This illustration is a page from a volume of William Buckler’s watercolour drawings of butterfly and moth caterpillars. Reverend John Hellins, a friend of Buckler’s and the vicar at Exeter jail, complied it. Hellins writes ‘Figures commenced to be placed in this book Feb 21 1861 with very few exceptions they are by Mr W Buckler – of Emsworth, Hants – who has generously sent me his figures of all species of Lepidopterous larvae – which for any reason were not secured at once in his own Book. J.H.’
The notes read:
WB Aretia Villica. α Immature - before the final moult. β. + γ. full grown - 1859
WB Spilosoma Fuliginosa. A. 1859. β novr. 3. 1866. on narrow plantain. NB. ventral lep flesh coloured - also - mark above mouth.
WB Spilosoma Lubricipeda young larva. August 4th. 1860.
WB Lipais Auriflua. 1860
WB Orgyia Antiqua - (β) a magnified figure of the young larva - taken Oct 20. 1860. On hazel etc NB this figure does not give the prominent lateral warts on 2nd not the great length of some of the hair.
1860 γ July 5. 1863 on sallow α. Trichiura Crataegi. on hawthorn. June 7th. Hants. moth emerged Septr 14th. β. variety. Hants. used to be common at Epping.
