508 HOMES WITHOUT HANDS. 



however, a compensating beauty in the long, feathery fringe with 

 which they are edged, and which, when subjected to the micro- 

 scope, is seen to consist of the ordinary scales of the wings 

 exceedingly developed both in length and width. 



The leaves on the left hand were taken from the garden-rose, 

 and have been mined by the larva of another species of the same 

 genus, Neptinda aurdla. 



This beautiful little moth derives its specific name from the 

 peculiar colouring of the upper wings, which are bright chestnut, 

 relieved by a broad band of gold across their centre. The tips 

 of these wings are fringed, and the lower pair are nearly white, 

 and edged with a fringe similar to that which has already been 

 described. 



As a general rule, the leaf-mining caterpillars are solitary, 

 and if even two or three are found in the same leaf, each leads 

 an isolated life, and does not inhabit the same burrow as its 

 neighbour. There are, however, exceptions to this rule, as to 

 most others, and certain species of leaf-miners inhabiting the 

 henbane, live harmoniously together between the membranes 

 of the same leaf They are larger than the ordinary species, 

 and are remarkable for their power of burrowing into a 

 fresh leaf when ejected from their former habitation, a power 

 which does not seem to belong to the caterpillars of the Micro- 

 lepidoptera. 



As the meandering tracks of the Microlepidoptera upon the 

 leaves of various plants are very similar in general a^pect, I have 

 caused figures of common leaf-rollers to be inserted in the illus- 

 tratioiL If the reader will turn to pages 294 — 298, he will see 

 an account of certain moths whose larvse roll up the leaves in 

 which they reside. The lilac-leaf on the left hand of the illus- 

 tration has been rolled up by the larva of a moth named Oracil- 

 laria syrmgella, the generic title being given to it on account of 

 its graceful form, and the specific name because it is fond of 

 frequenting the syringa shrub. The larva is shown just below, 

 of its natural size, and the hole through which the perfect 

 insect has escaped can be seen upon the rolled portion of the 

 leaf 



On page 247 may be seen an account of the manner in which 

 the larva performs a task so apparently impossible as rolling up 



