150 WHITE-PLUME MOTH. 



"hornet-like," another the "ant-like," and so on. 

 Plate A, fig. 3. 



The currant clear-wing may be found on the 

 leaves of currant bushes, where it loves to rest. 

 In 1856 I took a great number of them in one small 

 garden, often finding two or more specimens on one 

 currant bush. 



Next come two beautiful examples of the Plume 

 Moth, the "White Plume and the Twenty Plume. 



The first of these insects is very common on hedges 

 or the skirts of copses, and comes out just about dusk, 

 when it may be easily captured, its white wings mak- 

 ing it very conspicuous. See Plate H, fig. 9. 



The chief distinguishing point in the plume moth 

 is that the wings are deeply cut from the point almost 

 to the very base, and thus more resemble the wings 

 of birds than those of insects. 



In the white plume there are five of these rays or 

 plumes, three belonging to the upper pair of wings 

 and two to the lower. 



From the peculiarly long and delicate down with 

 which the body and wings are covered, it is no easy 

 matter to secure the moth without damaging its 

 aspect. The scissors-net is, perhaps, the best that 

 can be used for their capture ; for, as they always sit 

 on leaves and grass with their wings extended, they 

 are inclosed at once in a proper position, and cannot 

 struggle. A sharp pinch in the thorax from the 

 forceps, which a collector ought always to have with 



