SIX-SPOTTED BURNET-MOTH. 125 
upper pair. They are gregarious iu their habits 
and sluggish and inactive in their movements, and 
may sometimes be found in dull weather clinging 
to plants in considerable numbers, and remaining 
quite motionless for a length of time. The most 
common species to be met with in this country is 
that mentioned above. It measures from fifteen 
to eighteen lines across the wings ; the upper pair 
are of a fine greenish-black with a high degree of 
lustre, each of them with sis red spots, arranged 
in pairs, tivo at the base (sometimes united or 
separated merely by the intersecting nervure), two 
in the middle placed obliquely, and two towards 
the apex nearly parallel ■with the last. The under 
wings are carmine-red on both sides, the hinder 
margin mth a narrow blue-black border. The body 
is velvet-black with a blue or greenish gloss ; the 
antenn® of a similar hue. 
The caterpillar is yellow, with three rows of 
black spots along the back, and others on the sides ; 
the head very small and black. It feeds on grasses 
and a variety of common plants, such as Speed- 
well, f Veronica ), Mouse-ear hawkweed. Dandelion, 
Spir®a filipendula, &c . ; from the latter it has ob- 
tained its specific name. 
The perfect insect appears about the end of June 
and continues till the end of August. It is plenti- 
ful in most parts of England, and like^vise occurs 
abundantly in certain parts of Scotland, but in that 
country it is somewhat local. In the vicinity of 
Edinburgh, it is found on the shores at Cramond, 
