

iBSOT 



12 



The caterpillar feeds on white-ladies bedstraw, on which are figured the eggs and young 

 caterpillars, at (a) and (b), when they are full fed they are of two colours, green and brown, which 

 shews the sexes in this state ; the green being the female, and the brown the male. I have given 

 a figure of each, in the plate at (e) and (d), the latter is shewn as drawing its head into the body, 

 a peculiarity natural to this insect. They change into the chrysalis state, figured at (/), within a 

 spinning among the leaves in August, and the moths appear in May following, one of which is 

 seen at (A), shewing its under- side. 



This insect is frequently destroyed by a certain species of ichneumon (Ichneumon lentorius, 

 Panz. Faun. Ins. Germ. 71, fig. 11 ? Ichn. fusorius, Linn. ?) shewn at (z), which lays its eggs on 

 the caterpillar, these when hatched feed on the inside ; the poor tormented insect feels in this 

 case perpetual hunger, and destroys its food with great eagerness till transformed to the chrysalis, 

 but about the time when the moth is expected the ichneumon appears. The chrysalis at (k) is 

 represented as broke open, shewing the ichneumon within, as it is when near the time of its ap- 

 pearance in the winged state. 



This is the commonest species of Hawk-moth found in England, frequenting 

 marshy situations, where its favourite food, the ladies bedstraw, occurs. It how- 

 ever feeds also on the hairy willow herb, the loosestrife, the common vine, &c. 

 Mr. W. Christy mentions that the larvae of this species also fed upon the American 

 Impatiens biflora, which he gave them instead of the Impatiens noli me tangere ? 

 which they had previously eaten. Caterpillars which I have fed have attained their 

 full size at the middle of July. 



HYDROCAMPA LEMNATA. THE WHITE CHINA MARK MOTH. 



Plate VII. fig. I— p. 



Synonyms. Phalsena (Geom.) Lemnata, linn. Syst. Nat. ii. 874. Bonov. Br. Ins. vol. 8. pi. 266. f. 1.2. 

 Hydrocampa Lemnata, Latreille, Curtis, Stephens ( Cat.) 

 Cataclysta Lemnata, Hubner, Stephens (Illustr.) 



Upper Side. The antennae are like threads. The wings of the male are white, as shewn 

 at (p) ; hut those of the female are marhled with a faint yellowish brown : the inferior wings of 

 each sex are ornamented with a beautiful black border. 



The caterpillar is of an olive brown colour, and feeds spun up in duck weed, which is often 

 seen to cover entirely the surface of ponds : it is discovered by little lumps or risings on the 

 weed, such as are represented at (n) (n) ; these are the spinnings of the caterpillars, within 

 which they change to the chrysalis, which is shewn at (m), and the moths appear in about fourteen 

 days. 



Expansion of the wings three-quarters of an inch. 



! 



CUCULLIA VERBASCI. THE WATER RETONY MOTH. 



Plate VIII. fig. a—e. 



Synonyms. Phalsena (Noct.) Verbasci, Linn. Syst. Nat. ii. p. 850. Hubner. Haworth. Albinos Ins. 

 pi. 13. fig. 18./— £. 

 Cucullia Verbasci, Ochsenheimer, Curtis, Stephens. 



Upper Side. The antennae are like fine threads. The head, thorax, and abdomen are of a 



