54 
MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES. 
shade of green, the wings being crossed by white lines edged with 
purple. There are a number of green moths belonging to this 
group which resemble one another closely, but this is the most 
attractive in coloring, and were it as large would rival the beautiful 
Actias luna. I know nothing of the life history of this moth, but 
have often been charmed with its beauty as it flew in at the open 
window to my lamp. 
Among the many geometrids to be found in our country I may 
mention the following species, as shown in the illustration. 
Endropia marginata , having all wings yellowish-buff, bordered 
with a broad band of light brown. Expanse one and three-quarters 
inches. This moth may be taken with a lamp early in September. 
A smaller moth, Endropia Jiypochraria , has brownish-gray wings 
with brown markings. It expands about one and a half inches. 
In Eutrapela clematata we have a moth with brownish-gray wings 
the inner part darker crossed by brown and light gray lines. It ex¬ 
pands one and three-quarters inches. Eutrapela transversata is light 
brownish-yellow, with distinct lines and markings of brown. Ex¬ 
panse nearly two inches. 
Acidalia ennucleata is creamy-wliite with brown markings near 
outer edge of wings. Expands one and a quarter inches. 
A finely marked moth, Therina seminudaria is light gray with 
wings crossed by yellowish-brown and yellow lines. Expands one 
and three-quarters inches. 
Before leaving this interesting class of insects, having figured and 
described only a small number of the more common species, a few 
words in regard to the wonderful protective coloring, shapes and hab¬ 
its of some of these moths and their larvae may prove interesting to 
the student of entomology. The thin, flat wings of these moths 
enable them to conceal themselves, not by folding the wings up 
close to the body as so many other species do, but by spreading them 
out flat on the objects on which they rest, hugging so closely to their 
support as to appear to be a part of it. Some of the species closely 
resemble patches of lichens when flattened against the trunks of 
trees, the lines and bits of color on their wings helping out the 
resemblance to such an extent that when discovered, one is some¬ 
times half in doubt where the insect leaves off and the bark begins. 
The green species, many of them, extend their wings on the green 
leaves, lying so close to the surface as to be scarcely distinguishable. 
