322 WINGLESS MOTHS. 



flit rapidly from flower to flower, alighting on their corollas to 

 extract their sweets. 



From moths with wings painted in mosaic, wings of 

 feathers, and wings naked, we come lastly to moths without 

 any wings at all. 



Wingless moths! Yes, such there are; but all, like that 

 wingless beetle called the glow-worm, to be found among the 

 females of their race. Of these, a few cannot x boast even the 

 vestige of a pinion, and only mere apologies for such appen- 

 dages are given in the instance by which, as one of the most 

 common, we shall illustrate this somewhat niggardly vagary 

 of Dame Nature. 



There is a certain moth, classed among the nocturnal, but 

 often to be seen abroad in August sunshine an active, rest- 

 less, prying little fellow, who can boast, besides a single pair 

 of horns or antennae magnificently feathered, a double pair of 

 bright brown wings, the foremost dotted each with a spot of 

 white, and of as ample dimensions as any reasonable little moth 

 need desire. This gay, sunshiny " nocturnal " is called the 

 " Vapourer ;"* but, if we may be allowed a pun upon his name, 

 it is his lady to whom the malady of vapours might seem the 

 most likely to be incidental, seeing that while her mate is 

 taking his winged pleasure abroad, she (poor soul !) is com- 

 pelled to sit at home, or just creep about its precincts, because 

 she has not a single wing to fly with. In truth, a strange, 



* Orgyia antiqua. 



