

LEPIDOPTERA. 251 
whole completely enclosed in a black circle. ‘‘ These moths,” says 
Geoffroy, “are very large; they look as if they were covered 
with fur, and, when they fly, one is inclined to take them for birds.”’ 
Saturnia pavonia-major comes from a very large caterpillar, 
which is of a beautiful green, with tubercules of turquoise 
blue, each of which is surmounted by seven stiff divergent hairs. 
This caterpillar lives principally upon the elm, but it feeds also 
upon the leaves of the pear, plum, and other trees. It spins a 



















































































































Fig. 230.—Emperor Moth (Saturnia carpint). 
brown cocoon, formed of a coarse silk of great strength. It is not 
until the following spring that it becomes a moth. 
The Emperor Moth (Saturnia carpini, Fig. 230) much resembles 
the above, except in size. This species is common in England, and 
its green larva, covered with black or pink warts, from which spring 
hairs as in the last, is by no means rare on heath in the autumn. 
It also feeds on bramble and other plants. 
Among the Aftaci foreign to Europe, we must mention Af/as 
(Fig. 231), the expanse of whose wings exceeds four and a 
quarter inches. This magnificent moth, one of the largest known, 
comes from China. 
The family Bombycide comprises many species which we must 
not omit to mention. 

