The family contains two moths--the Brown Tail and the Yellow Tail--that are very similar in appearance and habits. Both have white wings, and their bodies also are white with the exception of the tuft of coloured hair at the tip of the abdomen, which gives the names to the species. Their larvae may both be found feeding on the same trees (whitethorn), and both change to a brown hairy chrysalis within a loose cocoon among the leaves. The larva of _Chrysorrh[oe]a_ is black, with four rows of little wart-like projections on each side, from which proceed little tufts of hairs. These hairs are reddish with the exception of one row on each side, which is white. The tenth and eleventh segments have each a scarlet tubercle, and there are also other small spots of the same colour on some of the front segments. [Illustration: FIG. 122.--THE BROWN TAIL.] The larva feeds on the blackthorn in addition to the tree mentioned above, and is full grown in June. The moth flies in August. _The Gipsy_ (_Ocneria dispar_) The fore wings of the male are smoky brown, with darker markings, including a V-shaped black mark near the centre. The hind wings are brown, darker near the margin. The female is dingy yellowish white, with darker markings arranged as in the male. The male is much inferior in size, and its antennae are very strongly pectinated. [Illustration: FIG. 123.--THE GIPSY--MALE.] The larva is brownish black, finely dotted with yellowish grey. There is a grey stripe down the middle of the back, and six tubercles on each segment give rise to tufts of long hair. It feeds on the whitethorn (_Crataegus oxyacantha_), blackthorn (_Prunus spinosa_), and various fruit trees. The caterpillar is full grown in June, and the moth appears in August. _The Black Arches_ (_Psilura Monacha_) The fore wings of the Black Arches are white, marked with zigzag black lines as shown in our illustration. The hind wings are smoky grey. The hinder segments of the abdomen are banded with black and rose-pink. The male is much smaller than the female, and has the antennae strongly pectinated. [Illustration: FIG. 124.--THE BLACK ARCHES--MALE.] The caterpillar is hairy, and of a greyish-white colour. A brown stripe runs down the back. On the top of the second segment are two blue tubercles; and there is also a tubercle, of a reddish colour, on each of the ninth, tenth, and eleventh segments. It feeds on the oak, birch, fir, and the apple; and is full grown in June or July. The moth flies during July and August. _The Vapourer Moth_ (_Orgyia antiqua_)