Chapter 2

[70] _Noctua Maura._--The Moor has a broad body, and is constantly found under the arches of Westminster Bridge.

[71] _Arctia caja._--The caterpillar mixes its own hair with its web. It is found in gardens, feeds on every thing, and changes its skin ten times.

[72] _Noctua brassica._--The caterpillar is very destructive to cabbages.

[73] _Noctua persicaria._--This moth is remarkable for a white spot on its wing, and the caterpillar feeds on the flower from which it is named.

[74] _Noctua erica._--The appearance of a true lover's knot is found on its upper wings.

[75] _Macroglossum stellatarum._--It makes a humming noise with the vibration of its wings. It is found from March till September, hovering over geraniums, and constantly appears at two o'clock in the afternoon.

[76] _Noctua bractea._--This is a rare insect, and receives its name from the large spot in each upper wing, resembling burnished gold.

[77] _Noctua precox._--This moth was named after the Duchess of Portland, who first found it.

[78] _Tortrix genus._--The genus receives its name from the faculty possessed by the caterpillar, of rolling or twisting the leaves of the plants it inhabits, into a tubular form. The Christian, or Christianern, is found in the chalk pits of Kent, resting on cinque-foil. The upper wings are of a bright yellow, streaked with scarlet.

[79] _Ino statices._--The body and wings are of a beautiful metallic green, and they chiefly inhabit meadows.

[80] _Ægeria genus._--They receive their name from the transparency of their wings. They are principally found on the wood of the currant tree.

[81] _Noctua tragopogonus._--Called Mouse from its colour.

[82] _Noctua delphinii._--The Pease blossom is a very beautiful, but rare moth. It feeds on the wild larkspur, and lies in the pupa state from August till the June following.

[83] _Noctua satellitia._--The caterpillars of the Satellite are great enemies to white thorn, currant, and gooseberry bushes, and also to other caterpillars.

[84] _Geometra hexapterata._--The Seraph, or Seraphim, has two little processes like the rudiments of another pair of wings, whence its specific name.

[85] _Noctua cerasi, &c._--These moths are remarkably neat in appearance.

[86] _Noctua ligustri._--The Coronets are so called from their crested thorax.

[87] _Geometra luctuaria._

[88] _Adela genus._--The Japan moths are distinguished by the length of their antennae, which several times exceed the length of their bodies.

[89] _Abraxas grossulariata._--The destructive caterpillar of this moth lives in gardens, through the winter, and feeds on the buds as they begin to open. When about to change to the chrysalis state, they suspend themselves by the tail.

[90] _Bombyx antiqua._--The female moth is destitute of wings, and the male is constantly seen, slowly fluttering through the streets of London.

[91] _Noctua psi._--The Dagger is produced from a light green egg, and is named from the mark on its wings.

[92] _Herminia rostralis._--Called Snout, from the form of the palpi, which project over the head.

[93] _Bombyx cæruleocephala._--It owes its English name to the figure of eight, marked in white on its brown wings.

[94] _Bombyx cassinea._--The Sprawler is found on palings, closely adhering to the wood, and rests with its anterior feet widely spread out.

[95] _Geometra leucophearia._--This is named Spring Usher from making its appearance in February; it is a favourite food with insectivorous birds.

[96] _Noctua aprica._

[97] _Tortrix gnomana._--Dial moth. It flies from side to side like the pendulum of a clock.

[98] _Lasiocampa neustria, &c._--The caterpillars live in a common web, and are striped with white, blue, and red, whence, by the French naturalists, they are called _livrée_. They are polyphagus, _i. e._ they eat every thing. They lay their eggs in close, compact rings, round the twigs of trees.

[99] _Odenensis potatoria._--The caterpillar of this moth (according to Godart) after drinking, lifts up its head like a hen, whence it receives its name.

[100] _Lithosia aurantia_ (orange)--_Lithosia luterella_ (yellow) _Lithosia rubricollis_ (black)--Footman.

[101] _Noctua chamomilla._--The moth attaches itself close to the edges of wood, as near its own colour as possible.

[102] _Abraxas ulmaria._--Found abundantly in Yorkshire.

[103] _Geometra genus._

[104] _Noctua exclamationis._

[105] _Geometra chærophyllata._--All the moths called Chimney-sweeps are black, but the Chimney-sweep's boy is smaller than the others, and easily distinguished by the glossiness of its wings.

[106] _Fumaria plumistra._

[107] _Geometra euphorbiata_, &c.

[108] _Geometra thymiaria._--All collectors will recognise this as a very probable accident from the quantity of grease natural to moths, and which often destroys their finest specimens. The localities of these and other insects, with more particulars, may be found ably described in Mr. Samouelle's valuable work on Entomology.

THE END.

BRADBURY AND EVANS, PRINTERS.

+------------------------------------------------------------------+ | | | Transcriber's Notes: | | | | There is no indication from the original printing that the poem | | was broken into stanzas, unless every stanza happened to finish | | at the end of a page. The three plates in the body of the book | | were inserted close to the lines they illustrate; to minimise | | disruption to the flow of the poem these have here been moved to | | a sentence break near the illustrated lines. | | | | The plates in the body of the book all carry the same | | attribution as the frontispiece: | | _M. Gauci delt._ _Printed by C. Motte 23 Leicester Sqre._ | | | +------------------------------------------------------------------+