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diff --git a/41782-0.txt b/41782-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6c9b4e6 --- /dev/null +++ b/41782-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,13145 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 41782 *** + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 1. + 1. SPURGE HAWK: _caterpillar_. + 2, 3. SILVER-STRIPED HAWK: _caterpillar_. + 4. OLEANDER HAWK: _caterpillar_. + +THE MOTHS + +OF THE + +BRITISH ISLES + +BY + +RICHARD SOUTH, F.E.S. + +AUTHOR OF "THE BUTTERFLIES OF THE BRITISH ISLES" EDITOR OF "THE +ENTOMOLOGIST," ETC. + +FIRST SERIES + +COMPRISING + +_THE FAMILIES SPHINGIDÆ TO NOCTUIDÆ_ + +WITH ACCURATELY COLOURED FIGURES OF EVERY SPECIES AND MANY VARIETIES ALSO +DRAWINGS OF EGGS, CATERPILLARS, CHRYSALIDS AND FOOD-PLANTS + +LONDON + +FREDERICK WARNE & CO. + +AND NEW YORK + +1907 + +(_All rights reserved_) + +PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN + + * * * * * + +PREFACE. + +Compared with our butterflies, the number of moths found in the British +Isles is very large. Like the butterflies, moths too are dependent upon +plant life, and almost every kind of herb, bush, or tree, will be found to +nourish the caterpillars of one or more species of moth. + +Not only the field botanist, but every rambler in the country must +constantly come across moths or caterpillars that will probably interest +him, and of which he would be glad to learn something about their habits, +life-history, and the position they occupy in the arrangement and +classification of Natural History objects. + +In the preparation of this little book on our moths, the author has +proceeded closely on the lines adopted when dealing with the butterflies in +his previous volume. That is, the chief aim has been to place before the +nature lovers as much information concerning these creatures as could be +condensed into moderate limits. + +Lengthy descriptions were out of the question, but what might be considered +an omission in this way, is amply compensated for by the life-like +portraits of typical examples of the moths themselves, and in many cases of +their more important varieties. Technicalities have been avoided as far as +possible, the main object being to provide a guide to the identification of +our moths, together with a simple account of the whole or a part of their +earlier stages. + +The author is fully aware that this method of treatment only enables him to +touch the fringe of the subject, as it were, but he has been content to +deal with it in this way, as it appeared to be the kind of information that +would most nearly meet the requirements of the majority. + +The author desires here to express his thanks to Mr. Robert Adkin, F.E.S., +for the loan of specimens of _L. coenosa_, _E. ilicifolia_, _D. harpagula_, +_N. albula_, _N. centonalis_, _D. barrettii_, _D. cæsia_, _P. xanthomista_, +_T. extrema_, _L. favicolor_, _L. vitellina_, and _H. palustris_. To Mr. +Alfred Sich, F.E.S., for the use of drawings of the caterpillars of _D. +tiliæ_, _S. fagi_, _L. bicoloria_, _P. ridens_, _A. auricoma_, _A. +rumicis_, _A. aceris_, _N. brunnea_, _M. oleracea_, _A. tragopogonis_, _T. +gothica_, and _T. incerta_. To Mr. H. L. Sich for the loan of drawings of +the caterpillars of _D. euphorbiæ_, _D. galii_, _D. chaonia_, and _P. +dictoea_. For the material figured on Plate 148, except the larva of _L. +putrescens_, kindly sent by Mr. Walker, of Torquay, he is indebted to Mr. +H. M. Edelsten, F.E.S. + +Except where otherwise mentioned, the illustrations of moths and +caterpillars at rest are from photographs by "A Forester." + +To Mr. Horace Knight he is very greatly obliged for the care bestowed upon +the drawings of ova, larvæ, and pupæ, the bulk of which were made from +living examples; also the coloured drawings for Plates 1, 45, 63, 68, 73, +75, 80, 84, 90, 108, 119, 123, 140, 146, 149, and 153. The only figures +copied from any previous publication are those of the caterpillars of _S. +fuliginosa_, _D. sanio_, _D. pulchella_, _A. corticea_, _A. strigula_, _N. +plecta_, and _N. augur_ (Wilson's "Larvæ Brit. Lep."); and among the moths, +the varieties of _A. caia_; _D. mendica_ (4 Yorks.), Trans. Ent. Soc. +Lond., 1889; _S. walkeri_, Curtis, and _N. subrosea_, Stephens. + + RICHARD SOUTH. + + * * * * * + +PREFACE TO THE PRESENT EDITION. + +A new edition of this volume having become necessary, it was deemed a +fitting opportunity to bring the subject matter somewhat in line with our +present knowledge of the Nomenclature, Habits, and Distribution of the +Species considered therein. With this end in view, the new facts have been +incorporated in the text so far as this was possible. Matter that could not +be accommodated in this way has been presented in the form of an Appendix. + +The changes in the names of genera are not numerous, and in every case +where such change has been made, the name used in the first edition has +been placed in brackets--_i.e._ _Pieris daplidice_ of the 1st edition +becomes in the present one _Pontia (Pieris) daplidice_. + +By this treatment it has been found convenient to utilise the old Index +and, at the same time, to provide a Specific Index for those who prefer to +consult the volume by its aid. + + * * * * * + +{1} + +THE MOTHS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. + +PART I. + +INTRODUCTORY. + +As mentioned in "Butterflies of the British Isles," there is, speaking +generally, no clear line of division between moths and butterflies, and, as +Dr. Sharp, in "Insects," puts the case, "the only definition that can be +given of Heterocera [moths] is the practical one that all Lepidoptera that +are not butterflies are Heterocera." Now, it happens that all the +butterflies occurring in these islands have the tips of the horns +(_antennæ_) clubbed; and, although there is much variety in the structure +of the horns of our moths, none of them have the tips knobbed. + +Like the butterflies, moths pass through the stages of egg, caterpillar, +and chrysalis before they attain the perfect state (_imago_), and the +duration of the several stages is just as variable. The majority assume the +moth condition but once in the year, but some species have two, or even +three, generations in the twelve months, whilst others occupy twenty-four +months in completing the life cycle. In one or two species the chrysalis +stage may last four, five, or even six years. + +Diversity of form and structure is considerable in the early stages as well +as in the perfect insects, and this is shown in the {2} selection of +life-history details figured on the black and white plates in this volume. + +[Illustration: FIG. 1. + +CONVOLVULUS HAWK-MOTH AND FLOWER OF NICOTIANA. + +(Photos by W. J. Lucas.)] + +Except that it is generally less prominent, the head, with the various +parts thereof, is pretty much the same as in the butterflies. In a few +families, however, the "tongue" (proboscis) is only rudimentary or even +entirely absent; while in others it is very long. The Convolvulus Hawk-moth +has the proboscis of such length that it is able to reach the deep-seated +nectary of such tubular flowers as those of _Nicotiana affinis_. In the +illustration the "tongue" of the moth and the sweet-scented tobacco blossom +are shown on exactly the same scale. + +Fig. 2 represents some forms of antennæ found in moths. A, {3} thickened +and spreading out towards the tip (_dilate_); B, simple, thread-like +(_filiform_) structure, without teeth, hairs, or bristles; C, fringed with +fine hairs (_ciliate_); D, fringed with fine hairs, and with longer +bristles at the joints (_setose ciliate_); E, the fringe in tufts +(_fasciculate_); F, toothed, with fine hairs on the teeth (_dentate +ciliate_); G, toothed with hairs in tufts from the teeth (_dentate +fasciculate_); H, I, with double rows of hair scales (_bipectinate_); in I +the projections are continued to the tip, and are themselves fringed with +fine hairs, giving the antennæ a very feather-like appearance--the term +"plumose" is sometimes used to describe this form of antennæ; in H the +pectinations do not reach the apical fourth, which is simple. J, the +_lamellate_, that is, the undersides of the rings or joints are made up of +minute plates. + +[Illustration: FIG. 2. + +ANTENNÆ OF MOTHS.] + +[Illustration: FIG 3. + +CONNECTING BRISTLE AND CATCH.] + +The wings of a moth are practically identical with those of a butterfly +(see diagram "Butterflies of the British Isles," p. 12). Normally the fore +wings have twelve ribs or veins, and the hind {4} wings eight, but in some +genera a rib, or perhaps two, may be absent from the fore or the hind +wings; or an extra rib, sometimes two, may be found on the hind wings. +These modifications, and others, of the general plan of neuration have been +employed as a basis upon which to found genera, or to group them together +in classification. + +[Illustration: FIG. 4. + +THE JUGUM, OR YOKE.] + +Fig. 3 shows the arrangement by which the upper and lower wings of a moth +are united in flight. The bristle (_frenulum_) arising from the base of the +hind wing is held in place by the catch (_retinaculum_) on the costal +nervure of the fore wing. It will be noticed that the bristle of the male +is longer and firmer than that of the female. The latter, moreover, is +usually made up of two or more strands; the catch, too, in the female is on +the median instead of the costal nervure. These structures are found on the +under side of the wings of most moths, but they are absent in all +butterflies. The Emperor, Kentish Glory, and Eggars may be mentioned as +examples of moths lacking the connecting bristle, but all these have +feather-like antennæ, which terminate in a point. The Burnets have the +antennæ gradually thickened towards the tip (A. Fig. 2), and in this +respect are somewhat butterfly-like, but these moths have a frenulum. + +The hind wings of the Swifts, and a few others grouped with them, have +twelve veins, and these moths have a _jugum_, or yoke (see Fig. 4). This is +a flap-like projection from the inner margin, near the base, of the fore +wing; it may serve to connect the wings when the insect flies, but it does +not seem to be capable of giving much help in that way. {5} + +[Illustration: FIG. 5. + +WINGS AND BODY OF A MOTH. + +_h._ Head; _th._ Thorax; _col._ Collar; _lap._ Lappet; _ab._ Abdomen. +_b.l._ basal line; _b.s._ basal streak; _i.l._ inner line; +_c.s._ claviform stigma; _o.s._ orbicular stigma; _c._ central shade; +_r.s._ reniform stigma; _o.l._ outer line; _a.p._ apical patch; +_s.m._ submarginal line.] + +[Illustration: FIG. 6. + +PALE TUSSOCK-MOTH AT REST.] + +In describing a moth various markings, etc., have to be referred to, and as +it may assist the reader more easily to locate the usual position of such +characters the accompanying diagram has been prepared. The lines crossing +the fore wings from the front edge, or margin (_costa_), to the inner edge, +or margin (_dorsum_), are generally styled transverse lines; the short one +is the basal; the first long one is the inner, or antemedial; the second is +the outer, or postmedial; and the third is the submarginal, or subterminal. +The whole wing, less the margins, is sometimes called the disc; but it is +more convenient to divide the fore wing into three parts, naming that +between the base of the wing and the first line the basal area; the space +between the first and second lines the central or median area, and the part +beyond the second line the outer area. The more or less round or oval rings +or dashes on {6} the central area are the stigmata, and these characters +occur more especially in the Noctuidæ. The hind wings usually have a fine +short line, crescent, or spot, at the end of the cell, as in the +butterflies, and there is generally a line or band beyond. + +Immediately behind the head and covering the front part of the thorax is a +tippet-like arrangement of scales; this is the collar. On each side of the +thorax there is a shoulder lappet (_patagium_) which has its base on the +front part of the thorax also. Both tippet and lappet are often peculiarly +ornamented, and the former is sometimes strikingly coloured. The thorax is +sometimes crested, and more frequently the body is furnished with tufts of +erect hair scales. + +The number of moths occurring in the British Islands is well over two +thousand. The majority of these hardly ever find favour with the collector. +This is probably owing in a large measure to the fact that they belong to a +division of the moth tribe which has been dubbed Micro-lepidoptera. It +happens, however, that quite a number of the species included in that +division are actually larger than many kinds that were placed in the other +contingent styled Macro-lepidoptera. According to the most recent +authorities the division of moths into two such main groups as those +adverted to is entirely fictitious and misleading. Possibly, when this new +order of things is more generally understood the so-called "Micros" will +receive their proper share of attention. + +In the older systems of classification the Clear wings (Sesiidæ) were +associated with the Hawk-moths (Sphingidæ), but the former family is now +considered to be more closely connected with the Tineidæ. The Goat-moth +(_Cossus ligniperda_) has been removed from among the Bombyces, its name +changed to _Trypanus cossus_, and placed in the family Trypanidæ, which is +relegated to the neighbourhood of the Tortricidæ. The Burnets (Zygænidæ), +together with _Heterogenea limacodes_ and _H. asella_ (Cochliopodidæ), also +_Macrogaster castaneæ_ and _Zeuzera pyrina_ (Cossidæ {7} part) are removed +by Meyrick to the Psychina, a group placed between that author's Pyralidina +and Tortricina. The Swifts (Hepialidæ) are grouped with Micropterygidæ, +which are considered to be primitive forms of Lepidoptera originating in +the Caddis-flies or Trichoptera--a division of the Order Neuroptera. + +Except that the Cymbidæ and Arctiidæ are placed just before the Noctuidæ +instead of after the Geometridæ, the arrangement of families, genera, and +species adopted in the present work is very much the same as that in the +1901 edition of Staudinger's Catalogue. Many British entomologists are now +interested in the lepidopterous insects of the Palæarctic, or at least the +European, fauna, of which our islands furnish but a relatively small number +of species. Others, who at the present time are perhaps but beginners, may +very possibly desire, later on, to extend their collections and their +knowledge by making entomological expeditions to various parts of the +continent. It seemed therefore desirable that in an introductory book on +British moths its method of arrangement should at least be founded on some +generally accepted system. {8} + +FIELD WORK. + +[Illustration: FIG. 7. + +DRINKER-MOTH AT REST.] + +Several methods of moth collecting are in vogue, but space will only permit +of a few of those most frequently practised being here referred to, and +those suitable for day work will first be considered. Although small woods +should not be neglected, large tracts of woodland afford the moth hunter +the best chance of success in searching for those species that usually sit +during the daytime on the trunks of trees. Many of the moths that rest in +this way so admirably blend with their surroundings that they may easily be +overlooked; others by their resemblance to feathers, birds' excrement, +etc., are also apt to escape detection. Tree trunks, too, abound in +moth-like scars, blotches, and knobs, so that the beginner will frequently +fail to readily distinguish a moth from such objects, or from the others +mentioned. A little practice will soon enable him to tell {9} which is +which without having to very closely investigate, or perhaps even touch the +suspected object. + +[Illustration: FIG. 8. + +SCARCE MERVEILLE DU JOUR AT REST.] + +As a general rule it is no doubt best to confine ourselves to one thing at +a time, if the results are to be satisfactory and the work well done. In +the present case, if he feels that way, the collector can relieve the +monotony of trunk searching by operating in another direction at the same +time. Some moths prefer to repose on the branches, or on the leaves of +trees, others among the herbage under trees; these may be disturbed from +their lurking places and caused to fall or take wing by jarring the boughs +or brushing the undergrowth with a stick. + +[Illustration: FIG. 9. + +BROAD-BORDERED YELLOW UNDERWING AT SUGAR.] + +Palings, especially old ones and those enclosing wooded parks, etc., are +often frequented by numbers of moths. These should be examined as early as +possible in the morning, although {10} a later looking over may not be +unprofitable. When, however, the wind is dead on them, or where they stand +exposed to full sunshine, few insects will be found upon them. Various +species are to be obtained from open post and rail fences, and even iron +hurdles sometimes yield a good moth or two. Walls are not to be despised, +and of course rocks on the moorlands, and the cliffs by the sea afford +suitable resting-places for many kinds of moth. As a matter of fact the +eyes of the entomologist should always be peering about, as a valuable +prize may turn up in the most unexpected places. Hedgerows and bushes in +lanes, or bordering fields and woods, afford harbour to many species of +moths, and some kinds, not necessarily the commonest, may now and then be +beaten from them freely. Herbage on hill or down sides, and on the moor and +moorlands is also a favourite hiding-place, as too is the marram grass, +etc., on the coast sandhills. + +[Illustration: FIG. 10. + +PURPLE CLAY MOTH AT REST.] + +[Illustration: FIG. 11. THE COXCOMB AT REST.] + +As the day draws to a close and the night advances, the moths awaken, and +first one kind and then another rises on the wing. These, as they fly in +the lanes, about the borders or along the rides of woods, and over the +vegetation in meadow, {11} fen, or moor, should furnish ample employment +and keep the collector actively engaged until the time arrives for a first +round of the trees upon which he has spread a dainty repast for the +night-flying Noctuidæ, and those members of the Arctiidæ and Geometridæ, +etc., that frequently look in where sweets are to be obtained. + +[Illustration: FIG. 12. + +A RIDE IN THE NEW FOREST.] + +[Illustration: FIG. 13. + +MOTHS AT A SUGAR PATCH.] + +This sugaring business is perhaps the most exciting phase of collecting. +Having prepared a fine compound of coarse brown or "foots" sugar, treacle, +and beer, by boiling down these ingredients to a suitable liquid condition, +this is taken to the scene of action in a sugaring tin, a receptacle fitted +with a brush which is fixed in the screw-on top; or the attracting medium +may be carried in any kind of convenient bottle providing a paintbrush +(sash tool) and a jampot or some such article accompany it. Arrived on the +ground, preferably a wood, a ride is selected along each side of which are +convenient trees. A glade such as that in the New Forest, photographed by +Mr. W. J. Lucas, and reproduced in Fig. 12, is an ideal pitch. Just before +using, a very small quantity of rum may be added to the mixture, but if +"foots" can be obtained the rum is not required. In the autumn I have found +a drop or two of the essence of {12} jargonelle pear, or of ribstone +pippin, an effective addition. Now comes the initial stage in the night's +venture, the "sugar" is put on each tree in a streak extending downwards +about a foot from the level of one's chin; if thin enough to spread easily +the mixture is almost certain to run further down the trunk. Whilst +employed in this somewhat messy preliminary we meditate on the possible +result, and hope that if visitors are not numerous they may at least be +select. Lighting the lantern, the first round of inspection of the sugar +patches is made, but this may not be altogether encouraging; on only one +tree are there any moths and these but three in number, and not uncommon +kinds (see Fig. 13). The second and even the third rounds do not {13} give +the satisfactory results we had anticipated, and we feel inclined to retire +discomfited; but as a sort of forlorn hope we try once again, and this time +we secure one or two really good things. Another night moths arrive quite +early and in large numbers, chiefly commoners, but with a sprinkling of the +better sorts among them. Just what meteorological or other conditions are +most conducive to a successful sugaring expedition I have never been able +to ascertain. Often blanks have been drawn when the weather has seemingly +been the most favourable, and quite as frequently good bags have been made +when exactly the reverse was thought to be more likely. If the natural +attractions {14} in the way of flowers and "honey dew" abound, the insects +may possibly ignore the most tempting bait we can contrive for them. There +is much uncertainty in this favourite method of collecting, and whether +sugar is put on tree trunks, foliage, palings, rocks, or stones, or smeared +on rags, and these hung up on barbed wire fences; or daubed on heads of +thistles or bunches of grass heads tied together, one must be prepared to +accept the disappointments that are inevitable, however careful we may be +in the selection of "suitable evenings." It may be added that newly sugared +trees are generally less attractive than those that are frequently painted +with the mixture. + +[Illustration: FIG. 14. + +CATERPILLAR OF EYED HAWK-MOTH.] + +Caterpillars that feed on the foliage of trees and shrubs may {15} be +obtained by beating. The collector with one hand holds an open and inverted +umbrella, or a Bignall tray made expressly for the purpose, under a branch, +whilst with the other hand, armed with a stick, he strikes the branches +from above in the direction of the receiver held below. In conducting such +operations some collectors are far too energetic. It should be remembered +that it is not hard thrashing, but a sudden jar that dislodges the +caterpillars most readily. + +[Illustration: FIG. 15. + +CATERPILLAR OF PRIVET HAWK-MOTH.] + +Although oft-times a somewhat slow process, and to some temperaments, +perhaps, rather