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THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



Mention of Catocqla nupta reminds me that it is time I said something 

 about the night flying lepidoptera occurring in July. If we beat the oak 

 trees about this time we shall possibly dislodge some little pale reddish moths 

 which fall quietly into the net and lie as if dead. If we examine one of them 

 we shall see that it has a zig-zag black line between the middle of the wing 

 and the hind margin, while nearer to the hind margin itself is a row of black 

 dots. By these characters we recognise it as Calligenia miniata. On the 

 oak trees too we shall probably find the lilack-arches moth (Liparis monacha.) 

 The type form is, as every entomologist knows, white with black markings, 

 but there is a variety (Frimifa) entirely black. 



The common Tiger moth {Chelonia caja) comes out of the chrysalis at the 

 latter end of the month, to the delight of young entomological beginners, and 

 truly it is a magnificent looking insect, and if it were only as rare as it is 

 common would be much prized by collectors. It varies a great deal as is 

 well known. I have bred individuals, the larvae of which fed on plants 

 growing on wet heavy clay soil, which had the cream colour on the fore wings 

 reduced to exceedingly thin lines, and the red of the hind wings intensified to 

 a rich crimson with the bluish black spots large and confluent, while on the 

 other hand I have bred specimens from larvse feeding on plants growing on 

 light dry sandy soil with but little brown on the forewings, and the red hind 

 wings showing a distinct orange shade. I last year obtained a specimen from 

 a chalky district with yellow hind wings. As is well known, very singular 

 varieties have been bred by entomologists which I have not space to spare to 

 particularise. 



The Muslin moth (Nudaria mundana), the Footman moths (JAthosia 

 mesomella L, lurideola, L. complana, L. quadra and Eukpia cribrum) the 

 oak-eggar [Bombyx quercus). The Lackey moth (B neustria), and the 

 Drinker moth [Odonestis potatorid) also come out in July, and besides these 

 there are the orange, purple .bordered, Epione apiciaria, the very pale whitish 

 green Metrocampa margaritata, the second brood of the Common Early 

 Thorn (Selenia illunaria), the White Cleora lichenaria, with wings dusted 

 with greenish grey, and the Satin beauty {Boarmia abietaria), which should 

 be looked out for in the neighbourhood of fir trees. The male is greyish 

 black and glossy, with lines only on the fore wings ; the female is paler than 

 the male, and slightly clouded with pale orange. The moths may, by good 

 fortune, be found sitting on the trunks of the trees. To these may be added 

 the blackish dark annulet Gnophos obscurala, some specimens of which are 

 very pale and others clay coloured. The former {Far. Serotinaria Steph.) 

 occur in chalky districts, the latter (Far. Dilucidaria Steph, Argillacearia 

 $tdr.) in places where the soil is argillaceous. The little dark grey Psodos 



