136 POPULAR ENTOMOLOGY. 



oblique whitish stripes on each side, edged with red or yellow; 

 it feeds on the lime {Tilia Eurpjoaea). The insect is rare. 



Lepidopteea. Aectiid^. 



AECTIA. 



Generic Distinctions. — Antennm rather long,bipectinate (having 

 a double series of hairs) in the male, serrated in the female ; 

 proboscis very ghort ; palpi, basal joint longer than the second ; 

 wings very thickly covered with scales ; colours deep black, crim- 

 son and yellow, in spots and bars. 



Arctia villica. (Frontispiece.) Cream-spot Tiger-Moth. 

 This species measures about two inches and a half ; the ante- 

 rior wings are deep black, spotted with cream-colour ; under 

 wings rather deep yellow, with spots of black, and a large 

 black patch on the outer angle spotted with the ground co- 

 lour : the thorax is black, with two cream-coloured spots ; 

 the body yellow at the base, and terminating in red, with 

 longitudinal rows of black spots. The caterpillar, when 

 full-grown, is black, with tufts of greyish- brown hairs ; it 

 feeds on many common field plants. This insect is not so 

 common as others of the genus. 