tedious work, searching for larvæ is not unremunerative +when the quality of the material obtained in this way is considered. Some +kinds sit in the daytime, or feed, fully exposed, upon the upper sides of +the leaves or on the twigs of trees, shrubs, and low herbage; these are not +difficult to see. Other kinds conceal themselves under the leaves or on the +twigs hidden by the foliage, and these have to be sought for, because many +of them cling so tightly to whatever they may be upon that hardly anything +short of a fatal blow with the beating-stick will cause them to relax their +hold. Others, again, spin two or more leaves together, and in the {16} +habitation thus formed they remain throughout the day. The latter are more +easy to see than the more readily evicted contingent. All we have to do is +to stand under the branches and look upwards and outwards, when the united +leaves and the form of the caterpillar between them will be detected. Some, +of course, will be high up and out of reach in the ordinary way, but there +will be others more accessible. Then, at night, especially in the early +spring, we may search, aided by the beam of an acetyline lamp, the plants +and undergrowth in wood rides and clearings, borders of woods, and lanes, +for caterpillars that are arousing from hibernation. Throughout all +searching operations for larvæ the chance finding of eggs under leaves or +on twigs or buds is always probable. Cocoons in addition, among the leaves +of trees and on stems of low plants and the trunks of trees, may also be +revealed. + +[Illustration: FIG. 16. + +CATERPILLAR OF PALE TUSSOCK-MOTH.] + +Furnished with a trowel--the ordinary garden kind will do, but the flatter +pattern, sold by dealers, is better--the collector may take a turn at +digging at the roots of trees for chrysalids. No doubt there are many kinds +to be obtained in this way, but I cannot say much for the practice, as my +own efforts have not been very highly rewarded. Not a single species was +ever obtained by digging that I could not have secured more easily in some +other way. + +Methods of setting, and after-manipulation have been fully discussed in +"Butterflies of the British Isles." + + * * * * * + +{17} + +PART II. + +DESCRIPTIONS OF SPECIES. + +HAWK-MOTHS. + +About sixty species belonging to this family, scientifically known as the +Sphingidæ, are recorded from the Palæarctic region, and of these +twenty-seven are found in Europe. About ten only can be considered as true +natives of the British Isles; seven others, though found here, are +distinctly aliens, and their visits, at least as regards some of them, to +our islands, exceedingly irregular. + +Most of the moths are of large size, many of the caterpillars are of noble +proportions, and in both stages they are not difficult to find, if looked +for in suitable places and in their proper season. The caterpillars of +several kinds, owing to the exposed way in which they feed or rest, are +especially noticeable on bush and hedgerow; the chrysalids, although +subterranean, are often freely obtained by turning up the soil around +trunks of trees, or under plants, upon which the caterpillars feed. + +THE LIME HAWK-MOTH (_Dilina_ (_Mimas_) _tiliæ_). + +The four specimens shown on Plate 3 represent the more or less ordinary +form of this moth. The pale pinkish grey, or reddish brown, fore wings are +sometimes tinged with greenish in the paler forms; the irregular shaped +band crossing the {18} central area of the wings is olive green, usually +dark, and generally edged with whitish. This band is sometimes entire +(typical), but more frequently it is broken about the middle. The outer +third of these wings is more or less greenish or mottled with green, and a +mark near the tip is whitish. + +Variation is chiefly connected with the modifications that occur in the +upper or lower, sometimes both, portions of the central band; the lower +seems to be the first to disappear, then the upper passes through various +stages of reduction until it becomes simply a spot or dot about the centre +of the wing. Specimens are occasionally found or reared, in which every +trace of the band has departed from one or both fore wings. The greenish +outer border of the wings is inwardly margined with darker, well defined +and band-like in some examples, but less clearly marked, or even absent, in +others. Near the base of the fore wings are often two dusky greenish cross +lines. The hind wings, generally pretty much of the same ground colour as +the fore wings, have a dusky band-like shade of variable width on the outer +third; sometimes these wings are entirely dusky, approaching blackish. Very +rarely specimens are bred in which there is no trace of green colour. Such +an example was reared by Mr. Frohawk in April, 1882, from a caterpillar he +found in Surrey. In this aberration all the markings (normally green) are +light burnt-sienna red, the usual whitish blotch at the tip of the fore +wings is pink; ground colour also pink, slightly tinged with grey in +places. So variable is this moth in colour and markings, that in some +collections at least one cabinet drawer is given to it so that the range of +aberration may be adequately shown. Already about eighteen colour +modifications have been named, and at least eight band variations have also +received names. + +The egg is similar in general appearance to that of the next species (see +Plate 4). Dr. Chapman states that it is more densely covered with an +indiarubber-like gum, and this may cause it to seem darker than the eggs of +the Eyed and the Poplar Hawk-moths. The eggs are laid singly or in pairs on +the underside of elm or lime leaves. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 2. + LIME HAWK-MOTH. + _Caterpillar and chrysalis._ + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 3. + LIME HAWK-MOTH. + +{19} The figure of a nearly full-grown caterpillar (Plate 2) is from a +drawing in colour by Mr. A. Sich. Shortly, the caterpillar may be described +as green, roughened with yellow points, and with seven yellow oblique +stripes on the sides, each edged above with purplish and reddish; the +spiracles are ringed with reddish, and the curved horn is blue, inclining +to yellowish beneath and at the tip; the roughened shield on the last ring +of the body is reddish, marked with yellow. Head triangular, smoother than +the body. Quite in its infancy, the caterpillar is a long, thin creature; +the horn, which is divided at the tip, is covered with short, stiff hairs, +and appears blackish; later on the horn becomes reddish, and the side +stripes appear on the body. Although alder, birch, and several other shrubs +and trees have been mentioned, there is no doubt that the foliage of elm +and lime is the chief food of the caterpillar in a state of nature. Found +in July and August. + +The chrysalis is dark reddish, and somewhat rough. As a rule, it is +enclosed in a very fragile cell which the caterpillar makes for itself +after burrowing a few inches underground and near the trunk of an elm or a +lime tree. There are, however, records of the chrysalis having been found +in crevices of bark high up on elm trees. + +In May and June the moth emerges, usually in the afternoon, and may +sometimes be found on the trunks of trees, or on palings near limes and +elms. When at rest the fore wings are so arranged over the hind ones that +they, in conjunction with the upturned body, give the insect more the +appearance of a bunch of immature leaves than of a moth. + +The species is widely distributed throughout the southern counties of +England, and in some of them, more especially around London, it is common. +In the Midlands it seems to be {20} scarce, and apparently does not occur +further north than Yorkshire, from which county there is only a single +record. It is common in Europe, except in the more northern and southern +parts, and its range extends eastwards into Siberia. + +THE POPLAR HAWK-MOTH (_Smerinthus_ (_Amorpha_) _populi_). + +On Plate 5 are three slightly different examples of this moth. In colour it +is most frequently ashy grey, with a brownish central band, and other +markings; there is a white spot on the fore wings and a conspicuous red +patch at the base of the hind wings. The female is generally paler than the +male, and often has a pinkish tinge. Specimens of a pale buff colour are +sometimes obtained, and these are most often of the female sex, although +male examples of this form are not unknown. Among unusual aberrations is +one described as having the wings, legs, thorax, and abdomen of a colour +between brick-red and chocolate, suffused with a whitish bloom as on ripe +plums. Another had the hind wings unadorned with red. Specimens from +Aberdeenshire and Sutherlandshire are smaller than English examples, and +the males are almost always more brightly and distinctly marked. + +A very large number of Gynandrous, or "hermaphrodite" specimens have been +recorded, several of them from Britain; in most of these the +gynandromorphism is bilateral, that is the insect is wholly male on one +side, and entirely female on the other. In some the right side is male, in +others the left side; the opposite side in each case being female. Much +information on this subject and on Hybridism of the Sphingidæ will be found +in Tutt's "British Lepidoptera," vol. iii. + +The pale shining green eggs are laid, generally singly, but sometimes in +twos, threes, or more, on either surface of a leaf of poplar or sallow. Now +and then batches of eggs may be found, and these have probably been laid by +females that were crippled on emergence, or had been afterwards injured in +some way and so were unable to fly. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 4. + POPLAR HAWK-MOTH. + _Eggs, natural size and enlarged; caterpillar and chrysalis._ + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 5. + POPLAR HAWK-MOTH. + +{21} + +[Illustration: FIG. 17. + +EGGS OF POPLAR HAWK-MOTH.] + +When full grown the caterpillar is green, roughened with yellow points, +oblique stripes on the sides yellow, spiracles reddish, horn of the general +colour, sometimes tipped with reddish. Head triangular in shape, but not +pointed on the top. A reddish spotted form of the caterpillar is not very +uncommon. In its very early life the head is rather triangular than +rounded, as is the head of the young caterpillar of the previous species, +and also that of the Eyed Hawk. Feeds on poplar, aspen, sallow, and willow, +and may be found from July to September and sometimes October. Chrysalis +blackish, rougher than that of the Lime Hawk. It lies in the ground so +close to the surface that it is often exposed when the garden borders under +or near poplars are raked over. The moth appears in May and June as a rule, +but in backward seasons it may not emerge until July or even August. +Caterpillars from eggs laid in early May are likely to feed up and attain +the perfect state in late July, and eggs resulting from these will pass +through the caterpillar state to that of chrysalis by about {22} September. +Three broods have been obtained in one year, but this is exceptional and +under a forcing method of treatment. The early stages are figured on Plate +4. This is certainly the commonest of our Hawk-moths, and it seems to occur +throughout our islands, except that in Scotland it is not recorded further +north than Sutherland and Ross. Wherever there are poplars, sallows, or +willows, there too most probably will be this caterpillar in its season; +the moth also will be almost certainly seen by any one who may care to keep +an eye on the stems of poplars or adjacent fences at the right time. +Sometimes the insect will introduce itself to the household, after +lighting-up time, much to the alarm of those who, not aware of the harmless +character of their visitor, look upon it with considerable suspicion. + +Distribution abroad--Europe (except the polar regions and Greece), Armenia +and the Altai. + +THE EYED HAWK-MOTH (_Smerinthus ocellatus_). + +Except that there is sometimes an absence of rosy tinge on the fore wings, +and that the brownish markings may be lighter or darker, this species does +not depart very greatly from the typical form shown on Plate 7. + +Cross pairings between the Eyed-hawk and the Poplar-hawk are not altogether +difficult to obtain, but the female _populi_ pairs more readily with male +_ocellatus_ than the female of the last named species will with the male of +_populi_. Very few such cross pairings have been noted in a wild state, but +several cases of the kind are known to have occurred in captivity. The +results are hybrid moths, and these have some of the characters of each +parent, and have received distinctive names. Thus the offspring of +_ocellatus_ [male] × _populi_ [female] are the _hybridus_, Steph., whilst +that of _populi_ [male] × _ocellatus_ [female] are referable to _inversa_, +Tutt. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 6. + EYED HAWK-MOTH. + _Eggs, natural size and enlarged; caterpillars and chrysalis._ + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 7. + EYED HAWK-MOTH. + +{23} + +The eggs, which are generally laid singly or in pairs on either side of a +leaf, sometimes on a stalk, are yellowish-green in colour. The shell is +said to be netted, but under a fairly strong lens this does not show. About +four hundred is probably the average number for a female to lay in a state +of nature, but they seem not to deposit so many when reared from the egg in +confinement. As the moth, except under stress of circumstances, places her +eggs on the foliage of trees and bushes in selected positions, the business +of egg laying takes about six nights to perform. Even when she is unable to +fly she will crawl from twig to twig and glue an egg here and there on the +leaves, but rarely more than two on a leaf. On a small sallow bush in my +garden, I once counted eighty-four eggs on the lower leaves and the main +stem. Green, inclining to yellowish or greyish, is the colour of the +full-grown caterpillar. It is roughened with white points, and has seven +whitish oblique stripes on the sides. These stripes are edged in front with +darkish green and occasionally tinged with violet. The horn is bluish, +merging into green towards the dark tip, and roughened with white points. +Head triangular in shape, the top pointed; face tinged with bluish. +Sometimes bright red spots appear on the sides in some examples of the +caterpillar. In the quite young stage the head is usually rounded; the +horn, which appears reddish, is about one third the length of the +caterpillar. + +Sallow, willow, and apple are the more general food plants, but poplar and +privet have been reported. I have sometimes found the larva on _Salix +repens_, and also on crab-apple (_Pyrus malus_). It may be found in July +and August. In some years, when the moths emerge in May, caterpillars are +found as early as June, and this is followed by the occurrence of the +caterpillar again, as a second brood, in August and September. When quite +mature the caterpillar enters an inch or two into the soil, and there forms +a weak sort of cell in which it shortly afterwards turns to a brown, or +blackish-brown, smooth and {24} rather glossy chrysalis. The early stages +are figured on Plate 6. + +The moth usually emerges in June, earlier or later, according to season. +Under very favourable circumstances some of the moths will leave the +chrysalis in May and give rise to a second generation in July. An +unfavourable year, on the other hand, retards emergence, and the moths do +not come up until late June or mid-July; such has been the case this year +(1907). + +Generally distributed and by no means uncommon throughout the southern half +of England, but somewhat local northwards. It has been recorded from the +most southern counties of Scotland, and Kane states that in Ireland it is +widely distributed but usually scarce. + +The method of folding down its wings in repose is very similar to that of +the previous two species. + +THE DEATH'S-HEAD HAWK MOTH (_Acherontia (Manduca) atropos_). + +The fine moth represented on Plate 8 is the largest species found in the +British Isles, although in measurement from tip to tip when the wings are +expanded it does not exceed that of the next species, both varying in this +respect from 4½ to 5 inches. It is, however, a stouter bodied insect, and +its wings are broader. The colour and markings are so well shown in the +illustration that a description is unnecessary. Beyond a greater or lesser +intensity of the paler markings on the fore wings and the thorax, also some +modifications in the black band of the hind wings, there is nothing very +striking in the way of variation. Perhaps the most important aberrations +are connected with the inner black band of the hind wings, which may be +much widened and diffuse, or, on the other hand, entirely absent. + +When full grown, the caterpillar attains a length of nearly 5 inches, and +is of considerable thickness throughout. Usually {25} the general colour is +some shade of green, varying to yellowish, but in some examples it is +brown, more or less tinged with violet; others again are of a blackish hue. +The seven oblique side stripes are purplish or violet brown, edged with +yellowish; they are absent from the three rings nearest the head; the +rough, double curved horn is of the body colour. The greenish forms are +sprinkled with violet dots, and the brownish forms with white ones. Most +frequently found on the leaves of potato; it feeds also on the "tea-tree" +(_Lycium barbarum_), woody nightshade (_Solanum dulcamara_), and snowberry +(_Symphoricarpus_). Fig. 1, Plate 9, represents the brown form of the +caterpillar. + +When ready to enter the chrysalis state, the caterpillar burrows from 2 to +4 inches below the surface of the soil, and there forms a large chamber, +the walls of which are not very substantial and are easily broken. After +resting therein for a week, or two, it turns to a dark brownish, rather +glossy, chrysalis. (Plate 11, Fig. 1). The earthen cocoon, frail as it is, +seems to be a protection to the chrysalis, guarding it from too much +moisture on the one hand, or dryness on the other. I always found that when +chrysalids from caterpillars that I have obtained were left undisturbed the +moths emerged well enough; but when they were turned up out of the ground +by the potato diggers, and, of course, without covering, they were almost +certain to perish if the attempt were made to keep them through the winter. +In the latter case, the only chance was to endeavour to induce the moth to +emerge as soon as possible by bringing them under the combined influence of +warmth and moisture. + +This species was known to Mouffett, who figured it in 1634, but it does not +appear to have received an English name until 1773, when Wilkes figured it +as the "Jasmine Hawk Moth." Moses Harris, in 1775, called it the "Bee Tyger +Hawk Moth," but three years later he changed the name to the Death's Head, +the name by which it is still known, although in some {26} parts of +England, as well as in Ireland, it is referred to as the "bee robber." In +connection with the latter name, it may be mentioned that the moth's +"tongue," or proboscis, is short, and not adapted for obtaining sweets, of +which it is very fond, from long-tubed flowers, consequently it filches +honey from the bees, and, with this object, has been known to enter +bee-hives, at least those of the old straw-skep pattern. The moth is also +said to have a liking for the sap exuded by wounded trees. Although the +species may, perhaps, be with us in certain favoured localities every year, +it does not often occur, in any stage, in numbers sufficient to attract +general attention. I have not searched the chronicles of _Atropos_ in +Britain earlier than 1864, but from these it seems that the species was +widely distributed and generally common in 1865, 1868, 1878, 1885, 1896, +and 1900. More or less common in certain localities in 1867, 1869, +1870-1872, 1877, 1880, 1882, 1884, 1893, 1895, 1899, 1911, and 1917. In the +other years it was scarce, or apparently absent. + +The moth is always very much less in evidence than the caterpillar, or even +the chrysalis. Sometimes the former is seen in May or June, or even +earlier, and it has been supposed that these precocious specimens have +hibernated after emergence from the chrysalis here during the previous +autumn. The question of hibernation need not be entertained, but there may +be doubt as to whether the specimens are British born or aliens. I am +inclined to the latter view. The moths are often noted at sea long +distances from land. A specimen was captured on board a vessel in the North +Sea on April 28, 1903, and it was still alive, although it had been roughly +dealt with, on May 8 of that year. In 1899 a moth was taken at Chester, +about the middle of May, and one on June 20 at Chichester. Probably, +although undetected, other specimens were also about the country, and maybe +at even earlier dates than those recorded. However, during the year larvæ +and pupæ were found, at the end of July, at Chilton, Suffolk, and at +Bridgwater, Somerset, and in early August in Somerset, and at Dover. A moth +was captured in August at Marlow, Bucks., one was taken at Christchurch on +September 19, one at Reigate, September 25. Several specimens occurred in +Devon and Cornwall in the autumn, and at Deal early in October. Larvæ were +found, too, from the second week in September to the end of that month in +several parts of the country. Moths seem to have been reared in early +September from the early August caterpillars; whilst the September +caterpillars attained the perfect state towards the end of the month and in +October. Two pupæ, found at Penarth on September 12, produced moths in from +four to six days afterwards; four other chrysalids, obtained in Hants about +mid September, yielded moths between September 21 and the beginning of +October. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 8. + DEATH'S-HEAD HAWK MOTH. