83 
LEPIDOPTERA. 
wings. As a rule, the colouring in the members of this 
group is not conspicuous, though some species are 
striking enough, the Red Underwing, for instance, a 
large greyish moth, with red hind-wings, barred with 
broad black bands; the splendid Clifden Nonpareil 
(Catocala fraxini), with fore-wings marbled grey, and 
hind-wings rich lilac, bordered with deep black, though 
it is doubtful whether this magnificent moth—about 
four inches in the expanse of the wings—is properly 
a native. The Plusias are very beautiful, glittering 
with gold and silver. 
The Geometrina derives its name from the peculiar 
mode of locomotion in the lame, or “ looper ” cater¬ 
pillars, as they are called. The creature attaches its 
hind-legs to the substance on which it is walking, 
stretches out its body to its full length, depresses its 
fore part, and grasps with its fore-legs, bringing up the 
hind-legs to them, in this way forming for a time a 
loop. It then stretches out the fore part again, repeat¬ 
ing the process as before. The larvae, having only ten 
legs, are obliged to adopt this mode of migration. Mr. 
Stainton says we have upwards of 260 British species ; 
all have slender bodies when contrasted with the Noc- 
tuina and Bombycina, most rest with wings extended, 
and a few with them erect like the butterflies. I have 
space only for mentioning two or three species of this 
group ; one of the commonest and prettiest—here, at 
least, in Shropshire—is the Swallow-tail moth ( Ouraj )- 
teryx sambucaria ), so called from the hind-wings being 
prolonged into a kind of tail. The wings are of a light 
yellow, with several pale olive transverse streaks. It is 
very like a small brimstone butterfly, but its tapering 
