118 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



published, and the only description I know 

 of is that given by Newman. Newman says 

 that the larvas spin together the leaves on 

 which they feed and lives in concealment 

 during the whole of its life. My larvae did 

 not do so, but they were nearly full fed 

 when sent me. If this be correct, it will 

 account for the larva being so seldom seen ; 

 yet, when this habit is known, the leaves so 

 spun together ought to be easily seen. 

 Newman also says that the pupa is buried 

 deeper than any other species of the genus. 

 The moth is decidedly scarce, though it is 

 recorded from most places in England ex- 

 cept the more northern and western coun- 

 ties ; it has also been taken in Ireland. It 

 has been known to go to light. 



STABILIS. 



Fore wings rather variable in colour, 

 shading from dull grey to reddish brown ; 

 the subterminal line and margins of the 

 stigmata yellowish ochreous ; sometimes a 

 dark shade below the latter. Larva pale 

 green, with the lines yellowish, but rather 

 indistinct, the subdorsal most so. It feeds 

 on a variety of trees, and is full fed by the 

 middle of July. The insect is common 

 almost everywhere. 



GRACILIS. 



Forewings pale grey, with an ochreous 

 shade, the lower half of the reniform stigma 

 dark grey, the abicular slightly darker than 

 the ground colour; their margins and the 

 sub-terminal line pale grey. Larva dull 

 green, with the lines paler, the spiracular 

 line edged on each side with white. It feeds 

 on willow, but occasionally on other plants. 

 It is full fed, like the others of the genus, 

 about the middle of July. This insect is 

 tolerably well distributed, both in Great 

 and Ireland, but is not one of the most 

 abundant species. 



MINIOSA. 



Imago orange brown, all the lines and 

 margins of the stigmata paler. Between 

 the inner and elbowed line it is darker, and 



the stigmata, which are in this darker por- 

 tion of the wing, are-darker still, often tend- 

 ing to grey in colour. Larva blue or blue 

 grey, the lines yellow, the dorsal line broken 

 at the segments, and wider between ; the 

 space between the lines is spotted with 

 velvety black. It varies rather in depth 

 of colour, and is not easy to describe in 

 words. Oak seems to be the tree selected 

 in preference by the female. About a score 

 of eggs are laid on a twig, before the leaves 

 appear, and when the young larva hatch 

 they spin together any old leaves that may 

 remain on the tree enclosing the young 

 buds. Afterwards they separate and wan- 

 der away, feeding up very rapidly on the 

 oak or almost anything else they fall in 

 with. Newman says they feed in company 

 about 10 days, and separately for other 10, 

 the larval life sometimes extending to 26 

 days. It is consequently always fed up 

 by June. The moth is well distributed in 

 England, but is not recorded from the 

 northern and north-western counties and is 

 rather rare. 



MUNDA. 



Forewing greyish brown, occasionally 

 with a reddish tinge. Two distinct black 

 spots about the middle of the sub-terminal 

 line, and another near the tip, often a dark 

 shade between and below the stigmata. 

 Lower half of reniform stigma dark grey. 

 The largest of the British species, expanding 

 to nearly if inches. Larva pale ochreous, 

 much reticulated with brown, the lines pale 

 yellow. On each side of the dorsal line is 

 an irregular row of white spots, Like the last, 

 it is not easy to describe. It feeds on oak, 

 elm, &c, and is full fed in June. It is found 

 in most parts of Britain, and is not scarce 

 where it occurs. 



CRUDA. 



Forewings dull grey, or grey-brown. The 

 margins of the stigmata and sub-terminal 

 line pale yellow, but not so distinct as in 

 most of others. The reniform stigma is 