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 9. + 1. DEATH'S-HEAD HAWK-MOTH. + _Eggs, natural size and enlarged; and caterpillar._ + 2. CONVOLVULUS HAWK-MOTH CATERPILLAR (DARK FORM). + +{27} From the foregoing there can be no question that there are at least +two generations of the moth in some years, and in our own country, but we +have even clearer evidence of this in the records of 1900, when a moth was +taken in the spring at Ayton, Berwickshire, another at Worsborough Bridge +on June 18, and a third at Kilmarnock, on a bee-hive, July 11. Caterpillars +were found during late July and August in South Scotland and various parts +of England, and moths were reared from some of these. In September and +October caterpillars were found more commonly, and two or three moths were +captured, in various places, between August 19 and October 9; others, +reared from September caterpillars, emerged from October 30 to November 24. + +By the rustic, and possibly the uninitiated generally, the moth is looked +upon as something uncanny. This is probably due to the fact that the +creature, when handled, emits a peculiar sound that has been described as a +shrill squeak. According to Kirby, the statement made by Rossi that the +sound is produced by air from the air-sacs being forced through the {28} +proboscis, has been verified. Another dread-inspiring character of the +insect is the marking on the thorax, which has been likened to a skull and +crossbones. The squeak is said to have the effect of quieting the bees, +they being under the impression that it proceeds from their queen. + +It has been taken at some time or another in almost every part of the +British Isles, right up to and including the Shetlands. Except that it has +not been observed in the more northern parts, the species is found +throughout Europe, North and South Africa, the Canary Islands, and the +Azores. It is also represented in Southern India, extending to the Malays, +and in China, Corea, and Japan. + +CONVOLVULUS HAWK-MOTH, _Herse_ (_Sphinx_) _convolvuli_. + +The older writers on British moths called this the "Unicorn" or "Bindweed +Hawk." The fore wings are whitish grey, mottled with darker tints, and, in +the male, clouded with blackish about the middle of the wing; the central +third is limited inwardly by a double blackish, wavy line, and outwardly by +an irregular, toothed, whitish line; running from one to the other are two +black streaks between the veins, and a similar streak nearer the costa is +waved upwards to the tip of the wing. The hind wings are whitish grey, with +a black stripe near the base, and two blackish bands between the stripe and +the outer margin. The thorax agrees in colour with the fore wings; the +tapered body has a broad grey stripe, enclosing a central black line along +the back, broad red and black and narrow white bands on each side (Plate +10). + +The egg has been described as bright green in colour, and smaller than that +of the Privet Hawk. A female moth captured at Brighton on July 18, 1898, +deposited twenty-five eggs on _Convolvulus arvensis_ up to July 20, and the +next day a further eight were counted. The moth died on the 22nd. +Caterpillars hatched out July 27-28. These were whitish green, with a rough +blackish horn; after second moult they became green, with a darker green +stripe along the back, but without oblique side stripes. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 10. + CONVOLVULUS HAWK-MOTH. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 11. + 1. CHRYSALIS OF DEATH'S-HEAD HAWK-MOTH. + 2. " " CONVOLVULUS " " + 3, 3a. CATERPILLAR AND CHRYSALIS OF PINE HAWK. + +{29} In its more usual form the caterpillar, when full grown, is bright +apple-green, narrowly streaked with black; oblique stripes on the sides +yellowish; horn reddish, tip black. Head green, with black stripes. In some +examples the side stripes are edged above with bluish black; in others +there are blackish, more or less square, spots on the back, and patches on +the sides. Sometimes the general colour is blackish brown, with ochreous +bands and streaks. (This form is figured on Plate 9). When it occurs in +these islands it is generally found on the small bindweed (_Convolvulus +arvensis_), but it will eat _C. sepium_ and _C. soldanella_, and also the +cultivated kinds. + +Referring to the caterpillar in Britain, Moses Harris, in 1775, wrote, "I +never heard of but two that were ever found--one by Mr. South [or Smith] of +Hampshire, which, he said, was green, and appeared in other respects so +like the privet that he was deceived. He fed it on the leaves of the lesser +bindweed. It changed into the chrysalis in the earth, in July, and the moth +was produced in September" (Dale). + +The caterpillar figured by Harris is of the brown form, so we see that even +at this early date something was known of the life history of this moth and +the variation of the caterpillar. Since that date and up to 1894 only very +few larvæ appear to have been found in our islands. Barrett states that it +is doubtful if more than twenty had then been recorded. In 1895 +caterpillars were obtained in Cornwall (four) and in Kent (two). Then for +five years little or nothing was reported about this stage, although the +moth seems to have occurred in varying numbers each year. In 1901, August +and September, over one hundred were reported, rather more than half of +which were taken from a hedgerow, overgrown with _C. sepium_, in {30} +Northumberland; twenty-six were obtained on the bindweed growing on +Lancashire sandhills, thirteen or fourteen in Essex, and others in +Bedfordshire, Kent, Hants, Dorset, and Devon. + +Mr. Bell-Marley obtained thirty eggs, September, 1897, and although these +were kept in a cold room, thirteen caterpillars hatched, September 21. They +were supplied with _Convolvulus arvensis_ and _C. soldanella_, and seemed +to relish one as much as the other. Seven died during the first three +moults. The bindweeds being nearly over, seedlings were raised by forcing, +but before these were ready the larvæ had been on short commons, and just +immediately before the seedlings came to hand, had been twenty-four hours +without food. On these tender seedlings and some endive the remaining +larvæ, six in number, attained full growth in December. Two subsequently +died in the first half of that month, and the others went under the soil. +Only one, however, managed to assume the chrysalis state. + +A small caterpillar, about one week old, described by Paymaster-in-Chief G. +F. Mathew ("Notes on Lepidoptera from the Mediterranean," _Entom._, xxxi. +115), was 1¾ inch long, pale glaucous green in colour, and thickly covered +with raised white dots; oblique side stripes white, bordered above with +dark green. On September 26, 1897, this caterpillar, which had been found +on September 18, was nearly full grown, and the writer goes on to state +that when gathering bindweed he obtained either eggs or tiny caterpillars +at the same time, and he eventually found that he had eight of them +altogether. They fed up rapidly, as a caterpillar, hatched about September +27, had gone down on October 18. Owing to accident, four produced deformed +chrysalids, but each chrysalis resulting from the others was perfect and +healthy on February 15, 1898. The large reddish-brown chrysalis is figured +on Plate 11, and it will be noted that the "tongue" case forms a curious +bent projection not unlike the handle of a pitcher. To give some idea of +the irregular way in which this migratory species visits our islands, it +will suffice to note the records only since 1894. Previous to that year it +was common, more or less generally, in 1846, 1868, 1875, 1885, and 1887. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 12. + 1. PRIVET HAWK-MOTH. + 2. PINE HAWK-MOTH. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 13. + PRIVET HAWK-MOTH. + _Eggs, natural size and enlarged; caterpillars and chrysalis._ + +{31} In 1895 an invasion seems to have effected a landing in the autumn, on +the south-west coast, chiefly, perhaps, in the Portland district, where +some fifty individuals were captured between August 12 and October 7; +twenty-three were caught near Bournemouth in August and September; sixteen +were taken at Christchurch, August 11 to October 2; and eight were recorded +from Milford. Several were reported from Devon, but only two from Cornwall, +although four larvæ were found in October at Port Wrinkle in the latter +county. At Cork, in Ireland, ten specimens were obtained in October. +Eastward, the captures in September were Norfolk (seven), Essex (one), +Lincoln (one). Odd specimens were taken here and there in Kent, Surrey, and +Herts. Several were reported from Gloucestershire, and one from South +Wales. The northward extension was evidenced by the capture of one example +at Alnwick, in Northumberland, in September, and of two in Aberdeenshire, +one as early as August 31, the other September 9. + +The moth was almost a defaulter in 1896, but in 1897 about forty specimens +were taken, twenty-seven of which occurred in the Scilly Isles and eleven +at Portland (August 14 to September 16). One example was reported from +Yorkshire and another from Sutherlandshire, both in September. + +A female was taken at Brighton, July 18, 1898, and in the autumn of that +year a good many specimens were obtained in various parts of England but +chiefly in the south. Portland again heading the list with over fifty +(August 4 to October 3) and a number were taken in the Isle of Wight during +September. Captures in 1899 seem to have been only pretty good. Portland +twenty, August 25 to September 20, perhaps less than a dozen in other parts +of England and one in Scotland, all in September {32} or October. In 1900 +one specimen was taken at an Eastbourne electric light, and one at +Portpatrick in Scotland, both end of August. There appears to have been an +arrival of moths in this country in early June, 1901. Captures were +reported from Portland (June 2), Bedford, and S. W. London. Larvæ and pupæ +were found in many parts of England, as already mentioned. Then in August, +from about the 14th to September, moths were captured throughout the +greater part of England; in some places caterpillars were also obtained in +August, chrysalids in September. After a lull towards the end of the latter +month, moths suddenly appeared again during the first week in October. +Several observers remarked that whereas the August to September moths were +mostly females, large in size, and not in the best condition, the later +moths were chiefly of the male sex, small in size, and fine in condition. +It would seem therefore that these late specimens were the descendants of +the early August moths and represented a second generation on British soil +and the grandchildren of the June immigrants. Or, possibly, the +August-September moths were fresh immigrants, and the October specimens +their offspring. + +The species was observed in several English counties during August and +September, 1911; and again in 1915. In 1917 it seems to have been more +widely spread over our islands, as specimens were reported from Ireland and +even Shetland. + +Plants with tubular flowers, such as those of petunias, and the +sweet-scented white tobacco (_Nicotiana affinis_) are its especial +favourites, but it also visits the blossoms of pentstemon, geranium +(chiefly the scarlet variety), etc. It does not settle on the flowers but +inserts its long "tongue" into the tubes as it hovers on the wing in front +of them. Just at twilight it commences operations, but it may be seen +pursuing its investigations well on into the night (see Fig. 1, p. 2). + +Distributed over Europe, Asia, and Africa. {33} + +THE PRIVET HAWK (_Sphinx ligustri_). + +A specimen of the female sex is figured on Plate 12. The white clouding or +mottling on the pale brown colour of the fore wings varies in intensity and +is sometimes tinged with pink, especially at the base of the wings; often +it is only noticeable at the tips of the wings and on the outer area; the +blackish suffusion from the inner margin through the central area and the +black streaks between the veins are rather more constant. On the hind wings +the pinkish tinge between the black bands may be faint or entirely absent; +the central black band varies in width, and is sometimes so much expanded +that it absorbs the basal half of the first band. + +When full grown the caterpillar measures about three inches in length and +has a very substantial appearance. It is of a pretty green colour, with +seven oblique white stripes, each of which has a purplish front edging; the +spiracles are yellowish. The head is rather more grass green and marked +with black in front. The curved horn is blackish on the upper side and +yellowish below. The colour of the caterpillar in its younger stage is +yellowish, due to the presence of yellow dots, it also has some tiny hairs; +the horn, which is bristly and slightly forked at the tip, is a conspicuous +feature at this age on account of its length and dark colour as compared +with that of the creature itself. Just before changing into the chrysalis, +a brownish tinge is assumed, and very rarely caterpillars of a pinkish or +purplish tint have been found. + +It feeds on privet (_Ligustrum vulgare_) in July and August; often to be +seen resting on the upper part of the longer sprays of the food plant. +Sometimes a dozen or more may be found on one short strip of privet hedge. +They are much subject to the attack of ichneumons. Other food plants are +lilac, ash, lauristinus, and some other shrubs. Mr. Step informs me that on +{34} August 18, 1907, he found three larvæ feeding on teasel at Ashtead. + +The caterpillar will burrow some depth underground before constructing its +pupal chamber. The chrysalis, which is reddish, or blackish-brown in +colour, is figured with the other stages on Plate 13. + +The moth usually emerges the following June or July, but there are at least +two records of its remaining in the chrysalis during two winters. + +The southern portion of England appears to be the principal British home of +this moth. It is more or less scarce in the midlands and northwards. In +Scotland it has only been recorded from southern counties, and in his +"Catalogue of the Lepidoptera of Ireland," Kane states that he has no +certain record of its occurrence in that country. Widely distributed +through central and southern Europe, extending northwards to south Sweden +and Finland, and eastwards to Amurland, China, and Japan. + +THE PINE HAWK (_Hyloicus pinastri_). + +Stephens, writing of this species in 1828, remarked that about thirty years +before that date, a specimen "was taken in June at Colney Hatch Wood, and a +second in the neighbourhood of Esher." He also gives Rivelston Wood, near +Edinburgh, as a locality, on the authority of Dr. Leach. A specimen was +stated to have been seen in Cumberland in 1827 or 1828, and up to the year +1877 four other examples were reported, each from a different part of +England. In the year last mentioned a specimen was recorded from +Woodbridge, Suffolk, as taken in a rectory garden the previous midsummer +(since ascertained that the moth was first seen there in 1875); an example +was also found at rest on a tree trunk at Tuddenham, near Ipswich, in July, +1877, and one was reared on August 5, 1876, from a {35} chrysalis found +near Horham Rectory, Wickham Market, Suffolk. In 1878-9, caterpillars were +met with at Leiston, Suffolk; the moth was found in the pine woods around +Aldeburgh, 1881, and as many as forty specimens were taken in July and +August, 1882, and rather more than twenty in August, 1919. In 1895, Lord +Rendlesham, when driving through the fir woods in the neighbourhood of +Woodbridge, noted two specimens in almost the same spot where he had taken +some moths in 1892-93. Mr. F. Mellusson, writing from this district (August +2, 1895), stated that fifteen specimens had been taken, and that others +could have been captured; also that about one hundred larvæ were then +feeding in confinement. He also mentioned that 1895 was the fourth year out +of five that the insect had occurred there. A male moth was found at rest +on an oak trunk near Southwold, Suffolk, on July 29, 1900. On August 13, +1906, the Rev. A. P. Waller saw a worn specimen on a pine trunk in the +rectory garden at Woodbridge. He also noted a pupa on September 30, 1917. +(Plate 12, Fig. 2.) + +The mature caterpillar, which feeds on pine needles, is green, with a +yellowish-edged reddish line along the middle of the back and a creamy line +on each side of this; the interrupted line below the reddish spiracles is +yellowish or ochreous. Head yellowish brown; horn blackish brown; both are +glossy. It enters the earth and there turns to a reddish brown chrysalis; +this is rather glossy, somewhat darker above than below, and appearing +blackish between the rings; the rough "tongue" sheath is short and attached +throughout to the case; the tail spike is roughened, and has a blunt point +on each side of it (Plate 11, Figs. 3, 3a). + +It has been recorded that caterpillars hatched from the egg early in +August, pupated in October, and the moths emerged the following May-July. + +The perfect insect sits upon tree trunks, chiefly pine, often well within +reach, although sometimes its position is fourteen or {36} fifteen feet up +the trunk. At night it visits flowers, and seems to be most partial to +those of the honeysuckle. + +Suffolk seems to be the British home of this species, but odd specimens +have been reported since 1860 from Romsey, Hampshire; Hinton St. George, +Somersetshire; Herefordshire; Isle of Mull (two caterpillars); and +Bournemouth. + +The range of this species is through Northern and Central Europe southwards +to Northern Spain and Italy, and eastward to the Caucasus. In Japan it is +represented by var. _caligineus_, Butler, which differs but little from +typical _pinastri_. + +THE SPURGE HAWK (_Deilephila_ (_Hyles_) _euphorbiæ_). + +The fore wings are pale grey, more or less tinged with pinkish and marked +with olive at the base, towards the middle of front margin, and a tapered +band running from the inner margin to the tip of the wing; the lower part +of the basal patch is blackish. Hind wings pinkish with black basal patch +and a band before the outer margin; a white patch at anal angle (Plate 15, +Fig. 1). + +The caterpillar feeds, August and September, on spurge (_Euphorbia +paralias_, and _E. cyparissias_). When full grown the head is crimson red, +marked on the crown with black; the body is black, but so thickly sprinkled +with yellow dots that much of the black colour is obscured; the larger +spots are often crimson, but sometimes they are yellow, or even cream +coloured; the stripes along the back and below the yellow spiracles are +crimson, as also are the legs and feet; the spiny horn is crimson with a +black tip. In a younger stage the head and the horn are orange, the latter +black tipped; the body is yellow with patches of black around the paler +yellow spots on the back. Chrysalis pale brownish, minutely dotted with +black; the head and thorax are marked with blackish, and the rings of the +body have narrow, interrupted, blackish bands; the wing and antennæ cases +are covered with fine short blackish streaks; tail spike blackish, somewhat +flattened, and the acute point black (Plate 1, Fig. 1; 14, Figs. 2, 2a). + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 14. + 1, 1a. BEDSTRAW HAWK-MOTH. + 2, 2a. SPURGE HAWK-MOTH. + _Caterpillars and chrysalids._ + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 15. + 1. SPURGE HAWK-MOTH. + 2. BEDSTRAW HAWK-MOTH. + 3. STRIPED HAWK-MOTH. + +{37} The moth usually emerges in June or July of the year following +pupation, but it may come out the same year; on the other hand, it has been +known to remain in the chrysalis for two winters. Dr. Chapman has noted the +emergence of the moth eighteen days after the pupa was formed. + +Little, if anything, appears to have been known of this species as an +inhabitant of Britain until 1806, when Mr. Raddon, who was staying at +Instow, in N. Devon, had a caterpillar brought to him by a fisherman. From +that time, and up to 1814, a large number of the caterpillars were obtained +from _Euphorbia paralias_ growing on Braunton Burrows, a long stretch of +sandhills on the north Devonshire coast, accessible from Barnstaple or +Ilfracombe, which, when I visited the locality some twenty-five years ago, +was greatly favoured by rabbits. One would suppose that the Spurge Hawk +caterpillars must have been pretty abundant at the time Raddon made his +observations, as he states in a note on the subject published in the +Entomological Magazine for 1835, that on leaving the ground one evening at +dusk he hastily cut an armful of spurge, which he took home and put in +water. Next morning he "found the food covered with not less than a hundred +minute larvæ about a day or two old." This must have happened prior to +1814, because the species seems to have entirely disappeared about that +year. The Rev. E. N. Bloomfield, in his catalogue of the Lepidoptera of +Suffolk, mentions a moth bred from a larva found near Landguard Fort about +1865. He adds that the food plant was then abundant there. At a meeting of +the Entomological Society of London held in October, 1876, a letter was +read from Mr. Higgins concerning the reported finding of the caterpillars +of this species in a locality near Harwich in 1873. It was stated that the +spurge (_Euphorbia paralias_), had not only been {38} seen in the +particular spot, but in other parts of the same district also. + +In the _Entomologist_ for 1893 there is a very circumstantial account of +the finding of eighteen or nineteen Spurge Hawk caterpillars on the Cornish +coast in the autumn of 1889. From these, eight moths resulted in May-July, +1890, and one in June, 1891. + +Although the occurrence of the moth in Britain has been more frequently +recorded, probably in error for the Bedstraw Hawk, there are at least two +that are undoubtedly authentic. One of these refers to a specimen taken in +a private garden near Southampton (_Entom._, 1872), and the other was +captured by the late Mr. C. G. Barrett as it flew at early dusk in a garden +at King's Lynn, Norfolk, in September, 1887. Some idea of the scarcity of +_bonâ fide_ English specimens may be gained from the fact that about +thirteen years ago, two of Raddon's bred specimens were sold by