30 
COSSUS LIGNIPERDA. 
GOAT-MOTH. 
Plate VII. Figure 3. 
This great moth measures no less than from a little 
under three inches to three and three quarters across. 
Male : front wings a mixture of rather pale and darker 
brown of different shades, and grey or greyish white, 
crossed with slender waved lines irregularly disposed; 
a few short lines within the upper edge, two or three 
slender ones near the tip, and one larger and longer 
one a little way within these, darker than the others. 
Hind wings pale ash grey, marked similarly but less 
distinctly with waved lines. 
Localities for this species are Ely, Bromsgrove, Ivy 
Farm near Neatishead, Lambourne, EastG-arston, Bristol, 
Gloucester, Kimbolton, and near London, &c., &c., &c. 
The dates of the appearance of the perfect insect are 
the end of June and beginning and middle of July. 
The caterpillar is dull pale yellowish red; the back 
chesnut red. 
The date of the appearance of the caterpillar is in 
September and October, but it remains sometimes as 
much as three years in this state before turning to 
chrysalis. 
It feeds on the willow, poplar, and walnut. 
These moths are considered to do considerable damage 
to trees in the places where they abound ; but such 
damage is more imaginary than real, for the decayed 
wood they feed on is a symptom, only betrayed by 
them, of the unsoundness which is the precursor of a 
fall. 
