THE RUBY TIGEK MOTH. 139 



of alder or birch, the turnip, mustard, plantain, and 

 ragwort, with many other vegetables, are noticed 

 by different authors, as being proper food for the 

 Ruby Tiger Moth in the larva state ; but its most 

 common food is ragwort and groundsel. The cater- 

 pillars are small in the month of May ; in June 

 they pass to the pupa condition, and early in July 

 appear in the winged state. The pupa is black, 

 and enveloped in a follicle. 



In a forward season, the time of their appearance 

 in different states may vary considerably, especially 

 as some have two, or even three broods in one sum- 

 mer. Tliis insect is a native of Britain, and is 

 usually little more than an inch in breadth, although 

 in this particular it is subject to vary. It js found 

 in Durham, Yorkshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, and 

 Surrey, and near Dublin in Ireland. 