auction at +Stevens, when six guineas was given for one, and ten shillings more for the +other. + +Its distribution abroad extends through Central and Southern Europe into +Asia Minor, and it is represented by local races in other parts of Asia. + +THE BEDSTRAW HAWK (_Deilephila_ (_Celerio_) _galii_). + +On Plate 15, Fig. 2, will be found a portrait of this moth, which the +ancient fathers of British entomology dubbed the "Spotted Elephant"--at +least, Harris, in 1778, figured its caterpillar under this name. Later it +was called the "Galium Hawk-moth." The olive-brown fore wings have a +tapered, creamy-white stripe running obliquely from the inner margin near +the base to the tip of the wing; the lower edge of this stripe is almost +straight, but the upper edge is irregular; the outer margin of the wings is +greyish. Hind wings creamy {39} white, the basal area and a band before the +outer margin black; the space enclosed is blotched, and sometimes tinged +with pinkish red; but the extreme inner portion is almost pure white. Head +and thorax are olive-brown, edged with white; the abdomen is olive-brown, +with a whitish line along the middle of the back, and ornamented with black +and white on the sides. + +The full-grown caterpillar varies in colour from greenish olive to pale +olive-brown, reddish brown, or sometimes blackish; the spots on the back +are yellowish, edged with black, but occasionally these are absent. It +feeds in August and September, on the bedstraws (_Galium verum_, _G. +mollugo_, etc.), preferring the yellow-flowered kind that flourishes on +sandhills by the sea (_G. verum_, var. _maritimum_). It can be reared very +well on willow herb (_Epilobium_) and on fuchsia. + +When ready for the change it burrows underground, and, where the soil is +sandy and light, it works down pretty deeply before making the frail cell, +in which it turns to a reddish-brown chrysalis with blackish markings, +somewhat similar to those of the next species; the anal spike is blackish, +rather flattened, terminating in a sharp point (Plate 14, Figs. 1, 1a). +Haworth in 1812 mentioned caterpillars from Devonshire, and although single +specimens of the moth seem to have been taken here and there in various +years between that date and 1854, in only one year during that period was +it reported from several parts of the country. This was in 1834, when four +moths were captured in August, and eight or nine others seen at Yarmouth; +caterpillars were also found on the bedstraw growing on the Denes. Odd +examples of the moth were observed that year in Lincolnshire, +Somersetshire, and in the Isle of Wight. In 1855-56, caterpillars were +obtained in August on the sandhills at Deal, and, in September, at +Devonport in the first-named year. A moth was taken in May, 1857, and, +later in that year, specimens were captured at Deal, {40} Brighton, and +Taunton. Three moths were recorded in 1858; and in 1859 caterpillars were +plentiful on the south-east coast, common on the Cheshire coast, also +reported from Devon, Cambs., London, and Darlington; over a score were +found within a short distance of Perth. A good many moths were also taken. +The species was especially abundant in 1870, in which year caterpillars +were collected in hundreds. It seems to have been widely distributed +throughout England, and was again found in Perthshire. Perhaps not more +than three specimens were taken between 1872 and 1888, but in the rainy and +cold summer of the latter year, the moths seem to have invaded the country +in great force, and were reported from many parts of England, and also from +Aberdeen in Scotland, and from Howth in Ireland. Caterpillars, too, were +plentiful on the coast sandhills of Kent, Cheshire, and Lancashire, and +also in the Eastern Counties. + +In March, 1889, Mr. Elisha had moths emerge from chrysalids of the previous +year. These had been placed in a temperature ranging from 60 to 70 degrees, +and the moths came out in from fourteen to sixteen days after commencing +the forcing process. Some half a dozen chrysalids that I had in 1888, from +Lancashire caterpillars, were allowed to remain in the earth, which was +contained in a large-sized flower-pot; the moths emerged in May and June, +1889, all but one being perfect specimens. + +In 1894 Mr. Harwood obtained five caterpillars on the Essex coast, and in +1897 the Rev. A. Miles Moss found a few, and observed traces of others, on +the Lancashire coast, but, apart from these records, very few moths or +caterpillars of this species appear to have been noted in the country since +1888, and we still await the advent of another _Galii_ year. So far the +periods of scarcity between the seasons of plenty have been twenty-five, +eleven, and nineteen years. + +The range of this insect extends through Europe and Asia to {41} Siberia +and Amurland. It is represented in North America by the Galium Sphinx +(_Celerio intermedia_, Kirby = _chamænerii_, Harris), which so greatly +resembles it that only an expert could readily distinguish one from the +other. + +THE STRIPED HAWK (_Phryxus_ (_Deilephila_) _livornica_). + +Owing to some confusion between this moth (Plate 15, Fig. 3) and the North +American Striped Morning Sphinx (_D. lineata_), which also seems to have +had a place in the cabinets of the earlier British entomologists, the +localities given by authors previous to 1828 are doubtful. Haworth, +however, in 1803, mentions Cornwall, and Stephens, in his remarks on this +species, refers to a specimen from Norfolk; one taken off the mast of the +Ramsgate steam vessel at Billingsgate, in June, 1824; and three specimens, +one of which he figured, captured near Kingsbridge, Devonshire. + +In 1846 thirteen of these moths were recorded from various parts of England +and Ireland, and probably many others were in these islands that year. +Between May 12 and 26, 1860, twenty specimens were taken in the south of +England, and more than half of them in Devonshire. In 1862 a specimen +occurred at Worthing on April 16, and one at Herne Hill on April 29; others +were taken between May 2 and May 18 on the south and south-west coasts, and +at Colchester. Over a score of specimens were recorded in 1868, chiefly in +August, and from localities ranging from Cornwall to Yorkshire. The year +1870 was a good one for the species, and moths were reported from England, +Wales, Ireland, and Scotland. Fully fifty specimens were obtained, mostly +in May, and caterpillars were also found. In 1904 the moth occurred in May, +at several places in the south and south-west of England, also in +Gloucestershire, Wales, and at Carlisle; in September of this year a +specimen was taken on the pier at Dover, and another on a small {42} +headland at Barry, in Glamorgan. Some of the early captured females +deposited eggs; caterpillars resulting therefrom were fed on vine, and at +least one moth was reared in September. + +A good many specimens visited the south of England, more particularly South +Devon, in June, 1906, but the species was reported as occurring in large +numbers on rhododendron blossom near Cork in Ireland from June 9 to 13 or +14. In August and September the moth was reported from Kent, Sussex, Hants, +Dorset, Devon, Somerset, and South Wales; such specimens probably being the +offspring of the early immigrants. During the past forty years the barren +seasons for the Striped Hawk appear to have been only ten. The dates of its +occurrence have been somewhat erratic. One was captured in 1887 in the +month of February, one on March 27 in 1903, but the moth has been observed +in each month from May to September inclusive, although May, June, and +August would seem to have been the more favoured. The caterpillar has not +been seen often in England. Mr. Farn recorded six or seven from Ryde in +July, 1870; they were feeding on vine and centaury in a garden. One spun up +in the leaves at the bottom of the box on July 27, but the web was so +fragile that the caterpillar fell out, and changed to the chrysalis state +on the 30th. The moth emerged on August 26. In the same year several +caterpillars occurred in Devon and Cornwall, and one of these was found on +July 11 in a mangold-wurtzel field in the Exeter district. It was +afterwards reared on fuchsia, and produced a moth on August 18. Nine others +were reported from a nursery garden at Plymouth; they were fed up on +dock--the plant upon which they had been found--and the moth was reared +later in the year. In 1902 Mr. Jäger received a caterpillar from Starcross +about July 20, and this attained the moth state on September 27. A +caterpillar, believed to be of this species, was found in a sunny garden at +Lewes in Sussex, July 20, 1906. {43} + +According to Hellins the eggs are light green in colour, and the +caterpillars hatch out in about three weeks. When it first emerges from the +egg-shell the caterpillar is dirty white without spots, and the head and +horn are black. The adult is dark green or black dotted with yellow; three +yellow lines on the back and two rows of black-ringed yellow spots, with +some black spots above them; each yellow spot is tinged with pink on the +upper portion. Head black, marked with yellow; horn reddish, with the tip +black. Sometimes the rings of the body are banded. + +It feeds in June and July on vine, fuchsia, dock, and probably other +plants. It may be noted that the foliage of house vines are stated to be +unsuitable food. The blossoms of numerous plants are visited by the moths +in the evening, among which are delphinium, petunia, honeysuckle, tobacco, +rhododendron, valerian, and silene. + +In the daytime it has been found resting on walls, windows, and also the +curtains; on grass turf, railway metals, fences, and on plants and shrubs. + +The distribution of this species is somewhat similar to that of the +Silver-striped Hawk-moth, but it extends into Western China and is +represented in North America. + +THE SILVER-STRIPED HAWK (_Hippotion (Chærocampa) celerio_). + +Referring to this species in 1828 Stephens wrote: "The first recorded +specimen of the perfect insect was taken flying in Bunhill-fields +burying-ground so long ago as 1779: and the specimen now exists in a high +state of preservation in Mr. Haworth's collection, having been purchased by +him at the dispersion of that of Mr. Francillon. Subsequently to the above +capture the larvæ have been found several times in Cambridgeshire.... Two +or three were also taken about fifteen {44} or sixteen years since in a +garden at Norwich, and were kept until they changed to pupæ; but +unfortunately, in that state their metamorphosis ended. One of these pupæ I +have in my collection. Of late, however, the perfect insect has occurred +more than once, and in totally different parts of the country. Three +specimens, as I am informed by the Rev. F. W. Hope, were taken near Oxford +several years ago. In August, 1826, an injured one was found resting on a +wall near Birmingham; and last summer a second was secured not far distant +from the same locality; the latter I have in my possession. Again, Mr. +Marshall informed me in March last, that, on his way to Manchester, he met +with an individual who possessed upwards of a dozen living pupæ, which were +procured from larvæ found in that neighbourhood during last season." + +Humphrey and Westwood mention a specimen taken in Brighton in 1834, and in +1846 eight moths were obtained. Something like one hundred and twenty-five +specimens of this species have been recorded between the year last quoted +and the present time. Of these only one occurred in Ireland. This was a +specimen taken at light on September 17, 1881, at Mullaghmore, County +Sligo. Several were captured in Scotland, and one in Wales; but the bulk +were obtained at various places in England, not in the south only but in +the north also. The majority were met with in the autumn, but a specimen +was reported as taken in May, 1848, at Harlestone, another in March, 1862, +at Tooting, and a third in the Isle of Anglesea, July, 1865. In the +last-named year nine specimens were captured in the autumn. Doubleday +recorded a caterpillar found in a garden at Epping (October, 1867), and +other caterpillars have been reported from Newmarket and Sussex. + +At least one example of the moth has been recorded almost annually since +1846, but captures seem to have been more numerous in 1861, 1866, 1870, +1879, 1881, and especially so in 1885. The caterpillar (figured on Plate 1) +varies in ground colour, which may be pale brown, dark brown, or green. +There is a black line along the middle of the back, and a pinkish brown +stripe on each side; the latter runs from the ring next the head to the +horn, but is interrupted on ring four, and the back from this ring to the +horn is covered with linear dots arranged in more or less regular rows; the +underside is thickly sprinkled with black-ringed white dots; on each side +of ring four there is a conspicuous oval mark made up of a blackish outer +ring, an inner ring of yellowish, and one of reddish; the centre is +blackish, with some yellowish dots upon it. Head small, pale brown; horn +blackish and rather rough. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 16. + 1. OLEANDER HAWK-MOTH. + 2. SILVER-STRIPED HAWK-MOTH. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 17. + ELEPHANT HAWK-MOTH. + _Egg, natural size and enlarged; caterpillar and chrysalis._ + +{45} It feeds on vine (_Vitis vinifera_) and yellow bedstraw (_Galium +verum_); also on fuchsia and virginia-creeper (_Ampelopsis_). August and +September are given as months for this caterpillar, but the Newmarket and +Epping examples referred to were taken in October. + +The moth seems to visit us chiefly in September and October. It does not +appear to have been so often taken at flowers as at light, or when resting +by day, on a wall or window of a dwelling house or shop, to which it had +been attracted at night by the illumination within. The species has a wide +range through Africa and Southern Asia to Java, Borneo, and Australia. In +Europe it is perhaps only native in southern parts; thence it sometimes +wanders through Central Europe to Germany and Holland. The specimens +visiting our islands may come from the latter country, or possibly in years +of comparative plenty the moths come to us _viâ_ the west coast of Europe. + +THE OLEANDER HAWK-MOTH (_Daphnis_ (_Chærocampa_) _nerii_). + +The forewings of this handsome moth (Plate 16) are pinkish grey, marbled +with various shades of green and olive brown; some of the marbling edged +with white. Hind wings greyish {46} brown shaded with greenish, with a +whitish, waved cross line. The colours of the head, thorax, and body are +similar to those of the wings. + +[Illustration: FIG. 18. + +CHRYSALIS OF OLEANDER-MOTH. + +(Photo by W. J. Lucas.)] + +The caterpillar feeds on the Oleander (_Nerium oleander_), and also on the +lesser periwinkle (_Vinca minor_). When full grown it is olive green on the +back from the hinder part of the third ring to the small, rough, and +drooping, horn; the under surface and the whole of the first three rings +ochreous; there is a divided brown spot on the ring nearest the head (first +thoracic segment), and two larger blue-black spots on the third ring. These +spots each enclose two whitish clouds; on the front edge of rings five to +nine (second to sixth abdominal segments) are whitish dots, but these are +fewer on rings eight and nine than on the others; a narrow whitish stripe, +edged above and below with whitish dots, runs along the sides from ring +five to the horn; spiracles are black with pale margins (Plate 1). + +Chrysalis brown with blackish central line, which becomes broken and +obscure on the body rings, broken again on the head, but continued thence +along the under surface to the tips of the wing cases. The spiracles are +blackish; the body is dotted, and the last rings are clouded with blackish. + +I have only seen a preserved example of this caterpillar and a dead +chrysalis; descriptions of each are from these. + +The first published notification of the occurrence of this moth {47} in +England is that of Stephens in 1835. He wrote: "A noble specimen of this +remarkably beautiful insect (five inches three lines in expanse), was taken +in the beginning of September, 1833, by a lady in her drawing-room at +Dover. Whether the pupa had been imported in some of the numerous packages +of foreign fruits, etc., or the insect itself had been brought over in one +of the passage-vessels, is a question not easily solved. The larva feeds +upon an exotic plant; but has been found in a garden near Charmouth, as +appears by a subsequent communication to the _Ent. Magazine_ by Captain +Blomer." + +The next record of the moth appears in the _Zoologist_ for 1852. "On the +11th of September a specimen of _Chærocampa nerii_ was taken in Montpelier +Road, Brighton, by a young gentleman at school, while it was hovering over +a passion flower." Two caterpillars were found in a garden at Eastbourne, +feeding upon the leaves of potato, in October, 1859. In confinement they +ate periwinkle, but they were not reared. The following records are, except +where otherwise stated, of single specimens of the moth: Hastings, August +2, 1862; Sheffield, September 14, 1867; St. Leonards, October, 1868 (? 2 +examples); Ascot, June, 1873; Lewes, September 3, 1874; Hemel Hempstead, +October 15, 1876; Tottenham, Middlesex, Eastbourne, Sussex, and Blandford, +Dorset, September, 1884; Hartlepool and Prestwich, July, 1885; Brighton, +September 7, 1886; Poplar, September 20, 1888; Dartmouth, September 26, +1890; Stowling, Kent, July, 1896; Yalding, Kent, September 18, Teignmouth, +October 23, 1900; Banhead, Scotland, end September, 1901; Liverpool, in a +steamship, and Atherstone, Warwickshire, October, 1903; Eastbourne, July +14, 1904; Lancaster, September 18, 1906. A specimen of _Daphnis hypothous_, +Cramer, a native of India, Borneo, Java, and Ceylon, was captured at +Crieff, Perthshire, in July, 1873, and was recorded as _D. nerii_, and the +error was not rectified until 1891. + +It will be seen from the above that the moth is exceedingly {48} rare in +these islands. The species is an inhabitant of Africa, and its normal range +extends along both sides of the Mediterranean through Asia Minor and Syria +to India. In Europe, north of the Alps, the moth is seldom observed, and it +is probably almost as scarce on most of the Continent as it is with us. + +THE SMALL ELEPHANT (_Metopsilus_ (_Chærocampa_) _porcellus_). + +The fore wings of this hawk-moth are ochreous with a faint olive tinge; the +front margin is edged and blotched with pinkish, and there is a broad but +irregular band of the same colour on the outer margin. Hind wings blackish +on upper margin, pinkish on outer margin, and ochreous tinged with olive +between; fringes chequered whitish, sometimes tinged with pink. Head, +thorax, and body pinkish, more or less variegated with olive; the thorax +has a patch of white hairs above the base of the wings (Plate 19, Figs. 3, +4). + +In most specimens there are at least traces of two cross-lines in the fore +wings, the space between these is sometimes brownish olive; the outer +border of the hind wings varies in tint, and may be purplish. Occasionally +the ground colour of the fore wings is greenish olive. + +A hybrid, resulting from a pairing between _Chærocampa elpenor_ and +_Metopsilus porcellus_ has been named _elpenorcellus_ (Staud). + +The egg is a rich full green and rather glossy; it is laid in June on +yellow bedstraw and other kinds of _Galium_. + +A full-grown caterpillar will measure quite two inches in length, and in +general appearance is not unlike that of the next species. It is, however, +greyish brown in colour, merging into yellowish brown on the front rings. +The head is greyer than the body; the usual Sphingid horn is absent, and in +its place there is a double wart. When quite young the caterpillar is pale +greyish green with blackish bristles, and the head and under surface are +yellowish. