150 THE DECEMBER MOTH. 



one, at least, with the chrysanthemums of winter. It 

 is strange, that beings so fragile should be found at a 

 season so inclement; but He who has constructed the 

 snowdrop, so as to bear, uninjured, the drifting 

 storms of February, has enabled a small, darkish - 

 coloured moth to endure the rigour of December, 



" Wien milk comes frozen home in pail." 



Love's Labour Lost, Act V. Sc. U. 



This little visitant is not diiScult to find. In suc- 

 cessive years, I have observed it in the sheltered 



Larva, Pupa, and Imago of Hipparchia pamphilus. 



walks of our botanic garden ; and the name by which 

 it is distinguished, the December moth {Eriogaster 

 populi), marks well the season of its appearance. 



As all butterflies appear by day, and as they are 

 objects equally beautiful and conspicuous, it may be 

 expected that they are not unfrequently introduced 



