THE YOUNG NATUEALIST. 



9 



In MATURE males are dingy ash blue in 

 colour, no indications of the white line on 

 the wings, as in the adult ; tail and rump 

 red, in this plumage they are frequently 

 called" S. Cairii." 



Varieties seem to be very rare, I do not 

 recollect seeing one recorded anywhere. 



Note. — This bird is said to have a song 

 somewhat similar to the common species. 



Flight. — Quick and rather undulatory. 



Migration. — This bird visits this 

 country in the winter, arriving in Novem- 

 ber, and departing again in March or April, 

 contrary to most of the insectiverous birds ; 

 but is believed to be a summer visitor on 

 the Continent. 



Food. — Insects of all kinds and small 

 berries. 



Habitat. — This bird frequents the 



southern coast of England, and occasionally 

 inland. It may be met with in certain 

 localties every year, but it is nowhere com- 

 mon. It it also known in Ireland, and one 

 or two specimens have been obtained in 

 Scotland. Mr. F. Bond shot the first re- 

 corded British specimen. 



Abroad it is common in Switzerlandi 

 Italy, Spain, and other hilly parts of central 

 and southern Europe, but rarely in the 

 northern parts. It is also fonnd in Asia 

 and Africa. 



Nest,^ — The nest is placed in a hole in 

 a rock, wall, or other suitable place, and is 

 formed of moss and grass, lined with hair 

 or feathers. The nest figured is from a 

 figure in Yarrell. 



Eggs. — From five to seven. White 

 without any spots. I believe it has been 

 known to breed in England. 



BRITISH MOTHS. 



By John E. Robson. 

 ARCTIA FULIGINOSA. 

 The Ruby Tiger. 

 Some little interest having been mani- 

 fested lately in this insect, it has been 

 selected as the first species to be described 

 in this volume, and will be figured in our 

 illustrated catalogue at an early date. The 

 following account of it does not pretend to 

 be exhaustive, but merely to contain my 

 own somewhat limited knowledge, with such 

 additional information as I have been able 

 to gather from correspondents. It is one 

 of those very common species, occurring 

 abundantly nearly everywhere, of which 

 the beginner is almost certain to obtain a 

 series during his first season. The larvae 

 are also easily found and reared, and but 

 few collectors will pass their second season 

 without having bred the insect, which is 

 then consigned to the list of species they 

 know all about and are done with. Yet it 

 is a species of considerable interest, and one 

 about which a great deal remains to learn. 

 Even our highest authorities differ in 

 opinion on very important points in its life- 

 history, while the remarkable variation to 

 which it is subject makes it a most interest- 

 ing study for those who care to investigate 

 that question. 



The Imago is described in Stainton's 

 Manual as follows :—" Fore wing reddish 

 brown, with a black spot beyond the middle; 

 hind wing black or dull pink, with black 

 margins ; two central black spots ; fringes 

 pink." Taking this as a description of the 

 normal form of the insect, I would observe 

 that the forewing has often a semi-trans- 

 parent appearance, but I am inclined to 

 believe that this is partly, if not altogether, 

 caused by the scales being but loosely 

 attached, as in some of the clearwings, and 

 falling off soon after emergence. This may 

 account for the difference in shade in differ- 