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 18. + SMALL ELEPHANT HAWK-MOTH. + _Eggs, natural size and enlarged; caterpillar and chrysalis._ + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 19. + 1, 2. ELEPHANT HAWK-MOTH. + 3, 4. SMALL ELEPHANT HAWK-MOTH. + +{49} It feeds, at night, in August and September, on bedstraw growing in +dry places. It will eat almost any sort of _Galium_; also willow herb +(_Epilobium_), and purple loosestrife (_Lythrum salicaria_). + +The chrysalis is pale ochreous brown sprinkled with darker brown; the wing +cases and the ring divisions are also darker. The body rings are furnished +with reddish hooks. It is enclosed in a cocoon similar to that of the +Elephant, and usually is on the ground. The early stages are figured in +Plate 18. + +The moth, which chiefly affects drier localities than the next species, is +on the wing in May and June in the south of England, and June and July in +the north. It has a weakness for the flowers of honeysuckle, and +spur-valerian (_Centranthus_), but will take toll in the way of sweets +wherever found, even from the sugar patches of the nocturnal collector. +Except that it does not appear frequently in the Midlands, the species +seems to be widely distributed throughout the country. In Scotland its +range extends to Perthshire and Aberdeen; and in Ireland it is found all +over the island, and is fairly plentiful in some localities, but especially +attached to the coast. + +Abroad, its distribution covers nearly the whole of Europe, and eastward to +north-eastern Asia Minor, Bithynia, and the Altai. + +THE ELEPHANT (_Chærocampa_ (_Eumorpha_) _elpenor_). + +The fore wings are olive brown with two pinkish lines, both shaded with +dark olive brown; the first is rather broader than the second, and +terminates just above the centre of the wing and near a white dot; the +second line runs from the white inner margin to the tip of the wing, and +the area beyond it is flushed with pinkish; there is a black mark at the +base of the wings and the fringes are pinkish. The hind wings are black on +the {50} basal half and pinkish on the outer half; fringes white. The head, +thorax, and body are olive brown marked with pinkish, the thorax being +additionally ornamented with white on the sides. The moth is shown on Plate +19, and the early stages on Plate 17. + +The eggs are whitish-green in colour and rather glossy. Those I had were +laid in June on a leaf of willow herb (_Epilobium_). + +When newly hatched the caterpillar is yellowish white, and paler between +the rings; the head is tinged with greenish, and the horn is black. The +full-grown caterpillar measures nearly three inches in length, and is +rather plump. It is blackish or brownish grey, thickly sprinkled with black +dots on the back and more sparingly on the sides; the spiracles are +ochreous ringed with blackish, and below them is an ochreous line, which is +most distinct on the front rings; on each side of the third to fifth rings +there is a round black spot, the second and third pairs enclosing black +centred whitish lunules which are sometimes tinged with pink or yellow; the +horn is much of the same colour as the body. There is a green form of this +caterpillar. + +It feeds, chiefly, at night, in July and August, on _Epilobium hirsutum_ +and on bedstraw especially the kind (_G. palustre_), growing by the side of +brooks and streams. The chrysalis is palish brown freckled with darker +brown, the divisions between the rings and the spiked tail appearing +blackish; enclosed in a cocoon formed of earth and sundry fragments of +stalks, leaves, etc., spun together with silk and generally on the ground, +but sometimes just under the surface. + +The moth is on the wing in June, and very occasionally there is a late +summer emergence. It does not fly until dusk, and may then be seen hovering +over the blossoms of honeysuckle, etc. It is also known to be attracted now +and then to "sugared" trees. The best plan, however, for obtaining a few +fine specimens {51} is to rear them from eggs or caterpillars. The latter +are said to come up to sun themselves about four o'clock in the afternoon, +but they may be found at any time in their season, and in likely spots, by +turning back the herbage and looking for them in their hiding-places. When +in repose the head and front rings are drawn inwards, and this distends the +eyed rings, thus bringing these into prominence and giving the creature a +rather wicked look, from which the uninitiated would be likely to retreat. +The caterpillar, however, is quite harmless, and may be handled with +impunity. + +Although somewhat scarce in the more northern counties, this is a pretty +common species throughout most of England and Wales. Its range extends into +Scotland as far as Dumbarton, and, according to Barrett, along the east +coast to Aberdeen. Kane states that in Ireland it is met with everywhere +and is abundant in some localities. Distributed over Europe, except the +more northern parts, and extending through Asia to Japan. + +THE HUMMING-BIRD HAWK-MOTH (_Macroglossa stellatarum_). + +The brown fore wings with black cross lines, and the brownish bordered +orange hind wings, at once separate this from any other hawk-moth occurring +in our islands. Its greenish eggs are laid on bedstraw, and in July and +August the caterpillars may be found on the same kind of plant. They are +greenish or brownish covered with white dots; a whitish line runs along +each side of the back and a yellowish one lower down on the sides; the +spiracles are blackish, and the horn bluish shading into yellow at the tip. +The yellow-flowering bedstraw (_Galium verum_) seems to be the kind upon +which the caterpillar is most often found, but it also occurs on the hedge +bedstraw (_G. mollugo_). It has been known to eat wild madder (_Rubia +peregrina_), and is {52} stated to thrive in confinement on goose-grass or +cleavers (_G. aparine_). When full grown a loosely woven cocoon is formed +on the ground beneath the food plant, or other herbage, and therein the +caterpillar changes to an ochreous grey or brownish chrysalis. This is +marked with darker brown on the wing covers and around the spiracles; the +"tongue" case forms a small beak-like projection. + +Like the Bee Hawks, referred to presently, the moth is a day flyer, and +delights in the sunshine, although it has been several times seen on the +wing quite late in the evening, and has also been observed hovering in +front of flowers and probing them with its long "tongue" even in the +pouring rain. Blossoms of very many plants, both wild and cultivated, seem +to receive its attention, but it is perhaps most partial to those of the +jasmine where available. In the south of Europe the species is generally +abundant throughout the year; but there would seem to be at least two +distinct broods, one appearing in June, and the other in October. Possibly +there may be an intermediate brood in August, as the period from egg to +moth is known to be less than two months. In the British Isles, so far as +one can gather from the records, caterpillars have only been found in July +and August. Single specimens of the moth have been seen in the earliest +months of the year, as for example, January 31, 1898 (Bath), January 3, +1899 (S. Wales), February 2, 1900 (London); it has also been observed +several times in December. These facts and others connected with this +species in Britain certainly lend colour to the oft-repeated statement that +the moth hibernates in this country. The insect is known to enter houses, +and to examine holes and cracks in walls, dry banks, etc., in the autumn. +Mr. J. P. Barrett, in a note, written in November or December, 1900, states +that six or seven moths came into his house at Margate in October, and that +one was still hidden in his bedroom. However, if it be granted that the +moth does hibernate here, the instances are so rare and isolated that, +unless such specimens are impregnated females, the chances of these +reproducing their kind the following year are not great. We have, +therefore, to fall back upon immigration as the probable source of the +Humming-Bird Hawk-moth in Britain. Except the more northern portion, this +species is distributed over the whole of the Palæarctic region, including +India, China, Corea, and Japan. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 20. + 1. NARROW-BORDERED BEE HAWK-MOTH: _caterpillar_. + 2, 2a. BROAD-BORDERED BEE HAWK: _caterpillar and chrysalis_. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 21. + 1. HUMMING-BIRD HAWK-MOTH. + 2. BROAD-BORDERED BEE HAWK-MOTH, _male_; 3 _female_. + 4. NARROW-BORDERED BEE HAWK-MOTH, _male_; 5 _female_. + +{53} THE BROAD-BORDERED BEE HAWK-MOTH (_Hemaris fuciformis_). + +We have but two kinds of Bee Hawk-moths in our islands, and the present +species (Plate 21, Figs. 2, 3) is easily recognized by the broad reddish +brown borders of the wings and especially those on the front pair, which +also have a black bar at the end of the cell. When freshly emerged the +wings are not clear and transparent, but covered with greenish-grey scales, +which are so loosely attached that they are lost after the moth's first +flight. + +The egg is bright green, and is laid on the underside of a leaf of +honeysuckle. When very young the caterpillar is yellowish white, but when +full grown (Plate 20, Fig. 2) it is whitish green on the back, green on the +sides, and reddish brown beneath. Along the middle of the back there is a +darker, much interrupted, green line and a yellow line on each side of it; +the spiracles are reddish, the head is dark green, and the horn reddish +brown merging into violet at the base, and brown at the tip. Sometimes +there are blotches of reddish brown on the sides. When quite mature and +ready to assume the chrysalis stage the caterpillar changes in colour to +purplish brown. At all times it is difficult to detect, as its colour and +markings agree so well with the stems, stalks, and leaves of the food +plant. If a leaf of honeysuckle having round holes on each side of the +midrib be noticed, examination of the underside of that leaf may reveal a +young caterpillar of this species. {54} + +The common honeysuckle, or woodbine (_Lonicera periclymenum_) is the usual +food, but in confinement the caterpillars will eat the foliage of the +cultivated kinds of _Lonicera_, and, it is stated, even snowberry +(_Symphoricarpus racemosus_). In rearing it will, however, be safer to +supply them with the ordinary food wherever this is to be obtained. July +and August are the months in which to look for them. The chrysalis is +blackish brown, the skin is rather roughened, and the ring divisions are +paler brown. It is protected by a silken cocoon, the interior of which is +smooth, and the exterior coated with earth, etc. + +From mid-May to mid-June in average years, the moth is on the wing. The +blossoms of the rhododendron are its favourite attraction, and the best +time to see it at these flowers is on a nice sunny morning between ten +o'clock and midday. The flowers of the bugle (_Ajuga reptans_) growing in +meadows, wood-ridings, on railway banks or hedgerows, are hardly less +attractive, but these are less easily worked than the higher shrubs. The +collector has simply to stand before the latter and await the arrival of +the active Bee Hawks. Among other flowers that this moth has been observed +to visit are those of its own food plant; ragged robins (_Lychnis +flos-cuculi_), ground ivy (_Nepeta glechoma_), and also blue-bell and +primrose. + +The species is widely distributed and locally common throughout England, +but its northern range does not extend apparently beyond Yorkshire. +According to Kane it is absent from Ireland; and the reports of odd +specimens from Scotland are probably erroneous. Its distribution abroad +extends over Europe, except the most northern parts, a large portion of +northern and central Asia, and southwards to North Africa. + +Moses Harris, it may be mentioned, figured this moth in 1775 as "The +Clear-winged Humming-bird Sphinx." {55} + +THE NARROW-BORDERED BEE HAWK-MOTH (_Hemaris tityus_). + +This moth (Plate 21, Figs. 4, 5) has long been known as "_bombyliformis_" +and was so mentioned by Haworth in 1802, but for some years past there has +been a growing tendency to discard the name altogether, and as most recent +authors follow Kirby's identification of this species as the _tityus_ of +Linnæus, that name is here adopted. + +The chief characters separating this moth from the preceding are the narrow +blackish borders of the wings and the absence of the black mark at the end +of the cell of fore wings. It has been suggested that the female deposits +its green oval eggs on the undersides of the leaves of devil's-bit scabious +(_Scabiosa succisa_) whilst on the wing, but as she will lay freely in a +box it is most probable that she settles on the plants when engaged in egg +laying. + +The caterpillar (Plate 20, Fig. 1) is green, roughened with white points, +from which tiny hairs arise; the green colour varies in tint from whitish +to bluish; the lines along each side of the back are yellowish, and often +have purplish red spots, or patches, upon them; the spiracles are set in +purplish red patches, and the roughened reddish-brown horn is finely +pointed. The under side is traversed by a purplish-red stripe. There is +some modification in the reddish markings, both as regards number and +intensity; these are well developed in the specimen from the New Forest +figured on Plate 20. The caterpillars may be found in June and July on the +under sides of the lower leaves of the scabious, and as they eat holes in +the leaves these marks should afford a clue to their whereabouts. + +A few days before changing to a dark brown chrysalis, which is enclosed in +a coarse and very loosely constructed cocoon, the caterpillar assumes a +reddish colour. + +This moth, which much resembles a large humble bee, is on {56} the wing +from about the middle of May to the middle of June. It should be looked for +in places where its food plant flourishes, such as rough fields adjoining +woods, woodland glades, marshy heaths, fens, bogs, etc. It visits the +blossoms of various low growing plants, among which the louseworts +(_Pedicularis palustris_ and _P. sylvatica_) and the bugle (_Ajuga +reptans_) are perhaps favourites. In some localities the blossoms of the +rhododendron and of the bird's-foot trefoil (_Lotus corniculatus_) are very +attractive. When seen hovering over the flowers it must be approached +cautiously, as, although seemingly fully engrossed in the business in hand, +it is quickly alarmed and its movements are rapid. + +It occurs throughout the greater part of England and Wales and northwards +to Sutherlandshire in Scotland. In Ireland it is abundant in many +localities. + +Distributed over Europe its range extends northwards to Lapland, southwards +to north-west Africa, and eastward to Amurland. + +PROMINENTS (_Notodontidæ_). + +In the majority of our moths belonging to this family there is a tooth-like +tuft of scales projecting from about the middle of the inner margin of the +fore wings; these, when the moth is resting, are brought together and +raised above the level of the closed wings (see Fig. 11, page 11). The +antennæ of the male are bipectinated in most of the species, but those of +_Odontosia_, _Lophopteryx_, and _Phalera_ are dentated and each tooth has a +little tuft of short hair. + +The moths are not often seen in the day time, but a few species are +sometimes met with at rest on tree trunks, palings, etc. All fly at night +and are pretty rapid on the wing; possibly if it were not for the fact that +a bright light has a powerful attraction for them, the perfect insects +would be rarely captured. {57} Specimens, when caught, except females which +it may be well to keep for eggs, should be killed and pinned at once, as +many kinds become very restless when imprisoned in a box and soon damage +themselves. Females usually deposit their eggs freely, and in most cases +the caterpillars are not difficult to rear when once they begin to feed. +Sometimes it is not easy to induce them to commence this very necessary +business. The caterpillars, except those of _Phalera_ and _Pygæra_, are +without hairs on the body; those of the true Prominents generally have one, +or more, hump on the back; in some kinds the anal prolegs or hind claspers, +are small. When resting the hinder part of the caterpillar is more or less +raised, several of them elevate the front portion also, and frequently the +posture assumed is a most curious one. + +The caterpillars of _Cerura_, _Dicranura_, and _Stauropus_ have the hind +claspers transformed into tail-like appendages, which in the case of the +Puss and Kittens take the form of a pair of slender tubes furnished with +flagellæ, or whips, which can be protruded or withdrawn as occasion may +require. These organs are presumably for defensive purposes, but are not +always effective in combating the attack of parasitical flies, as these +evidently manage to deposit their egg on the caterpillars not infrequently. + +The pupa, or chrysalis, of some kinds is enclosed in a hard cocoon on tree +trunks, and others in a soft cocoon generally underground; sometimes, +however, the cocoon is spun up between leaves; occasionally, as for example +that of the Buff-tip, the chrysalis is found in the ground without any +protecting covering, although the cell in which it was formed may have been +flimsily lined with silk. + +Nearly one hundred species are referred to this family in Staudinger's +"Catalogue of Palæarctic Lepidoptera," and of these twenty-five occur, or +have been taken, in the British Isles, nearly all of which are accepted as +indigenous. Two of the {58} three species not generally regarded as true +natives have been found in the caterpillar state, and the third was reared +from an egg obtained with others of the same kind in Norfolk. + +THE ALDER KITTEN (_Cerura bicuspis_). + +This moth (Plate 22, Fig. 3) differs from either of the two next following +in being whiter, and in having both margins of the central band of the fore +wings angled or bent inwards above the middle; this is markedly so on the +outer side. The band itself is black, inclining to purplish rather than +grey. Barrett mentions a specimen without central band or cloud towards +tip. + +[Illustration: FIG. 19. COCOON OF THE ALDER KITTEN.] + +According to Buckler, the caterpillar is yellow-green; head dark +reddish-brown; at the back of the head commences a broad, reddish-brown +blotch, which runs to a point on the back of the third segment, where is a +slight elevation; on the fourth it recommences and becomes broader on each +segment to the eighth, where it extends below and encloses the spiracles, +thence it narrows to the tenth, continuing on the eleventh and twelfth as a +broad stripe, and {59} widening on the thirteenth, where it again narrows +to the tentacles; in the broad portion of this dorsal marking are faint +indications of two or three orange spots; on each side it is broadly edged +with pale yellow, and on the sixth, seventh, and eighth segments its margin +is deeply indented. It feeds on alder and birch in July and August. + +The cocoon is shown in its natural position on birch bark (Fig. 19). This +was kindly lent to me for figuring by Mr. L. W. Newman, of Bexley, who also +had another in which lichen as well as fragments of bark were worked into +the surface, so that the cocoon was less in evidence than the one +portrayed. + +The moth emerges in May and June. + +The first British specimen, a male, was found on alder near Preston, and +was recorded by Doubleday in the _Zoologist_ for 1847. A second example was +noted from the same locality in 1849. This district in Lancashire, and +Tilgate Forest in Sussex, are the chief homes in the north and the south of +England respectively; but one or more specimens have occurred in Cheshire, +Herefordshire, Oxfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Devonshire, and more +frequently in Staffordshire, Derbyshire, and Yorkshire. It does not seem to +inhabit Scotland or Ireland, neither has it been recorded from Wales, so +far as I can find, more than once. + +The species is found in Germany, Switzerland, Eastern France, Belgium, +Southern Sweden, Central Russia, Livonia, Finland, Ussuri, and a local race +occurs in Amurland. + +THE POPLAR KITTEN (_Cerura bifida_). + +Fore wings grey, with a broad, dark grey central band, and a cloud of the +same colour towards the tips of the wings; the band is inwardly margined by +an almost straight black line, and outwardly by a curved line; the third +line is double, and curved towards the costa, forming the inner edge of the +grey cloud, the lower part is wavy. The first black line is inwardly, and +{60} the second outwardly edged with ochreous, and preceding the first is a +series of black dots. + +The full-grown caterpillar, which is green, with a yellow-edged, purplish, +irregular stripe on the back, is figured on Plate 23, together with a very +young example, the purplish-black eggs as laid, and the red-brown +chrysalis. The cocoon from which the chrysalis was extracted was spun up on +a fairly stout twig of poplar, from which some of the bark had been torn; +the cocoon was formed, as regards the upper part, on the bare twig, and +this was covered with gnawed wood, instead of with bark fragments, as is +the lower end. The moth is figured on Plate 22, and the early stages on +Plate 23. + +The moth emerges in June, sometimes in July, and may occasionally be found +at rest on the trunks of poplars, on which the caterpillar feeds from July +to September; also on adjacent walls or palings. The cocoons are made up on +the surface or in the chinks of the bark, and may be searched for, all +through the winter and early spring. It is curious to note how readily +these are detected after the moth has escaped, and how difficult they are +to see before that event. Usually there is but one brood in the year, but +in the hot summer of 1906 a male specimen emerged from a few chrysalids +that I had reared from eggs laid at the end of June of that year. On the +other hand, the moth has been known to remain in the chrysalis for two +winters. + +The species is not uncommon in some parts of the London district, and seems +to occur throughout England wherever poplars abound. It does not appear to +have been found in Scotland, and is scarce in Ireland. Abroad it is found +in Central Europe with a northern range to Finland, southwards to Italy and +Greece, and eastwards to the Altai. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 22. + 1. POPLAR KITTEN-MOTH, _male_; 2 _female_. + 3. ALDER KITTEN-MOTH, _male_. + 4. SALLOW KITTEN-MOTH, _male_; 5 _female_. