142 



THE YOUNG 



NATURALIST. 



Aventiaflexula, the beautiful hook-tip, already 

 named as of uncertain location, is included 

 here by Mr. Stainton. Dr. Staudinger in- 

 cludes it among the Noctuina, while Mr. 

 Doubleday places it in a group by itself, 

 which he calls Aventid^. The forewings of 

 most of the species project at the tip, forming 

 a slight hook, while the hind wings of most 

 of them are rather angulated. The larvsB is 

 of the usual form, and feed exposed on trees 

 or shrubs. The pupse are in a cocoon or in 

 one case subterranean. 



XI. FiDONiD^. In this family we have 

 fifteen species in nine genera. Many of them 

 are rather pretty, and in some cases there is 

 considerable difference between the sexes. 

 Some of the species fly in the day-time, even 

 in the bright sun, and others appear very 

 wakeful and will flit out when any one passes. 

 They vary in size from three-quarters of an 

 inch to nearly two inches, and vary equally 

 in colour and style of marking, but several of 

 the species have dark borders. The larvgs 

 are of the usual shape, and feed mostly on 

 low plants. The pupa is sometimes in a 

 cocoon, generally subterranean, 



XII. ZEEENrD.^:. Only four British spe- 

 cies in three genera occur. They are all 

 white with black or grey markings, one 

 species having also a yellow band across the 

 wings. The larvee feed on trees and are of 

 the usual form. The pupsB are subterranean 

 or on the surface, except A. grossulariata, 

 which is suspended in a boat-shaped web 

 The pupa of this species also departs so far 

 from the usual colouration that it is a bright 

 shining black, with yellow rings at the ab- 

 dominal segments. 



XIII. LiQiDM. Only one species occurs 

 here, which is a dull coloured insect with 

 markings scarcely perceptible. The larva 

 feeds on heath and is of the usual form. The 

 pupa is subterranean. 



XIV. HYBEENID.E. Six species in two 

 genera are found in this family. 'I hey are 

 all winter moths, and have been so fully 



described in our pages lately that we will not 

 take up space here by repeating it. The 

 larvflB are rather long and slender, and feed 

 mostly on trees or shrubs. The pupae are 

 subterranean. A. cBscularia sits with the 

 hind wings concealed beneath the forewings, 

 and the hind wings are without markings. 



XV. LARENTEDiE. This family contains 

 very nearly one hundred and fifty species in 

 eighteen genera, including, as it does, about 

 one half the British Geometeina. General 

 characteristics are not, therefore, easily given 

 in a few words. The family includes the 

 "Pugs," "Carpets," and many other well-known 

 insects. The females of one genus have rudi- 

 mentary wings, in all the others the sexes 

 are alike or nearly so. The larvse are of the 

 usual form, and, as may be expected, are of 

 very varied habits, but the majority feed 

 exposed on trees or low plants. Some con- 

 ceal themselves in leaves, others feed in the 

 seeds, in flowers, &c., &c. The pupae are 

 also of the usual form, and are generally in a 

 cocoon under the surface ; some few are in a 

 cocoon among leaves, under bark, &c. 



XVII. EuBOLiD^. A small family of less 

 than a dozen species, in five genera. They 

 vary in size from one inch to nearly two, and 

 have rather large wings, the tip of which is 

 pointed, sometimes almost forming a hook 

 The larvse are of the usual form, and feed 

 exposed on low plants, concealing them- 

 selves during the day under the leaves of the 

 food plant. The pupa are either subte^:- 

 ranean or in a loose cocoon, and after the 

 usual form. 



XVII. SioNiD^. A family of but a 

 single species, the well-known " Chimney 

 Sweeper," so called from the blackness of 

 the wings. The larvae and pupa are of the 

 usual form. 



The next group is the Pyralidina, but as 

 many beginners do not collect them, and Dr. 

 Staudinger includes them with his Micro- 

 lepidoptera, they will be reserved for future 

 consideration. 



