THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



137 



THE LEPIDOPTERA OF LONDON. 



By ERNEST ANDERSON. 



(Continued from page 107 J 



The next of our town series is Zeuzera cesculi f commonly known as the 

 Leopard Moth, Wood Leopard, or Miller. It may frequently be taken on 

 the trunks of the trees in which it has passed its larval state. Ash trees 

 and fruit trees being especial favourites with it, and I have also sometimes 

 observed these moths upon a still summers evening slowly and apparently 

 labouriously pursuing their wheeling flight round and round the top of some 

 lofty tree. The female has a very large body and deposits a great quantity of 

 ova, which are of a pinkish colour, and do not hatch for many months. This 

 species occurs all over London, Victoria Park, and the neighbourhood of 

 Dalston, being well-known spots for it, but like many other species it is most 

 often seen by those entomologists who " Shake off dull sloth and early rise" 

 to pursue their favourite study. Another well-known and destructive inhabi- 

 tant of our parks and gardens is Comis ligniperda (the Goat Moth), its 

 ravages being only too apparent in many places, feeding as they do in the 

 trunks, forming long winding galleries in the heart of the wood, and remain- 

 ing for three years in the larval state — they may well be considered destruc- 

 tive inhabitants — though it is only fair to say that some authors assert 

 that they only attack those trees which are already diseased. These larvse are 

 called by some people " Raw beefs," they emit a very unpleasant odour, which 

 cannot be got rid of for some time after handling them — and indeed is very 

 frequently a clue to their presence — which would not otherwise be detected. 



The Ghost Moth (H, Mmuli), up to a very recent time, was found in the 

 churchyard of South Hackney church, a very appropriate situation, it is now, 

 however, extinct there, and it is doubtful whether it occurs anywhere in 

 London — though on the marshes it is very abundant. But the next species 

 on our list, N. cuculatella, occurs in great profusion on some of the white- 

 thorn trees and hedges in our parks, the little larva? swarming during J une, 

 and the moths being observed on every paling in July. The mode in which 

 these sluggish little larva? construct their boat-shaped cocoons is very in- 

 teresting and well worth observation. 



From this inconspicuous little species we proceed to the gaudy Arctia 

 caja, a species well known to almost every one, more especially in the larval 

 state, the caterpillar being known as the " woolly bear." They first appear 

 toward the end of March, having hybernated, and seem to feed upon every 

 low plant to be found. They are at first very small, but quickly attain a 

 large size, and towards the end of May they are frequently observed travelling 