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 23. + 1, 1a, 1b. POPLAR KITTEN: _eggs, caterpillar and chrysalis_. + 2, 2a. SALLOW KITTEN: _eggs and caterpillars_. + +{61} + +THE SALLOW KITTEN (_Cerura furcula_). + +This moth differs from the last in its generally smaller size, but more +especially in the shape of the black line forming the outer margin of the +central band; this is always more or less angled or dentate towards the +front margin of the wings, whereas, in the Poplar Kitten, this portion of +the line forms a clean curve (Plate 22, Figs. 4, 5). + +The eggs are black, rather glossy, and are generally deposited in pairs, +but rarely more than three, and often only singly, on the upper surface of +a leaf of sallow or willow. The caterpillar feeds from July to September, +sometimes as early as the end of June, or as late as October. It is green, +with a yellow tinge; the markings on the back are similar to these +characters in the caterpillar of the preceding species, but, as will be +seen by looking at the figures on Plate 23, they are not quite the same in +outline. The figure of the young caterpillar on this plate was made soon +after it left the egg, and the shell from which it emerged is also +depicted. Sallow and willow are the usual food plants, but in August, 1906, +I found a half-grown caterpillar of this species on aspen, but it died a +few days afterwards. The reddish-brown chrysalis is enclosed in the usual +hard cocoon of its kind, which is affixed to a branch or the trunk of the +tree upon which the caterpillar fed. A depression is usually selected, and +when the cocoon is finished off with its covering of bark fragments it is +difficult to see. + +The species is well distributed over England, Ireland, and Scotland; +perhaps more frequently obtained on the mosses of Cheshire, Lancashire, and +Yorkshire, than in other parts of England. It is found in Central and +Northern Europe, and, according to Staudinger, in Amurland and North +America. {62} + +THE PUSS MOTH (_Dicranura vinula_). + +Portraits of both sexes of this rather common moth are given on Plate 24. +The head, thorax, and body are very fluffy. The whitish fore wings are +crossed by several wave-like lines; the main veins (_nervures_) are +ochreous, and the branches (_nervules_) are blackish; beyond the more or +less clear basal area there is often a broad but irregular blackish band, +and the wavy markings on the outer area vary in intensity (sometimes the +short streaks between the veins terminate on the outer margin in black +dots). Hind wings whitish in the male, and suffused with blackish in the +female, to a greater or lesser extent. In some examples of the female the +fore wings and the body are also tinged with blackish. The antennæ are +bipectinated in both sexes, but those of the female have the teeth much +shorter than those of the male. + +The eggs are usually laid in pairs on the upper surface of a leaf of +sallow, willow, or poplar. In colour these are purplish or reddish brown, +shining, and finely grained; a minute depression at the top is yellowish, +with a black speck at the bottom of the hollow. + +In its last stage the caterpillar is green, with a white or yellowish-edged +purplish brown band on the back; the head is light brown margined with +black and purplish behind, and the ring immediately following (first +thoracic) is green margined with yellow and having two black spots on the +upper part. When the creature assumes the position which Professor Poulton +terms the terrifying attitude, the front part is elevated, the head is +drawn back into the ring next to it, and the tails are raised and curved +forward over the back (see Plate 25). Seen thus from the front the +appearance of the caterpillar is certainly grotesque, and no doubt affords +it some protection from its enemies. It feeds on poplars, sallows, and +willows, usually in July and August, but sometimes as late as September. +{63} + +[Illustration: FIG. 20. + +CATERPILLAR OF PUSS MOTH.] + +The reddish brown chrysalis is enclosed in a hard cocoon spun up and +securely attached to the trunk or under a limb of the tree upon which the +caterpillar was nourished, or upon some other adjacent thereto. I once +found a cocoon on the lower rail of a garden fence. In constructing the +cocoon fragments of bark and wood are worked on the exterior, but failing +these the caterpillar will make use of any available material for the +purpose. If enclosed in a tumbler covered with glass it will spin a +transparent cocoon. Emergence from its strong pupal chamber would appear to +be a difficult matter, but the caterpillar and the chrysalis both +contribute something towards assisting the final efforts of the moth to +escape. The caterpillar, in constructing the cocoon, is careful to make the +exit end with a thinner layer than the other parts; then the chrysalis is +provided with a cutting implement in the shape of a keel-like arrangement +on the fore part, and with this it operates at the right time on the weak +end until a breach is made; the moth breaks the head end of the chrysalis +case and moistens {64} the ruptured material with a softening fluid so that +the insect is able to force its way out of the cocoon; the chrysalis case +remains in the cocoon. + +The moth is on the wing in May and June, and sometimes July. Three +specimens that I reared this year (1907) from eggs found on a leaf of +poplar last year, emerged on June 4th, 10th, and July 12th. They all +pupated about the same time, and side by side on cork bark. + +I believe this species has not been recorded from the Orkneys or the +Shetlands, but with these exceptions it seems to occur in more or less +frequency throughout the United Kingdom. It is widely distributed in +Europe, and its range extends to Siberia. In Lapland, Amurland, Japan, and +North Africa it is represented by named forms. + +THE LOBSTER (_Stauropus fagi_). + +The English name of this insect does not apply to the greyish brown or +sometimes blackish moth (Plate 26), but to its remarkable caterpillar, the +figures of which, on Plate 27, are reproduced from drawings by Mr. Alfred +Sich. In colour this curious-shaped creature is always some shade of brown, +the head is marked in front with reddish, the ring divisions of the body +are darker brown, and the hind rings are reddish brown. + +The late Mr. W. H. Tugwell, referring to the early history of these +caterpillars, states that a female of the blackish form received from +Reading in May was kept alive for seven days, during which time she laid a +few eggs on oak leaves each night; "all told" she produced forty eggs. As +she was then quite exhausted, a good many had probably been laid +previously. The eggs when first laid are of a pale cream colour, +hemispherical in shape and flattened beneath. About the seventh day a +circular depression, and a dark spot, appear, and gradually the entire egg +assumes a dull purplish colour. "On the tenth day the caterpillars hatch +out. When they first leave the shell they appear extremely large, this is +partly on account of the long legs and the caudal appendages which are ever +nervously twisting about. The young caterpillars most carefully keep guard +over their own egg-shell, which is to them an all-important item, as this +provides them with their first meal--the first and only food they take for +seven days, in fact, for a longer period, as it is not until after moulting +their first skin that they eat any other food. This fact I proved over and +over again, as, being an invalid, my time was quite free to watch them hour +after hour and day after day. As soon as they have eaten their way out of +the shell they stretch themselves, and then from time to time nibble +portions of the white chitinous-looking egg-shell, and a tough morsel it +seems to be for them; but they never leave it for more than an inch or so, +and then rapidly come back. They keep nervously moving around and about +this, and if perchance another caterpillar should approach within touch of +it, a vigorous attack is made to drive off the intruder. All going well +during the first hour or two, the whole of the shell, or sometimes not more +than from half to two-thirds of it is consumed; and once the caterpillars +really leave the egg-shell, that is, walk away from it, they do not touch +it after. If by any chance a young caterpillar gets driven away from the +egg-shell, death is certain to result, as I could never induce them to feed +on portions of empty shells left by others; nor would they eat the leaves +or the brown stipules of the beech, which it has been suggested they do +eat. In no single instance did they eat other food in their first skin save +and alone the one meal of their own egg-shells." + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 24. + PUSS MOTH. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 25. + PUSS MOTH. + _Egg, natural size and enlarged; caterpillars, chrysalis and cocoon._ + +{65} The caterpillars feed on beech, and also occasionally on birch, oak, +hazel, and some fruit trees, and may be found from July to September. + +The chrysalis, which is enclosed in a tightly woven cocoon {66} spun up +between leaves, usually dead ones, is blackish brown with a violet bloom +upon it. + +The moths are on the wing in May and June in an early season, but not until +June and July in a backward one. They may be sometimes found resting by day +on the stems of small trees or even bushes. "In fact, anything," Mr. +Holland says, "which stands upright in a beech wood will do, so that it is +not too large." The blackish form of the moth is so like a knot on a stem +that it is easily overlooked. There is sometimes a second emergence in +August. Possibly those caterpillars found during the latter part of +September in some favourable years are from eggs deposited by moths +emerging in early August, and the offspring of May parents. + +The species is widely distributed, but not often common, over the Midland, +Southern, and Eastern Counties of England. It seems to flourish chiefly in +beech woods, and is perhaps more frequent in parts of Berkshire, Bucks, and +Oxfordshire, than elsewhere, but it is not uncommon in some seasons in the +New Forest. It has been reported from Swansea in Wales, and once from +Selby, Yorkshire. In Ireland it is exceedingly rare, and is not known to +occur in Scotland. The range abroad extends through Central Europe, +northward to Sweden, southward to Spain and Portugal, and eastward to +Armenia, Ussuri, and Japan. + +THE DUSKY MARBLED BROWN (_Gluphisia crenata_). + +Only three authenticated British examples are known of this dingy +grey-brown moth (Plate 28, Fig. 3). The earliest intimation we have of the +occurrence of this species in England is the following record by the late +Mr. Henry Doubleday in the _Entomologist_, vol. i. p. 156: "_Chaonia +crenata._ The first British specimen of this insect was taken in Ongar Park +Wood, in June, 1839; a second in the same place, in June of the present +year. Both specimens were females." The locality mentioned in the foregoing +notice which was penned July 10th, 1841, is in the County of Essex. At a +meeting of the Entomological Society of London held in April, 1854, the +Rev. Joseph Greene exhibited a specimen that he had reared from a +caterpillar obtained from a poplar near Halton, in Bucks, August, 1853. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 26. + LOBSTER MOTH. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 27. + LOBSTER MOTH. + _Egg, enlarged, caterpillars, chrysalis and cocoon._ + +{67} According to Buckler the caterpillar is pale green, with a thin +whitish line down the middle of the back, a broader yellow line on each +side, and some reddish spots on the front and hind rings of the body; the +spiracles are black. It spins a somewhat oval-shaped cocoon between two +poplar leaves, and therein turns to a glossy blackish brown chrysalis. + +Abroad the species is found in Central Europe, North Italy, North-western +Russia, Southern Norway, and also in Amurland and Ussuri. There are said to +be two broods on the continent, one emergence of moths taking place in +April and the other in June or July. + +THE MARBLED BROWN (_Drymonia trimacula_). + +Somewhat similar to the next species, but the fore wings are generally +whiter; the cross lines are not so straight, and there is no black crescent +above the centre of the wings (Plate 28, Fig. 1). + +The caterpillar is green, with two yellow lines on the back, and a yellow +one along the spiracles, the latter edged above with reddish. It feeds on +oak, and may be found from July to September; stated to hide by day in the +chinks of the bark. The reddish brown chrysalis is enclosed in a cocoon of +earth held together with silk. It may be searched for at the roots of +grass, etc., around the foot of oak trees growing in parks or in the more +open parts of woods. The moth appears in May. + +Although nowhere really common, it seems to occur pretty generally over the +southern portion of England, and as far north {68} as Derbyshire and +Staffordshire. Farther north, and in Wales and Scotland, it has been rarely +met with. Recorded by Birchall to be not uncommon at Killarney; but Kane +states that he has never seen an Irish specimen. + +The species occurs locally throughout Central Europe, also in Transylvania, +Northern and Central Italy, and Eastern Armenia. In Ussuri, and Japan, it +is represented by the form _dodonides_, Staud. + +THE LUNAR MARBLED BROWN (_Drymonia chaonia_). + +The fore wings of this moth (Plate 28, Fig. 2) are dark fuscous, almost +blackish, a short white line near the base; the central third is white +clouded with the ground colour and limited by white edged black wavy lines; +a black crescent just above the centre of the wing. Hind wings smoky grey +with a pale curved line. The egg, which is bluish white in colour, is of +the usual Notodont shape. Caterpillar green, merging into bluish-green on +the back; the lines are pale yellow, or creamy white, that along the black +margined spiracles is rather broad and is sometimes tinged with reddish on +the three front rings. Head green, mouth marked with pale yellow. Feeds in +June, July, and August on oak. From about a dozen eggs that I had in May, +1907, the caterpillars hatched on the 13th of the month. Only one got +through safely to the chrysalis stage which it reached at the end of June. +On June 26th some half-grown and smaller caterpillars were received from +the New Forest, only one of these was seen on July 19th, but it was then +nearly full grown and appeared to be quite healthy, and others had pupated +or died. + +The chrysalis is deep red brown, enclosed in a silken cocoon covered with +particles of earth; generally found at the roots of isolated oak trees +(Plate 29, Figs. 1, 1a). + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 28. + 1. MARBLED BROWN MOTH. + 2. LUNAR MARBLED BROWN. + 3. DUSKY MARBLED BROWN. + 4. SWALLOW PROMINENT, _female_; 5 _male_. + 6. LESSER SWALLOW PROMINENT. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 29. + 1, 1a. LUNAR MARBLED BROWN: _caterpillar and chrysalis_. + 2, 2a, 2b. SWALLOW PROMINENT: _egg, caterpillar and chrysalis_. + 3, 3a, 3b. LESSER SWALLOW PROMINENT: _egg, caterpillar and chrysalis_. + +{69} The moth emerges in May, sometimes at the end of April, generally in +the afternoon; it sits on the tree trunk to expand and dry its wings, and +then ascends higher up the tree. It is found in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, +and in most of the southern counties of England, and in the west, but it +seems to be rarer eastward and northward, and also in Scotland. In Ireland +it has been found, very sparingly, in Wicklow and Kerry, and "numbers were +taken in a moth trap at Clonbrook." + +The range abroad is very similar to that of the next species. + +THE SWALLOW PROMINENT (_Pheosia tremula_). + +Normally whitish, with a brown shaded black stripe along the inner margin +of the fore wings, and a brownish cloud, with black streaks in it, towards +the tips of these wings; the outer extremities of the veins are white, +there is a white wedge-shaped streak between veins 1 and 2, and from the +apex of this an indented white line runs to the base of the wing. Sometimes +the whole discal area is suffused with brownish. The moth is shown on Plate +28, Figs. 4, 5, and the early stages on Plate 29, Figs. 2, 2a, and 2b. The +egg when laid is creamy white, and the newly hatched caterpillar is pale +green. When full grown the caterpillar is green with rather darker, but not +always clearly defined, lines along the back, and a yellow line along the +region of the black spiracles; the underside is sometimes reddish. Another +form is brownish in colour and the yellow line is then generally obscure. +The green form is figured on Plate 29. The usual food is poplar, but sallow +is also eaten. It may be found in late June and early July and again in +September and October. The chrysalis is reddish brown and glossy except on +the wing covers, which are granulated and appear darker. The cocoon is +roughly constructed of silk and earth, and before spinning it the autumnal +caterpillar sometimes burrows a good depth under the surface of the soil; +the summer cocoons are said to be made up among leaves. The moth is on the +wing in May and August. {70} + +The species is perhaps most common in the southern and eastern counties of +England, but seems to be pretty generally distributed throughout the +country, and extends into Scotland as far as Moray. In Ireland it has a +wide range but is only common near Londonderry. Abroad it is found in +Central and Northern Europe, and as far east as Amurland and Ussuri. In +America it is represented by _P. dimidiata_, H.-S., which does not seem to +be really specifically distinct. + +THE LESSER SWALLOW PROMINENT (_Pheosia dictæoides_). + +Very similar to the last species, but generally smaller, and the ground +colour has usually less brown in it; the chief character, however, by which +it may be distinguished, is the broader and clearer white wedge-shaped mark +between veins one and two on the fore wings. Reference to the figures of +each species on Plate 28 will show this at once. + +The eggs are greenish white, and the full-grown caterpillar is purplish +brown on the back merging into violet on the sides; there is a broad yellow +stripe along the spiracle area; the head is violet, faintly marked with +black. A noticeable feature of this caterpillar is its varnished +appearance. It feeds on birch in June and July, and sometimes in September +and October. The early stages are figured on Plate 29, Figs. 3, 3a, and 3b. + +The species has a somewhat similar distribution to that mentioned for the +preceding, but it seems to be commoner in the North of England and in +Scotland than elsewhere in the British Isles. + +THE PEBBLE PROMINENT (_Notodonta ziczac_). + +This moth varies in the colour of the fore wings from pale ochreous brown +to a darker brown tinged with reddish; the usual pale greyish patch in the +middle of the costal area is {71} sometimes obliterated by a suffusion of +the darker colour; the dark-brown first and second lines are often only +visible towards the front edge of the wings; a blackish lunule or crescent +forms, in conjunction with the strongly curved outer line, the outline of +the characteristic pebble-like mark on the apical area of the wings; a pale +saw-edged line, which is inwardly shaded with dusky and intersected by +black streaks on the veins, traverses the pebble mark, but in the lighter +coloured specimens this line is not traceable. The female has browner hind +wings than the male. The moth is depicted on Plate 31, Fig. 2; and the +early stages on Plate 30, Figs. 1, 1a, and 1b. + +The caterpillar, when full grown, is pale ochreous grey, sometimes tinged +with pink or purplish brown, or with yellowish, and especially on the hind +rings; a yellow stripe along the back is edged here and there with +brownish; the diffuse dusky line along the area of the black margined +spiracles is edged with yellowish. It is occasionally found on poplar, but +sallows and willow are the more usual food plants, and it feeds upon these +in June and July and again in August and September. The reddish brown +chrysalis is enclosed in an earthen cocoon just under the surface of the +ground at the roots of tree or bush upon which the caterpillar fed. The +moth emerges in May and June from chrysalides of the previous year, and in +August as a second generation. Three broods in the year have been obtained +in confinement, but this is probably exceptional. + +Widely distributed throughout the British Isles, but seems to have a +preference for fens and marshy ground. It occurs all over Central and +Northern Europe, its range extends through France to Spain, Italy, and +Corsica, and it has been recorded from Armenia and Amurland. {72} + +THE IRON PROMINENT (_Notodonta dromedarius_). + +The specimen shown on Plate 31 is from Surrey, and represents the form most +frequently obtained in the south of England. Northwards the species becomes +darker in colour, and the reddish and yellow marking much reduced. The form +_perfusca_, as figured by Stephens, has the fore wings dark purplish grey, +streaked with dark brown; a pale patch at the base is russet marked, the +line before the middle of the wing is russet, and a dash of the same colour +lies at the lower extremity of the line beyond the middle; the hind wings +are brownish grey with a broad whitish cross line. The specimen, which is +of the female sex, was from Dublin, and the form was not then supposed to +occur in any other part of the British Isles. It is now, however, well +known in Scotland and the North of England, and also in Ireland. Some +examples that I have seen from Scotland are much larger and darker than the +figure referred to. In his description of this form Stephens states that +the fore wings are fuscous mixed with chestnut, with darker clouds. The +caterpillar, which is figured on Plate 30, is green, becoming yellowish on +the back; a rather broad stripe on the back of the front rings and the +markings on the humps and on other parts of the body are purplish brown. It +feeds on birch, alder, and sometimes hazel, usually on the former, in June, +July, and August. In some seasons, and localities, the moth appears twice +in the year: the caterpillar may then be found in September and October. +The chrysalis is blackish-brown and rather glossy, enclosed in a cocoon +composed of silk and sand or other soil, and may be obtained by lightly +digging up the earth and sods at the roots of trees. + +THE THREE HUMPED (_Notodonta phoebe_ = _tritophus_). + +Very little is known in Britain of this Central European moth (Plate 31, +Fig. 3). The first specimen of which we have any {73} knowledge was reared +on August 10, 1842 from a caterpillar found in Essex on aspen. This example +was included, with two others, one of which was captured in Suffolk, in the +collection of the late Dr. Mason, which was dispersed at Stevens' Auction +Rooms in March, 1905. + +Besides the specimens mentioned above, a caterpillar, which subsequently +died, was beaten from alder in the Exeter district in 1870; another was +obtained from hazel in Gloucestershire, but this was "ichneumoned." Then +there is a record of a moth or caterpillar, presumably the former, +occurring in the neighbourhood of Paisley; and there is a report that a +caterpillar was once found at the base of an aspen growing on Clapham +Common. A specimen was taken at electric light at Bedford, May, 1907. + +The caterpillar is green, with three reddish humps on the back, and an +interrupted reddish line along the sides. It feeds on poplar in July and +August. + +THE LARGE DARK PROMINENT (_Notodonta tritophus_ = _torva_). + +Another Central European species, of which only one specimen is known to +have occurred in Britain. This was reared from an egg, or from a +caterpillar, obtained in Norfolk in the latter part of the summer of 1882. +The moth might be