184 FAUNA OF GALASHIELS AND DISTRICT 



Arctia caia, the common or garden tiger, is the largest and 

 commonest of the family, and like the rest is a very 

 handsome insect. It sometimes varies much in colour, 

 and remarkable prices have been paid by collectors for 

 variations from the common type. The larvse are general 

 feeders, little coming amiss to them. 



Arctia fuliginosa, the ruby tiger, a small ruby coloured 

 moth, is common over the whole district, and the larvee 

 are also general feeders. This fact is puzzling to 

 Naturalists in this way. Among the preparations used 

 by Eutomologists for killing their specimens is one of 

 bruised laurel leaves, their poisonous nature being well 

 enough known. The ruby tiger caterpillar feeds and 

 thrives on the plant, and the query is, how does it 

 neutralize the effect of the pyrogallic acid so fatal to it 

 in its perfect state ? 



Arctia mendica, the muslin moth, is very rare in the district. 

 The larva feeds on almost all low plants. 



Arctia menthastri, the white ermine, is very common here 

 some seasons, and the caterpillar, like the preceding one, 

 is a general feeder. 



Hepialus humuli, the ghost swift ; Hepialus sylvanus, the 

 wood swift; Hepialus velleda, the northern swift; 

 Hepialus lupulinus, the common swift — are all fairly 

 common here, and make their appearance in June. 

 The moths of this genus begin to fly early in the 

 evening, occasionally with great swiftness and hence 

 their common name. The caterpillars feed on a variety 

 of plant roots. 



Dasychira fasceltna, the dark tussock, is common on all 

 the surrounding hills. The larves are rather beautiful 

 objects, and feed on Heather. 



Erioqaster lanestris, the small eggar, is a rare insect here, 

 got occasionally on the Yair hill, the larva feeding on 

 Heather and Hawthorn. 



Pcecil-ocampa populi, the December moth, is common here, 

 and the larva feeds on Poplar. 



