uo 



THE YOUNG NATUEALIST. 



Gentlemen have kindly given in their names 

 to become honorary members. We shall 

 consider it at a future meeting. — H. War- 

 wick, H.M.B.M.N.C. (Acting) Hon. Sec, 

 Aston Park, Birmingham. 



BRITISH MOTHS: 



By John' E. Robson, 

 (Assisted by Contributors to the Y.N.) 



II. Apamid^, containing nearly fifty 

 species, divided into eighteen genera. The 

 imagines are mostly of dull colours, the 

 yellow G. flavago being the gayest. They 

 vary in size from Miajia expolita which only 

 expands three quarters of an inch, to Xylo- 

 phasia polyodon, which often reaches two 

 inches. The three stigmata are generally 

 well marked. In repose the wings are roof- 

 shaped. The larvge are dull coloured, but 

 generally shining ; they live in stems or roots, 

 or concealed among the low herbage or 

 grass roots. The pupa is generally subter- 

 ranean. 



III, Caradrinid^ includes only seven 

 species in four genera. They are dull 

 coloured insects, but generally with the 

 stigmata and lines well defined. The larvae 

 are short and stout, with short hairs, con- 

 cealing themselves among the low plants on 

 which they feed. The pupa is in a subter- 

 ranean cocoon. 



IV. NocTuiD^ contains nearly fifty spe- 

 cies in only four genera, one of which has 

 but one species and another only six. They 

 are all dull coloured, though the hind wings 

 of the genus Triphana are yellow. The 

 stigmata are generally distinct. In repose 

 the wings are nearly flat, the fore wings 

 slightly overlapping. The larvae are smooth 

 and shining, concealing themselves under 

 the leaves of the low plants on which they 

 feed, or sometimes below the surface. The 

 pupae are enclosed in an earthern cocoon, 



V, Orthosid^ contains between thirty 

 and forty species in eleven genera. Almost 



all of them appear either in early spring or 

 late in autumn, some of the latter hyberna- 

 ting to appear again in spring. Many of 

 the species ai'e gaily coloured, especially 

 among those appearing at the end of the 

 year (Xanthia, Dasycampa, &c.) The imagi- 

 nes are all of moderate size, and the lines 

 and stigmata are generally well defined. 

 The larvae are smooth and cylindrical, 

 feeding on trees or low plants, but hiding 

 during the day. The pupae are enclosed in 

 an earthen cocoon. 



VI. CosMiD^ only contains eight species 

 in four genera. The imagines are ail of 

 moderate size. In repose the wings form a 

 very inclined roof. They vary considerably 

 in colour, from the pale ochreous oo to the 

 reddish brown affinis and diffinis. Most of 

 the larvae feed between leaves fastened 

 together with silk somewhat like the larva 

 of a Tortrix, they are rather slender, some of 

 them very brightly coloured. The pupae 

 are stumpy, often covered with a purple or 

 violet bloom like a plum, and are enclosed 

 between leaves or in cocoons formed on the 

 surface of the ground. 



VII. Hadenid^ is another of the larger 

 families, containing nearly fifty species, 

 which are divided into thirteen genera. 

 Considerable variety of habit obtains among 

 the members of this group. The imagines 

 vary in size from about one inch to more 

 than two ; the wings vary in shape and 

 style of marking, but in repose form a very 

 inclined roof. The abdomen is generally 

 crested at the segments, in Dianthcecia it 

 terminates in a pointed ovipositor in the 

 female. The larvae are smooth and often 

 velvety, and very varied in their habits, 

 feeding on roots, on flower seeds, trees and 

 low plants ; those of Dianthcecia feed in the 

 capsules of the food plant when young, or 

 throughout life, in which case they often 

 change there. In others the pupae are 

 subterranean, 



(To be continued). 