mistaken for a small dark coloured specimen of the next +species (_N. trepida_), but the dark hindwings readily distinguish it +(Plate 31, Fig. 4). + +The caterpillar, although darker, bears considerable resemblance to that of +the Pebble Prominent; it feeds in June and July, and also in September, on +aspen. + +According to Staudinger this species is the _tritophus_ of Esper, an +earlier name than _torva_, Hübn.; whilst the preceding species, that has so +long been referred to _tritophus_, Fabricius (or _trilophus_), is found to +be _phoebe_, Siebert, which name has seventeen years' priority. {74} + +THE GREAT PROMINENT (_Notodonta trepida_). + +Fore wings greyish, or ochreous grey, with dark cross lines; a blackish +tuft from middle of inner margin, and a series of dark, or sometimes +reddish, spots on a pale cross line before the inner margin. Hind wings +whitish, sometimes ochreous tinged; clouded with greyish on costal area +(Plate 31, Fig. 5). When full grown the caterpillar is rather larger than +the one figured on Plate 30. In colour it is green, with yellow lines along +the back, seven reddish-edged yellow oblique streaks on the sides, and a +reddish tinged stripe on the two rings nearest the head. It is stated to +assume a purplish tint when quite mature. May be found from end of June to +early August on oak. The dark reddish brown chrysalis, which is enclosed in +an earth-covered cocoon, may be found at the roots of oak trees in the +autumn or winter. + +The moth emerges between late April and early June, sometimes remaining in +the chrysalis for two winters. Light attracts it freely, and it is +frequently seen in the illuminated moth trap, and may be occasionally noted +on the iron frame of a gas lamp in suitable places. Sometimes the moth is +met with in the daytime, resting on the trunks or branches of oak trees in +woods, or on palings adjacent thereto. When such specimens happen to be +females, they should be kept for eggs, which they lay freely. + +It occurs in most of the southern counties of England, is somewhat rare in +the Midlands, and scarce in the northern counties and in Scotland. Recorded +by Birchall as "not uncommon in Co. Wicklow," but Kane ("Cat. Lep. +Ireland") states that he has no information concerning its occurrence in +the sister island. Distributed throughout Central Europe, extending into +Spain, Italy, and Corsica; also to South-east Russia, Armenia, and possibly +Ussuri. {75} + +THE WHITE PROMINENT (_Leucodonta bicoloria_). + +The glossy white moth, prettily marked with orange and black, shown on +Plate 33, was not known to inhabit the British Isles until 1858 when +Bonchard obtained one specimen in a large birch wood in the Killarney +district, Ireland; in the following year he took a second specimen. Both +captures were made in the month of June. In June, 1861, one example of the +moth was found in Burnt Wood, Staffordshire; and in the same wood, June, +1865, no fewer than six specimens were secured, and eggs obtained from one +of the females. The caterpillars duly hatched out, but most of them were +lost, only seven attaining the moth state. Kane states that in 1866 a +specimen was taken in Mucross demesne, and caterpillars "were said also to +have been beaten." Miss Vernon of Clontarf showed him her collection of +insects from Kerry, and he found therein two rather poor specimens of the +White Prominent from a new locality in Kerry. Barrett mentions the capture, +in 1880, of a specimen near Exeter, Devonshire. From the foregoing, which +comprises all that appears to be definitely known about British _L. +bicoloria_, it will be gathered that the species is not only very local, +but exceedingly rare. + +The caterpillar, figured on Plate 32, from a coloured drawing by Mr. A. +Sich, is pale yellowish green, rather whiter on the upper surface; the +lines are green, the central one darkest; the stripe along the spiracles is +yellow edged with green. It feeds on birch in July; and changes in due +course to a dark reddish brown chrysalis, which is enclosed in a compact +silken cocoon spun up between leaves. The moth emerges in May or June. +Abroad the species seems to be generally distributed in Central Europe, and +is also found in the Ural, Amurland, Ussuri, and Japan. {76} + +THE MAPLE PROMINENT (_Lophopteryx cuculla_). + +To Donovan and the entomologists of his time this moth (Plate 33, Fig. 4) +was known by the English name still in use, Stephens considered it a rare +insect, and remarks that he once caught a specimen at Darenth Wood, by +"mothing," in June, 1820; several other examples had been taken in the same +place, and in the neighbouring woods. Although many more localities are now +known for the moth, it still continues to be rather a scarce species. It +appears to inhabit woods on a chalky soil almost exclusively, and is found +less uncommonly in the woods of Buckinghamshire than in its other haunts in +Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Kent, Sussex, Devonshire, Essex, Cambridgeshire, +Suffolk, and Norfolk. The bulk of the specimens in collections were +probably reared from the egg, or from caterpillars obtained by beating or +searching the maple bushes growing in the woods frequented by the moth. + +The caterpillar is whitish green, rather glossy, with a dark green line +along the middle of the back, which is broadest on the front rings, and a +pale yellow stripe on the sides, the latter edged above with pale green; +spiracles pinkish edged with black; a hump on the eleventh ring is purplish +tinted. Head pale ochreous brown marked with reddish brown. Sometimes the +general colour is yellowish or pinkish ochreous. May be found in June and +July on maple (_Acer campestris_) and in confinement will feed very well on +sycamore (_A. pseudoplatanus_). The moth usually emerges in May or June, +but in 1901 Mr. Adkin reared ten moths, July 24 to 31, from eggs deposited +in the spring of that year. The species does not seem to be a common one +even abroad; its range extends through Central Europe to Italy and Sicily, +and it is also found in Ussuri. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 30. + 1, 1a, 1b. PEBBLE PROMINENT: _egg, caterpillar and chrysalis_. + 2, 2a, 2b, 2c. IRON PROMINENT: _eggs, caterpillar, chrysalis and cocoon_. + 3, 3a. GREAT PROMINENT: _caterpillar and chrysalis_. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 31. + 1. IRON PROMINENT. + 2. PEBBLE PROMINENT. + 3. THREE HUMPED MOTH. + 4. LARGE DARK PROMINENT. + 5. GREAT PROMINENT. + +{77} + +THE COXCOMB PROMINENT (_Lophopteryx camelina_). + +Probably the commonest of the true Prominents, and certainly the most +variable. The early stages are figured on Plate 32, and two forms of the +moth on Plate 33. In its typical and southern form the fore wings are more +or less pale reddish brown with a darker cloud on the inner marginal area; +there are three dusky, or blackish, cross lines, but two of these are +generally very indistinct, the third runs from the blackish "tooth" on the +inner margin to the front edge of the wing, and is followed by a pale wavy +band often outwardly bordered with dusky. Sometimes the fore wings are +clouded with dark brown, and in the North of England a dark reddish form +occurs. In Scotland the fore wings vary in colour from dusky brown through +reddish to pale yellowish brown; sometimes the "tooth" is reddish in +chestnut coloured specimens. The whitish eggs are laid on the undersides of +the leaves of various trees and bushes upon which the caterpillar feeds; +these are chiefly birch, oak, hazel, sallow, and beech. + +The caterpillar, which appears in July to October, and sometimes even +later, is green, with a darker line on the back, and a yellow one on the +sides; two reddish tipped wart-like projections on the back of ring eleven. +Occasionally the general colour is ochreous with a pinkish tinge, or it may +be even purplish. There are two broods in the south of England, but only +one in the north. The moths of the first brood fly in May and June, and +those of the second in July and August, sometimes rather later. Pretty +generally distributed throughout England and Wales, Ireland and Scotland. +Abroad its range extends over Northern and Central Europe to Northern +Spain, Northern and Central Italy, Dalmatia, Turkey, Armenia, Siberia, +Amurland, Corea, and Japan. {78} + +THE SCARCE PROMINENT (_Odontosia carmelita_). + +In 1828, when Stephens figured this moth, he only knew of two British +specimens, both of which had been reared about sixteen years previously +from caterpillars found at Darenth Wood. The wings, which are not thickly +scaled, are purplish grey, becoming reddish brown on the front margins of +the fore wings; the outer transverse line of the fore wings starts from a +conspicuous creamy patch on the front margin, and the line on the hind +wings is most distinct above the anal angle, where it runs through a +purplish cloud (Plate 33, Fig. 5). + +In April and May the pale blue eggs are laid on the underside of birch +leaves. The caterpillar in June feeds on the foliage of the birch, and when +full grown is green freckled with yellowish above; a darker line runs along +the middle of the back, and a reddish spotted, or tinted, yellow stripe +along the sides; the small head, also green, is marked with yellowish. When +the chrysalids are kept indoors the moths emerge earlier than in the open, +and it therefore sometimes happens that eggs are laid and the caterpillars +hatch before the birch leaves are ready for them. In such cases I have got +over the difficulty in a measure by removing a portion of the outer +covering of one or two of the most forward buds to give the caterpillars a +chance of getting at the unexposed leaves. The moth emerges in April or +May, and, as pointed out by Mr. R. Adkin, it sometimes remains in the +chrysalis for two winters. Possibly this species may be found in most +districts where birch abounds; but, so far as its distribution in our +islands is known, it certainly appears to be distinctly local. Besides +Darenth, it also occurs in West Wickham Wood, and at Wateringbury, in Kent; +the Weybridge district, Dorking, and Haslemere, in Surrey; Ashdown Forest, +Blackdown Woods, Haywards Heath, and Tilgate Forest, in Sussex; New Forest, +Hampshire, and Berkshire. There seems to be no record of the moth having +been found in any other part of England, except Keswick and Windermere. In +Scotland it has been reported from Galashiels, Clydesdale, the Tay +district, Argyleshire, and Moray. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 32. + 1, 1a, 1b. PALE PROMINENT: _egg, caterpillar and chrysalis_. + 2, 2a. WHITE PROMINENT: _caterpillar and chrysalis_. + 3, 3a, 3b. COXCOMB PROMINENT: _egg, caterpillar and chrysalis_. + 4. MAPLE PROMINENT: _chrysalis_. + 5, 5a. SCARCE PROMINENT: _chrysalis and cocoon_. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 33. + 1. WHITE PROMINENT. + 2, 3. COXCOMB PROMINENT. + 4. MAPLE PROMINENT. + 5. SCARCE PROMINENT. + 6. PALE PROMINENT. + 7. PLUMED PROMINENT, _male_; 8, _female_. + +{79} + +THE PLUMED PROMINENT (_Ptilophora plumigera_). + +The thinly scaled fore wings are ochreous brown in the male, and purplish +brown in the female, and the markings, which are most in evidence in the +male, are yellowish. Hind wings, more sparsely scaled than the fore wings, +are pale ochreous brown in the male and darker in the female. It varies in +the tint of general colour and in the intensity of the yellowish markings. +In the female the antennæ are simple, but in the male they are very +plume-like, hence the English name. Buckler describes the caterpillar as +whitish blue-green, with a broad deep green stripe down the middle of the +back, and a narrow yellow line on each side of it; spiracular line slender, +white, and wavy; head rather small, glossy, yellowish green. When quite +full grown and mature it changes to a uniform semi-transparent green, like +the underside of a leaf of maple, upon which, and also sycamore, the +caterpillar feeds in May and early June. Maple bushes growing in hedgerows +are usually selected by the female moths when laying their eggs. These are +placed on the twigs near a bud, and may be searched for at any time from +November until April. The moth is shown on Plate 33. + +This species was figured by Stephens (1828) as _Ptilophora variegata_ and +the only locality then known to him was Darenth Wood, where, he states, the +caterpillar was obtained almost every year. It still occurs in Kent and +possibly in its old haunt; it is also recorded from Watergate, Sussex; +South Devon (Torquay district); and Gloucestershire. In Bucks, Berks, and +Oxfordshire it is more frequent than in either of the counties previously +mentioned, and in all it seems to be found chiefly in chalky localities. +The moth, which is on the wing in November {80} or sometimes in late +October, has rarely been taken when flying at night or resting by day. +Light has an attraction for the male, but apparently not for the female. + +Distributed through Central Europe, its range extends to Southern +Scandinavia, Northern Italy, Livonia, Bulgaria, S.E. Russia, and Japan. + +THE PALE PROMINENT (_Pterostoma palpina_). + +This blackish streaked, pale brownish grey moth has been known as the Pale +Prominent since 1775, when Moses Harris gave it this name. Beyond the black +scaled tooth-like projection the inner margin is notched. The antennæ of +the female are pectinated, but the teeth are shorter than those of the +male; and the blackish streak on the wings are usually less defined. Except +that some specimens are more strongly marked than others there is little to +note in the way of aberration. Mr. Harwood of Colchester has, however, +recorded an almost black variety, and this may be referable to the form +from Russian Lapland, known as var. _lapponica_, Teich. The moth is figured +on Plate 33, and the early stages on Plate 32. + +The caterpillar is bluish green, with white lines along the back and sides, +and a black edged yellow stripe along the spiracles; the stripe is marked +with reddish on the three rings nearest the head. It feeds chiefly on +poplar, but has been found on willow and sallow. Usually to be obtained +full grown early in July or late in June; in the south and south-east of +England, it is found also in September and October. The chrysalis is +purplish, or reddish, brown and rather shining. It may be found, in a +cocoon formed of silk mixed with particles of earth, among the roots of +grass, etc., at the foot of poplar or willow trees. Moths are on the wing +in May and June, and again in July and August. Coming to electric and gas +lamps, as well as entering lighted rooms, and illuminated moth traps, they +are often secured; otherwise they are rarely seen in a state of nature. The +species is most frequent, perhaps, in the southern countries, but seems to +occur throughout England; it becomes scarcer from the Midlands northwards +to Durham and Cumberland. It occurs in Southern Scotland, and has been +recorded from Moray. In Ireland it is widely distributed, but is not noted +as common in any locality. The range abroad extends through temperate +Europe into Asia Minor, and as far east as China and Japan. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 34. + 1, 1a, 1b, 1c. CHOCOLATE TIP: _egg, caterpillar, chrysalis and cocoon_. + 2, 2a, 2b. SMALL CHOCOLATE TIP: _caterpillar, chrysalis, cocoon and + larval retreat_. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 35. + 1, 2. CHOCOLATE-TIP MOTH. + 3. BUFF-TIP MOTH. + 4. SCARCE CHOCOLATE-TIP, _male_; 5 _female_. + 6. SMALL CHOCOLATE-TIP, _male_; 7 _female_. + +{81} + +THE BUFF-TIP (_Phalera bucephala_). + +[Illustration: FIG. 21. + +EGGS OF BUFF-TIP MOTH.] + +This species (Plate 35, Fig. 3) is easily recognized by its violet-grey +fore wings, and the more or less round, pale, ochreous blotch on the outer +third. The blotch is clouded, to a greater or lesser extent, with pale +brown, and the inner area of the wings is flecked with silvery grey; the +cross lines are edged with reddish brown. + +The rather downy caterpillar is yellow, with several interrupted blackish +lines, and of these the one along the middle of the back is the broadest +and blackest; head black. It feeds, during August and September, in +companies, until nearly full grown, and the foliage of almost any kind of +tree or bush appears to be suitable food, although that of elm, lime, and +hazel is often selected by the female moth when depositing her whitish +eggs, which {82} she lays in neatly arranged batches on the undersides of +the leaves. If undisturbed, a company of these caterpillars quickly clear a +fair-sized branch of all leafage. The chrysalis is purplish brown (the +early stages are shown on Plate 37). + +The moth flies in June and July, but is rarely seen in the daytime. The +wings in repose are closely folded down to the body and the insect has then +a very stick-like appearance, and may thus easily escape detection. + +Occurs throughout England and Wales, Ireland, and Scotland. It is most +common, and the caterpillar often abundant, in London and its suburbs, as +well as other southern parts of the country. Its range extends through +Europe to Northern Asia Minor, Armenia, and Siberia. + +THE CHOCOLATE-TIP (_Pygæra curtula_). + +Two examples of this moth are shown on Plate 35. Fig. 2 represents the +spring (April and May) form, and Fig. 1 the summer (July and August) form. +Sometimes there is a third brood, in September or October, and Barrett +describes the individuals of this as "pale drab, dusted with darker atoms, +and with the chocolate blotch paler towards the apex." Hybrids have been +obtained from a pairing between _curtula_ female and _anachoreta_ male, and +these were most like the female parent. The early stages are figured on +Plate 34, Figs. 1-1c. + +The verdigris-green eggs are laid in batches on the leaves of poplar and +aspen, upon which the caterpillars feed in May and June, and, as a second +brood, in August and September. In colour the caterpillar, which is rather +hairy, is grey, with a pinkish tinge, sprinkled with black, and with orange +spots on the sides; there is a raised black spot on the fourth ring, and +another on the eleventh; head blackish. The chrysalis is reddish-brown, +spun up in a packet of leaves. This species appears to be less common in +England than formerly. It is, {83} perhaps, more often observed in Kent and +Sussex than in the other counties it inhabits, which, according to Barrett, +are Berks, Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridge, in all of which it is local; +also, but more rarely, in Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, +Leicestershire, Yorkshire, and Cumberland, the latter county being its +northern limit. To the above may be added Hertfordshire and Middlesex. +Although caterpillars are reported to have been found in Ireland, the moth +has not been reared in that country. + +This species is distributed through Northern and Central Europe, extending +to South France, Corsica, North Italy, Bulgaria, Armenia, and Mongolia. + +THE SCARCE CHOCOLATE-TIP (_Pygæra anachoreta_). + +This moth is distinguished from that last referred to by the black spots in +and just below the blotch at the tip of the fore wings; the blotch itself +is dull reddish, merging outwardly into greyish, and is intersected by a +white line. There is some variation in the tint of the general colour, +ranging from dusky to reddish grey, but otherwise the species is constant +(Plate 35, Figs. 4, 5). + +The caterpillar, which feeds on poplar and sallow from May to August, or +even later, is rather hairy, dark grey or blackish in colour; there are +four ochreous or whitish lines on the back, and a row of black spots +followed by a series of orange ones on the sides; below the spiracles are +some yellowish markings; the raised spots on rings four and eleven are +reddish brown; the former has a white spot on each side, and the back of +the latter is edged with white; head black and rather glossy. Chrysalis +blackish in hue, spun up among leaves. The moths emerge in May, and again +in July; in confinement there is sometimes a third brood in September. +Except that two {84} specimens were reported as found in a street at Deal, +the moth does not seem to have been noticed at large. + +This species was known to Haworth, but, as a British insect, was +exceedingly rare until 1859, when Dr. Knaggs found some caterpillars upon +poplar in the neighbourhood of Folkestone. From the stock then obtained the +moths were reared in numbers for some time. Batches of eggs were also put +down in various localities, and the species seems to have flourished in +some of them for a while, but failed eventually to establish itself in any +of them. Then the species disappeared from the Folkestone locality, +although a caterpillar or two were found there in 1861, and on to 1912 in +other places on the Kentish coast. In 1893 eggs were obtained at St. +Leonard's, in Sussex, and thus originated a new stock. + +The species has a wide range in Central and Northern Europe, extending to +some of the southern parts; it also occurs in Siberia, Amurland, China, and +Japan. + +THE SMALL CHOCOLATE-TIP (_Pygæra pigra_). + +This species will be recognized by its smaller size and less distinct +chocolate blotch on the tips of the fore wings. The ground colour varies +from whitish grey to pale brownish grey; the pale cross lines are usually +well defined; the first is bordered with chocolate colour, and angled above +the middle; the third line runs from a white spot on the costa and through +the chocolate patch. The moth is shown on Plate 35, and the early stages on +Plate 34. + +Of the offspring resulting from eggs laid by a female _curtula_ that had +paired with a male _pigra_, and also those from a female _pigra_ crossed +with a male _curtula_, the hybrids in each case most nearly resembled the +female parent. + +The eggs are pale olive green tending to brownish, and all that I have seen +have been laid in irregular lines on leaves, or {85} on the sides of a chip +box. The caterpillar is greyish, with some short hairs and black dots; the +back is broadly marked with yellow, and there is a yellow stripe, with +black dots on it, low down on the sides; rings four and