424 



77/ A' LARGE SWORD-GRASS MOTH. 



Another moderately winged moth, called the Pale Tussock-moth, was also chosen for 

 an illustration. This name the insect derives from its color and the tufts of hair that decorate 



the body of the caterpillar 

 like tussocks of grass upon a 

 field. The caterpillar goes by 

 the popular name of the Hop- 

 dog. The color of the Pale 

 Tussock-moth is light brown- 

 ish-gray, the fore wings being 

 diversified with several 

 marks of blackish-brown, 

 the shape and dimensions 

 of which may be seen by 

 reference to the engraving. The hinder wings are much paler, and the band is dark brown. 



The Hera, our next example, belongs to a genus which is known in Europe by the 

 beautiful Dominula, or Scarlet Tiger-moth, with its rich green and scarlet wings. In the 

 present instance, the fore wings are cream-colored with broad markings that look at first sight 

 as if they were black, but when viewed in a good light are seen to be of the deepest imaginable 

 green with a velvety lustre. The hinder wings are rich crimson scarlet, decorated with three 

 or four black spots. This species is found in several parts of Europe. 



PALE TUSSOCK-MOTH.— Dasyehira pudibunda. Mule, cocoon, caterpillar. 

 (Everything of natural size.) 



The Sting-moth is a native of New South Wales, and the caterpillar feeds on the leaf of 

 the stringy bark-tree. About the month of February it changes into the pupal state, and 

 resides for some time in a curious kind of habitation. Just before it throws off the last larval 

 skin, the caterpillar weaves a small and close cocoon or case, of an egg-like shape, which it 

 suspends to the stem of a leaf, and therein awaits its final change. 



The col.. i' of tli" moth is simple, but rather pretty. The fore wings are chestnut, edged 

 with green and white, and the hinder wings are bluish-gray, edged with yellow and marked 

 with green, yellow and brown. 



The family of the Lithosiidae is represented in Europe by several moths, of which the 

 Cinnabar-moth (CallirnorpJia jacobcea) is perhaps the best known, on account of its 

 vermilion and scarlet wings of precisely the same color on both sides. The Isse, which, like 

 the Heliconia, is a- native of Brazil and the neighboring countries, has the upper wings black, 

 beautifully diversified by some red longitudinal stripes at the base, succeeded by two broad 

 yellow patches. Near the edge there are some white spots. The hinder wings are red, veined 

 with black and bordered with a broad black band on which are some red spots. 



We now come to the large family of the Noctuidse, containing a very great number of 

 species, many of which so closely resemble each other that to distinguish them is not a very 

 easy matter. 



The delicately colored Peach-Blossom Moth derives its name from the colors upon the 

 wings, which closely resemble the soft pink upon the peach blossom. Although spread over 

 the northern parts of Europe, it does not appear to be very plentiful, and does not assemble 

 near one spot, as is the case with many rare and local moths. The caterpillar is easily known 

 on account of a large hump that projects just behind the head, the summit < 4' which is cleft 

 into two bands, and also by the series of triangular elevations along the back upon which runs 

 a pale zigzag line. The color of this larva is originally dark brown, but it sometimes assumes 

 a paler hue. It may be found sparingly upon the common bramble about May. The fore 

 wings of the Peach-Blossom Moth are soft brown, with a few waved lines running nearly 

 parallel with the edges, and having five spots of delicate pink. The hinder wings are simple 

 grayish -yellow, with a single waved line running across the middle. 



The Large Sword-grass Moth derives its generic name from the handsome appearance' 

 of the caterpillar, the word calocampa being derived from two Greek words, the former signi- 

 fying beautiful, and the latter a grub. The larva may be found in summer and autumn upon 



