■xQO INSECT3 AT HOilE. 



A YEiiT pretty insect belonging to this large family is the 

 Scarce Tissue {Scotosia certata) which is represented on Wood- 

 cut LI. Fig. 2. 



Tliis is a larger Moth than the others. The hind margin of 

 both pairs of wings is scalloped, that of the upper pair very 

 slightly, and that of the under pair more boldly cut. The 

 specific name of sinuata, or waved, is given to the insect in 

 consequence of these scallopings of the wings. The colour of 

 the wings is pale grey brown, and across them are drawn a 

 number of irregular bars, as shown in the illustration. Just 

 inside the hind margin of both pairs of wings runs a narrow 

 black line, following the outline of the scalloping. 



The larva feeds on the barberry, and regarding it Mr. New- 

 man makes the following remarks : ' When young they spin 

 together two leaves of the barberry, adjusting the edges with 

 so much care that the two leaves look like one. The back of 

 the upper leaf I always find applied to the face of the lower 

 and between these leaves the enclosed caterpillar rests in a 

 curved posture, the head brought round to touch the side of the 

 tenth segment, but the caterpillar always resting on its ven- 

 tral surface, and not ring-fashion. In this retreat it eats the 

 cuticle and parenchyma of the upper leaf, its operations always 

 betraying its whereabouts by the appearance of a large brown 

 blotch on the surface.' 



This caterpillar is blue-brovra above, with a black stripe 

 on each side, and a row of orange spots beneath them. It is 

 full-fed about midsummer, and the perfect insect appears at the 

 end of the spring of the succeeding year. 



Our last example of this large family is the Marsh Carpet 

 {Gidaria sacjittata), one of our most local insects. 



The upper wings of this pretty Moth are delicate fawn colour, 

 on which are two bold patches of very dark olive-brown edged 

 with white, one occupying the base and the other the middle 

 of the wing. The latter runs out into a sharp angle towards 

 the hind margin, and assumes a shape which has been fancifully 

 thought to resemble an arrow-head. The specific name of 

 sagittaria has been given to the insect in consequence of this- 

 supposed resemblance. The lower wings are comparatividy 

 Dale and without much marking. 



