THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



5 



... s letimes attracted by the light. If the weather 

 . t too severe at the time it ought to emerge, it re- 

 i ( ins concealed in its cocoon for another year, and 

 I > ietimes it will remain three or four years, or even 

 • | re. This is a wonderful provision of nature, 

 . I for which the species might become extinct the 

 •. ( t severe season. Many winter moths, and some 



< m of those that emerge in finer weather, have 

 - I i power of waiting, and the marvel is that they 



< not come out at the first suitable opportunity, 

 I always wait a whole year, and only appear 

 t n if the weather be suitable. A gentleman of 

 I writers's acquaintance had a large brood of the 

 ! all Eggar, E. Lanestris, some of which came 

 ! for five successive years, and each year within a 



" i f of the same time — the fourth or fifth of March. 

 • 



i - — *^ 



Fig. i. 



HlMERA Pennaria, the Feathered Thorn, is 

 rarity. It comes freely to light, and may, 

 y irefore, be found on gas lamps. It may also be 

 ind in woods, at rest, on tree trunks, It some- 

 lat resembles the next species, both being rich 

 )wn in colour, with similar markings ; but it is 

 ger, its wings more thickly scaled, and its body 

 •uter. If, however, you only have one of them, 

 nnaria may be known by having hind wings of 

 » same] color as the fore wings, with a distinct 

 rk line across them, looking like a continuance 

 the outer line on the fore wings. 



Fig. 2. 



Hybernia Aurantiara, the Scarce Usher, is 

 o common enough, notwithstanding its English 



name. It may be known from the last mentioned 

 by the hind wings being much paler in color than 

 the fore wings, the darker line being very faint. 

 The female of this species has only stumps of wings, 

 darker than those of the male, and looking like 

 wings that had never expanded. This species also 

 sits on tree trunks in woods, or may be found on 

 leafless hedges at night, with a lantern. 



Hybernia Defoliaria, the Mottled Umber. 

 This very pretty and very variable species is even 

 commoner than the last. It sits on tree trunks, 

 and, so far as our experience goes, generally rather 

 high up. The female has stumps of wings, but 

 they are so small as to be scarcely visible. 



Cheimatobia Brumata, the Winter Moth, 

 CHEIMATOBIA BOREATA, the Northern Winter" 

 Moth. The first of these is exceedingly abundant, 

 and, in open weather, may be found in swarms on 

 every gas lamp, and plentifully on hedges, where 

 the female, with her stunted wings, may also be 

 obtained. The second is much rarer, and, though 

 it is called the northern winter moth, has not yet 

 been recorded from Scotland, though it is less 

 scarce in the North of England than in the South. 

 The two species are very similar, and if you have 

 taken only one, it is safe to assume it is Brumata. 

 If you take two species, Bnreata is the larger anct 

 paler of the two. Should you have any doubt, 

 measure the expanded wings. If your specimen 

 exceed an inch and a quarter, it is Bnreata, if 

 less, it is Brumata. In some places, Brumata 

 is so abundant as to be classed among injurious? 

 insects. In the larva state it will eat almost any- 

 thing, and does incredible injury among orchards 

 and plantations, and very extraordinary means are 

 sometimes resorted to, to reduce its number. 



Oporobia Dilutata, the November Moth. 

 This very abundant species appears in September, 

 and continues out till this month. It may be 

 found on the wing in every country lane, or on 

 trees and walks in woods, or beaten out of hedges 

 and bushes. It varies considerably in appearance, 

 but cannot be mistaken for any other species that 

 can be taken this month. 



Cidaria Psittacata, the Red Green Carpet. ' 

 This is not a very common insect, nor very abun- 

 dant where it occurs, but it has been taken in most 

 parts of England. It comes to light, may be 

 taken at ivy-bloom, or sitting on tree-trunks or 

 palings. The English name is sufficiently appro- 

 priate to guide the beginner when he meets with 



