OAK EGGER-MOTU. 
J99 
near the middle ; this hand is distinctly defined on. 
the inner side, but externally it is gradually shaded 
off towards the margin, where the brown colour 
again deepens. On each of the anterior wings 
there is a small central white spot placed in a dusky 
ring, and in many instances a yellowish patch at 
the base. The fiinge of the anterior wings is nar- 
row and bro'(vn ; that of the hinder pair broad, and 
nearly of the same colour as the transverse band, 
but occasionally somewhat clouded with brown. 
The upper parts of the body are of the same colour 
as the dark portion of the wings, tlie under side 
and legs ochreous-yellow. Antenn® chestnut-brown. 
The female is much larger than the male, with 
similar markings, but the w'hole body and wings 
are pale yellow. 
Tlie caterpillar is yellowish, covered with greyish- 
brown hairs, having the incisures black, and a 
white macidar band on each side. There is like- 
wise an interrupted row’ of white spots on the back, 
and a pale yellow’ mark on the anterior part of the 
head. It feeds on the oak, wiUow, haw’thom, 
broom, and a variety of other trees and shrubs. 
Both the caterpillar and the moth are subject to 
numerous variations, w’hicli has occasioned diffe- 
rence of opinion among authors regarding the proper 
application of the specific name. Examples are 
occasionally foimd in w’hich the transA’erse band is 
greenish : these Ilubner regarded as distinct, and 
named Hombyx Spartii. Such as have a yellow’ 
mark at the base of the anterior wings, are alone 
