316 v MOTHS OF GAY COLOURING. 



black spots, surrounded mostly by a yellow circlet, the body 

 being also scarlet barred with black. 



The Tiger caterpillar, seen more frequently even than the 

 moth, and sometimes in winter as well as summer, has a black 

 velvety skin, covered with long brown-tipped hairs, proceed- 

 ing from white tubercles. It is a feeder on dandelion, lettuce, 

 and other salad plants, and, from its habit, when touched, of 

 rolling round (an innocent measure of self-defence), has ac- 

 quired the misnomer of Devil's King.* 



A few among other very differing night-fliers are distin- 

 guished by gay colouring. There is the beautiful Red Under- 

 wing, the Yellow Brimstone, the little bright Green Moths of 

 the Oak, and the more splendid " Emerald " of the elm and 

 lime ; with many conspicuous in the gloom from their robes 

 of white. And there wants not gilding and lacquering, as 

 well as painting, in the blazonry of moth " standards," as in 

 the "Y," so called from that character inscribed in gold or 

 silver on its wings, and in the "Burnished Brass," a name de- 

 rived from its metallic yellow lustre. The two last, though 

 classed among those composing the nocturnal division of their 

 tribe, are frequently, as well as some others, to be seen 



" floating amid the liquid noon." 



The "Y" especially, may be noticed now and on through 

 October, suspended vibrating on wing; while it sips, after 



* Vignette to "Life in Death," vol. i. 



