_The Coxcomb Prominent_ (_Lophopteryx camelina_) The family _Notodontidae_ contains several moths of somewhat varied appearance, but foremost among them are the 'Prominents,' distinguished by a conspicuous projection on the inner margin of the fore wings. [Illustration: FIG. 133.--THE COXCOMB PROMINENT.] Our example of this group is the Coxcomb Prominent. Its fore wings are brown, with darker markings arranged as shown in the illustration; and the hind margins are scalloped. The hind wings are much paler, with a dark brown patch in the anal angle. The caterpillar is green, with a yellowish line on each side. The spiracles are black, and there are two small humps on the twelfth segment. It feeds during August, September, and October, on various trees, including the oak, birch, poplar, hazel, and alder. The moth flies from June to August, and is moderately common and widely distributed. Family--PYGAERIDAE _The Buff Tip_ (_Phalera bucephala_) The first of our two examples of this small family is the common and destructive Buff Tip. The perfect insect is represented on Plate X, fig. 9, and is too well known to require a lengthy description. During June and July it may be seen resting on the bark of trees almost everywhere, with its wings folded closely round its body, and its antennae tucked under the wings, looking just like a piece of stick, or a projection of the bark on which it sits. [Illustration: FIG. 134.--THE LARVA OF BUCEPHALA.] The caterpillars appear towards the end of June, and may be seen in dense clusters on lime and other trees, sometimes twenty or thirty huddled together on a single leaf. As they grow larger they retain their gregarious tendencies, and often completely strip the leaves from large branches. They are of a dull yellow colour, hairy, and have seven broken black lines, one along the middle of the back, and three on each side. The head and legs are black. When full grown, they descend to the root of the tree, burrow into the soil, and there remain in the chrysalis state till the following June. The chief food plants of this species are the lime (_Tilia vulgaris_), elm (_Ulmus campestris_), and hazel (_Corylus Avellana_). _The Chocolate Tip_ (_Pygaera curtula_) This species is not nearly so common as the last, but is to be met with more or less in most of the English counties in the month of May. Its fore wings are light greyish brown, crossed with four transverse paler streaks, and tipped with a patch of chocolate brown. The hind wings are pale yellowish grey. [Illustration: FIG. 135.--THE CHOCOLATE TIP.]