WHITE PLUME MOTH. 557 
Our last example of the Lepidoptera is the beautiful WHITE-PLUME MoTH, 
an insect which never fails to attract attention, on account of the singular 
elegance anu beauty of its form. 
This insect belongs to a small family which is remarkable for the fact that, 
except in one genus, the wings, instead of being broad membranous struc- 
tures, are cleit into narrow rays, feathered in a most soft and delicate 
manner. The White-plume Moth is to be seen in the evenings, flying in a 
WHITE PLUME.—(LPterophorus pentadactylus.) 
curious uncertain manner, and Jooking not unlike a snow-flake blown 
casually by the wind. It seems never to fly to any great distance, settling 
quite openly on leaves or plants, without taking the precaution of clinging to 
the under side, as.is the custom with so many of the smaller moths. When 
it rests, it folds the wings so that they only look like a single broad ray. 
The legs of this moth are very long and slender. The colour of this insect 
is pure white. 
HOMOPTERA. 
In the next order are comprised some very grotesque insects, some of 
which have been thought to belong to other orders, and a few not being 
known to be insects at all until comparatively late years. They have rounded 
bodies, not more than three joints in the tarsi. and their wings are four in 
number, wholly membranous, the fore pair being larger than the hinder, 
but not overlapping in repose. The mouth forms a kind of tube, sometimes 
longer than the body, and often sufficiently hard and stiff to pierce the 
skin. 
In this curious order are placed the Aphides, those little green insects that 
swarm upon roses and other plants, and are termed “ blights” by gardeners, 
