94 MOTHS 



PLATE XLVIII 

 THE BURNISHED BRASS (3) 



This moth well deserves its name, for across 

 its greyish-brown or reddish-brown front wings 

 its has two broad bands of golden-green, which 

 shine just like a piece of highly polished brass. 

 It is " double-brooded," coming out first in June 

 and then again in August, and flies soon after 

 sunset on warm, still evenings. If you want to 

 catch it, the best place to look for it is over 

 beds of nettles, where you may often see it flying 

 backwards and forwards until it is too dark to 

 see at all. But sometimes it will fly through 

 an open window into a lighted room, and buzz 

 about in the most excited way round the lamp 

 or the gas-flame. 



The caterpillar of this pretty moth feeds upon 

 stinging-nettle, dumb-nettle, and burdock, and 

 sometimes also upon thistle and wild mint. 

 When it is not walking it always rests with its 

 front legs held up in the air, and its body gets 

 stouter and stouter from the head almost to the 

 tip of the tail. It is apple-green in colour, with 

 a number of white marks on its back shaped just 

 like the letter V. 



Printed by Bali.antyne, Hanson &• Co. 

 Edinburgh &• London 



