summer the 

 "Admiral" and " Peacock's Eye " of autumn we have the 

 very sun flowers and dahlias of their tribe. In this, the 

 " April Miselia" we have the violet, which after, as a chrysalis, 

 sleeping all the winter under a mossy coverlet beneath the oak, 

 comes forth with the April flowers to meet the spring ; but 

 hid from the sunshine, still loving to repose in the shady 

 covert of its own or some umbrageous tree. In unison with 

 the season of its appearance, the prevailing colours of this 

 pretty moth are tender green and silvery gray, elegantly 

 clouded, and striated, and spotted with darker hues. The 

 best method of obtaining this little insect gem is to dig for it, 

 while in chrysalis, beneath the oak. 



We could go on for ever with descriptions of our sylvan 

 favourites the forest flitting moths (most fairy-like beings of 

 these prosaic times), and of whom many besides the above are 

 wont to be found haunting the precincts of the oak. We must 

 be satisfied, however, with notice of one more tribe, peculiar 

 to the King of Woods, and now, and in July, to be seen, like 

 a bevy of fairest damsels, in full attendance at his court. 



Only take your stroll this day through some oaken coppice, 

 and there is little doubt but that you will presently perceive 



them, clad in the earliest and prettiest of summer garbs light 

 VOL. II. 8. 



