Some British Moths Described 
junctions of the segments. The moth flies in June. 
Expanse, 14 to 24 inches, or more, It is found all over 
the country. : 
Bombyx quercus : the Oak Egear (Plate IV., Fig. 4 ; 
larva cocoon, and parasitic ichneumon, Plate IL, 
Figs. 1,2,and 8). Our figure is that of a male, which may © 
expand to 24 inches; the female is quite 1 inch more in 
expanse, and is of pale buff ground colour, ‘There are 
- two distinct races of this handsome moth, the southern 
feeding on Oak, light in colour, with the transverse 
line on the fore-wings nearly straight; the northern 
feeding on Heather, dark chocolate in colour, with the 
transverse line distinctly fiddle-shaped. The moth 
flies boldly in the sunshine with the speed of a rocket. 
** Assembling ”—i,e., attracting males by means of a 
captive virgin female—is the only method of bringing 
them within reach of a net, It is better to rear the 
larve, which hibernate when about 1 inch long. They 
should be looked for in their second season, from May 
to July, and, in the North, to August. The larve 
should not be handled with bare fingers; their hairs 
stick in the skin and are exceedingly irritating. 
Odonestis potatoria: the Drinker (Plate IV., Fig. 5). 
—Said to have a habit, in passing over a sheet of water, 
of dipping down and touching the surface. Occasionally 
comes to light. The figure is that of a male, which 
expands to nearly 2 inches; the female is of a light 
ochreous yellow for the ground colour, and is 24 inches 
across the wings. A very common species everywhere 
in July and August. The larva (Plate VII., Fig. 5) 
6 
C.B.M. 41 