eleven have each a +raised black spot; head blackish. Feeds from June to September, on dwarf +sallow (_Salix repens_), and also on young plants of aspen. Like other +caterpillars of this genus, it hides by day in a packet of leaves spun +together. There are certainly two broods, if not more, in the year. The +moth emerges in May, and more irregularly in July or August, and October. +Except when attracted to a light, the moth is rarely seen, but in fens, +marshes, and boggy places generally, the caterpillars may often be obtained +in numbers almost throughout the United Kingdom. Its distribution abroad +embraces Northern and Central Europe, with extension into Northern Spain +and Italy; Bulgaria, South-east Russia, and Armenia. + +THYATIRIDÆ. + +The nine British species next to be considered belong to the old family +Cymatophoridæ, but as the name _Cymatophora_, as indicated by Hübner in the +"Tentamen" (1816), is now generically used by authors for some species of +Geometridæ; and as Hübner's _Verzeichniss_ generic names will have to be +used for the species previously included in _Cymatophora_, Tr., the term +Thyatiridæ has here been adopted for this family--the Polyplocidæ of +Meyrick and others. + +THE BUFF ARCHES (_Habrosyne derasa_). + +This pretty species (Plate 36, Figs. 1, 2) is well distributed over the +greater part of England and not at all uncommon in the more sylvan +districts of the southern counties. It occurs in Wales but has only once +been recorded from Scotland. In {86} Ireland it is found in almost every +well-wooded locality, but is not generally common. The moth hides among the +foliage of the bramble and also creeps under the withered leaves on the +ground. It comes freely to sugar, and is often the earliest to attend the +banquet, but is rather skittish at first and should be given time to settle +down. + +The fore wings are pale olive grey with two whitish streaks across them, +the first oblique approaching the second towards the inner margin; the +space between the streaks is clouded with brownish buff and there is a +whitish cloud on the costal area, and some strongly waved cross lines +before the second streak. + +The caterpillar, which is rusty brown, with a blackish central line on the +back, a black edged yellowish spot on ring four, a smaller one on ring +five, and sometimes a tiny one on ring seven, feeds in August and +September, sometimes later, on bramble, and is said to eat hawthorn and +hazel. It hides during the day and comes up to feed at night. The +chrysalis, which is enclosed in an earthen cocoon below the surface of the +ground, or sometimes among moss, is purplish black with the ring divisions +reddish; the anal spike is furnished with hooks. As a rule the moth does +not emerge until June or July following the year of pupation, but it has +been found on the wing in September and October. + +Distributed over Central Europe, extending into Southern France, and +Northern Italy, Southern Sweden and Livonia, and eastward to the Himalayas, +Corea, and Japan. + +THE PEACH-BLOSSOM (_Thyatira batis_). + +The olive brown fore wings of this moth are adorned with five pink-tinged +whitish spots, and clouded with brown; the pink tinge varies in amount and +in brightness, and sometimes gives place to pale ochreous. The moth is +figured on Plate 36, and the early stages on Plate 37. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 36. + 1. BUFF ARCHES MOTH, _male_; 2 _female_. + 3. PEACH-BLOSSOM MOTH, _male_; 4 _female_. + 5. FIGURE OF EIGHTY, _male_; 6. _female_. + 7. POPLAR LUTESTRING, _male_; 8 _female_. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 37. + 1, 1a. BUFF-TIP: _eggs and caterpillar_. + 2, 2a, 2b. PEACH-BLOSSOM: _eggs, caterpillar and chrysalis_. + +{87} + +The fluted greenish-white eggs are laid upon the edges of bramble-leaves. + +The caterpillar is pale reddish brown shaded with darker and freckled with +whitish (in the young stage the second and third rings are whitish above); +a slender dark brown line along the middle of the back, and a broader one +along the sides, the latter not distinct on the first three rings; the two +rings nearest the head each have a divided ridge, the second being the +larger; there are also similar ridges on the fifth to ninth rings, and the +back of ring eleven is slightly raised; a series of pale triangular marks +on the back. It feeds on bramble in July, and may be found from that month +until September. + +In confinement it will thrive on raspberry or the cultivated kinds of +blackberry. From some thirty eggs I had in June this year (1907) the +caterpillars hatched on the 27th; several of these fed up rapidly and one +or two had spun up for pupation, among the leaves, in July (about 24th), +whilst others remained quite small, and a few were in the last skin but +one. Early in August the larger caterpillars just referred to pupated, and +the smaller ones began to feed up, and by the end of the month they had +attained to full growth, although they did not spin cocoons until the +second week in September. + +From July chrysalids moths will often emerge in August or September of the +same year, but none have appeared from those under observation. The +chrysalis is pale brown mottled with dark purplish or reddish brown, wing +cases reddish. The species frequents woods or wooded localities, and is +generally distributed throughout England and Wales, but commoner in some +parts than others. Rather local in Scotland but not uncommon in Perthshire. +Sometimes very abundant in Ireland, occurring in similar localities to the +preceding species. It is found over the greater part of Northern and +Central Europe, and as far east as Amurland and Japan. {88} + +THE FIGURE OF EIGHTY (_Palimpsestis octogessima_). + +This moth (Plate 36, Figs. 5, 6) may be distinguished by two whitish marks +on the fore wings which have some resemblance to the numerals 80, hence the +common name. These are really the white outlines of the reniform and +orbicular stigmata, each of which has the central part filled in with +black; sometimes the lower portion of the 8 is obscure, but in a general +way the character is not difficult to make out. + +The caterpillar is yellowish tinged with greyish on the back; a greyish +plate on the back of the ring nearest the black marked orange head; three +black spots on each side of the first ring, two such spots on ring two, and +one on each side of rings three to eleven; the back of the last ring has a +greyish plate. It feeds in July and August, earlier or later in accordance +with season, on poplar. During the day it hides between united leaves, or +in a curled up withered leaf, upon the tree. The shining black chrysalis +with somewhat reddish ring divisions is enclosed in a rather loosely +constructed cocoon spun up between leaves, or among moss etc., at the base +of poplar trees. The moth emerges in May or June. It is partial to sugar, +and is said to prefer its sweets served up on poplar trunks. Probably it is +most often and regularly obtained in the Eastern Counties, but it is +locally not uncommon in Worcestershire and Herefordshire; also found in +Gloucestershire, Somerset, Hertfordshire, Middlesex, Surrey, and, I +believe, Sussex. The range abroad is similar to that of _T. batis_. + +THE POPLAR LUTESTRING (_Palimpsestis or_). + +May be recognized in the typical form by the four-lined bands, +"lutestrings," on the greyish, sometimes pink-tinged fore wings; the +reniform and orbicular marks are often present although the first is +generally obscure, and they never assume the similarity {89} to figures +noted in the last species (Plate 36, Figs. 7, 8). In Scotland the moths +have a paler ground colour generally, var. _scotica_, Tutt; one from +Ireland with ground colour pearly white and broad black "lutestrings" has +been named var. _gaelica_, Kane. Hybrids from a cross pairing of this +species with the last have been obtained by Mr. W. H. B. Fletcher. These +specimens have the "lutestrings" of _or_, and the "figure of 80" +characteristic of _octogessima_. Caterpillar yellowish green with a dark +line along the middle of the back, and two black spots on the front edge of +the ring next the yellowish brown head. It feeds on poplar, and hides +between united leaves in the daytime; may be found from July to September +or even later. Chrysalis, reddish brown, the surface minutely pitted, and +spike pointed, and thickened at the base; in a brownish cocoon spun up +between leaves. The moth emerges in June or July, and it comes freely to +sugar, but like other members of this family is not always easy to box. It +seems to occur in most places where poplar trees are well established; +widely distributed over England, and found throughout Scotland even to the +Shetland Isles. In Ireland it seems to be local and rare. Distribution +abroad much as in the last species. + +THE LESSER SATIN MOTH (_Palimpsestis duplaris_). + +Figs. 1, 2, on Plate 39, represent the typical southern form of this +species. The fore wings are pale greyish with a whitish edged, broad, dark +central band; two black dots on the outer edge of the band distinguish this +species from the next. In Scotland and in Northern England the general +colour is blackish or purplish grey (Fig. 3), and sometimes specimens more +or less suffused with the darker colour are found in the southern half of +England. Quite the darkest, almost black, form seems to occur in Cannock +Chase, Staffordshire, and in Delamere Forest, Cheshire. The caterpillar is +greenish; central area of the back {90} green, margined on each side by an +olive green, or brighter green, stripe; some black dots along the sides; +head reddish brown marked with black. Feeds on birch, and may be found from +August to October. It spins the leaves together for a shelter during the +daytime, and comes out to feed at night, when it may be obtained by beating +the boughs. Other food plants mentioned are alder, oak, and hazel. The pupa +is of a dull reddish colour, in a slight cocoon between leaves. + +Widely distributed throughout England and common in most woodlands, +especially in the south and east; it ranges through Scotland to the +Shetlands. In Ireland, where the moth has the ground colour silvery grey +(var. _argentea_, Tutt), it has been obtained in many localities, from +Donegal and Tyrone to Kerry and Cork. + +THE SATIN CARPET (_Palimpsestis fluctuosa_). + +In colour and general pattern this species (Plate 39, Fig. 4) is very +similar to the last in its typical form. The points of distinction are, the +slightly larger size, whiter ground colour, and the absence of the two +black dots from the edge of the band. In August and September the +caterpillar feeds, at night, on birch, and by day conceals itself between +leaves. It is reddish or violet grey above, and pale ochreous-white +beneath; the lines down the centre of the back and along the sides are +darker; on the first ring there is a greenish-tinged yellow plate, and from +this to the eleventh ring there are two series of black dots along the +back. Head yellow-brown, blackened above; a black circle on each cheek. +Chrysalis reddish-brown, in a cocoon among leaves either on the tree or on +the ground. The moth emerges in June, and is distinctly local. Sometimes it +may be disturbed from its resting place among the foliage; it becomes +active on the wing at dusk for a short time; sugar does not seem to possess +any great attraction for it, anyway it does not attend the feast prepared +for Noctuæ so frequently as other members of this family. It is known to +occur, chiefly in woods, in Kent, Surrey, Sussex, and Hampshire in the +south; Essex and Suffolk in the east; also in Worcestershire (Wyre Forest), +and Herefordshire; in the Barnsley and Sheffield districts of Yorkshire; +and it has been reported from Cumberland. In Ireland it is rare and only +recorded from Killarney, Kerry, and Sligo. Abroad it occurs in Central +Europe, the range extending to Southern Scandinavia, and to South-east +Russia. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 38. + 1. FROSTED GREEN: _caterpillar_. + 2, 2a, 2b, 2c. YELLOW HORNED: _egg, caterpillar, chrysalis and cocoon_. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 39. + 1. LESSER SATIN MOTH, _male_; 2 _female_; 3 _northern var_. + 4. SATIN CARPET MOTH. + 5. LESSER LUTESTRING, _male_; 6 _female_. + 7, 8. YELLOW-HORNED MOTH. + 9. FROSTED GREEN MOTH, _male_; 10 _female_. + +{91} THE LESSER LUTESTRING (_Asphalia diluta_). + +The fore wings are whitish or greyish, and sometimes tinged with brown; +crossed by two brownish bands. Variation is chiefly in the tint of the +bands and also in their width and definition. In var. _nubilata_, which +occurs in Yorkshire, the general colour of the fore wings is darker than +normal, and there is a basal patch and three cross-bands of reddish or +purplish brown (Plate 39, Figs. 5, 6). + +Caterpillar, yellowish above and greyish beneath; a dusky line along the +middle of the back, and one, dotted with black, low down on the sides; head +dark brown, almost blackish. It feeds in May and June on oak, but only at +night; it constructs a leafy chamber in which it sits tight during the day, +and is not easily evicted unless its apartment is forcibly opened. The +reddish chrysalis is enclosed in a flimsy cocoon between, or among, leaves. +Although September is the month during which the moth usually emerges, it +is sometimes seen earlier. It is so partial to sugar, that it may often be +seen at an old patch before the new feast has been set out for the evening +entertainment. The species is fairly well distributed throughout England +and Wales, and most common in the south of the former country. It extends +into Southern Scotland, but {92} apparently does not occur in Ireland. +Abroad it is found in Central Europe, Belgium, North Germany, North Italy, +and North-east Asia Minor. + +THE YELLOW HORNED (_Polyploca flavicornis_). + +In the South of England this species is greenish grey, sometimes speckled +or dusted with darker grey; the reniform and orbicular marks are generally +clear and distinct, but in some examples they are united and form a whitish +blotch outlined in blackish; the cross lines are usually well defined, but +in the dark grey dusted form are very obscure. Specimens from Scotland are +generally larger, there is less green, if any, in the ground colour, and +the markings are often more pronounced and brighter. This form is the var. +_scotica_, Tutt, and may be more or less identical with the var. +_finmarchia_, Schöyen, from Norway and Lapland (Fig. 7, Plate 39, shows the +English form, and Fig. 8 the Scotch form). + +The caterpillar is greenish, light olive green, or dark olive green above, +and yellowish beneath; a line along the middle of the back is paler, and on +each side there is a row of black spots and finely black-edged white dots; +a line above the brownish outlined spiracles is yellowish: the head is +yellow brown with blackish jaws and black mark on each cheek. It feeds in +June and July on birch, preferring the foliage of bushes. During the +daytime it resides in a leaf neatly folded in half; when quite young, the +caterpillar then being blackish, a small leaf or just the turned-over edge +of a large one answers its purpose. The chrysalis is reddish, enclosed in a +flimsy cocoon among leaves, moss, or roots of grass, etc., sometimes just +under the surface of the soil. The early stages are figured on Plate 38, +Figs. 2-2c. The moth emerges in March or April of the year following +pupation, as a rule, but it may remain in the chrysalis for two winters. It +is often obtained in birch woods, or wherever there {93} is a good growth +of birch, by jarring the twigs and branches of birch upon which it rests +during the day, or it may be found by searching the low bushes and +underwood. Soon after dusk it is on the wing, and will then visit sugar and +sallow bloom. + +Generally distributed throughout Great Britain. In Ireland it appears to be +very rare. Its range abroad, in the typical form, extends over Northern and +Central Europe to North Italy and to South-east Russia. + +THE FROSTED GREEN (_Polyploca ridens_). + +This moth (Plate 39, Figs. 9, 10) is also on the wing early in the year, +but although it is sometimes found on tree trunks in April or perhaps as +late as the first week in May, it seems to be rarely obtained otherwise in +the perfect state. It does not "come to sugar" often, if at all, and so far +as is known, does not visit any of the usual natural attractions. + +The ground colour of the fore wings varies from whitish to green, but in +some specimens the general hue is olive or blackish green, and the markings +then appear to be wavy whitish lines crossing the wings, one near the base, +and the other before the outer margin. + +The caterpillar (Plate 38, Fig. 1) is yellow above and rather greenish +beneath; a greenish grey double stripe along the back is interrupted at the +ring divisions; there are also white dots with black or blackish edges on +the back and the sides; a yellow line along the spiracle area is shaded +above and below with greenish grey; the head, which is notched on the +crown, is yellowish, with a black mark on each cheek. It feeds, at night, +on oak, from May to July; hiding by day on the underside of a leaf, a +portion of which is folded over and secured with silk, to form a suitable +retreat. These caterpillars respond more readily to the persuasive +beating-stick than others of the group. + +The species affects woodland localities in most of the southern {94} +counties of England, and it is also found in South Wales. Its range extends +into the Eastern Counties and through the Midlands northward to Cumberland. +It does not seem to have been noted from Scotland or Ireland. Abroad it is +distributed over Central Europe and northward to Denmark and Livonia, and +southward to South France and Andalusia. + +TUSSOCK-MOTHS (_Lymantriidæ_). + +About seventy-two species, referred to this family, are known to occur in +various parts of the Palæarctic region; ten of these are found in our +islands. The Black V-moth (_Leucoma v-nigrum_ or _Arctornis l-album_) has +been reported as British, but if the few examples that have been recorded +were natives, the species has long since disappeared from this country. + +Some of the caterpillars, as, for example, those of the Brown and +Yellow-tails, are not altogether pleasant to handle, as the hairs with +which they are covered have a disagreeable trick of transferring themselves +to our hands, whence they find their way to our face, and when there are +apt to set up most unpleasant irritation and swelling of the parts +affected. These urticating hairs are more troublesome when received from +the caterpillar or cocoon, but those from the moth itself communicate a +very respectable simulation of the skin trouble known to the doctor as +Urticaria. + +THE SCARCE VAPOURER (_Orgyia gonostigma_). + +The male of this species, and also of the next, flies in the sunshine, but +the female of each is wingless, or nearly so, and has to remain at home on +the cocoon from which she emerged. Here she lays a large number of eggs, +from four to five hundred, upon the exterior. The eggs of this species are +whitish and rather glossy when first laid; the top is sunken. Apart from +{95} the deeper brown colour of the fore wings and the blacker hind wings, +the male of this species has a white mark near the tip of each fore wing, +and this character will distinguish it from the same sex of the Common +Vapourer. + +The caterpillar is blackish with star-like tufts of hair, white on the back +and greyish on the sides; on rings four to seven are brushes of brown +hairs; a pencil of black hair on side of the first ring pointing forward, +and a thicker one on the back of ring eleven directed backward; the +interrupted stripes along the back and sides are reddish orange, +approaching vermilion; those along the back are united in front of the +pencil on ring eleven, and those of the sides unite behind the pencil. Head +glossy, black. The foliage of sallow, willow, and oak, is perhaps the more +usual food, but it has been known to eat beech, elm, hawthorn, sloe, and +nut, and has been found on meadow-sweet. The chrysalis is brown, inclining +to yellowish between the rings, and the back is hairy; enclosed in a cocoon +spun up among leaves or in any suitable cranny. The male and female moths +are figured on Plate 40 (Fig. 3, 5), and the caterpillar and chrysalis on +Plate 41. + +The moths emerge in June, and from their eggs caterpillars result in July. +These, feeding up quickly, attain the perfect state in late July or early +August. Caterpillars from this second generation usually go into +hibernation when quite small, and feed up in the following April and May; +in confinement they may, however, get through their metamorphosis and reach +the moth state in September or October. Sometimes it happens that a part of +the summer brood of caterpillars will feed up straight away and produce +moths in August; others, feeding and growing more slowly, assume the winged +state in November; whilst a third portion will remain small and go into +hibernation. + +This very local species used to be obtained in the Wimbledon district, but +it has not been seen there for some years past. {96} Other localities for +it are the Norfolk and Cambridge fens, Bewdley Forest in Shropshire, and +Wyre Forest, Worcestershire; it is also found in some parts of Devonshire, +Suffolk, Essex, and Yorks. Its range abroad extends through Northern and +Central Europe, southward to North Spain, Piedmont, and Corsica, and +eastward to Amurland, Corea, and Japan. + +THE VAPOURER (_Orgyia antiqua_). + +The male has the wings rather more ample than the same sex of the last +species, the colour is a more ochreous red and there is a large white spot +at the lower angle of the fore wings, but no white mark at the tips of +these wings. Specimens from the north of England are rather darker than +southern examples. In the course of temperature experiments it has been +noted that the colour of the moth is darkened if the chrysalids are put in +a refrigerator for a few weeks, and then brought into a mean temperature of +40° Fahr. In the female the appendages representing wings are somewhat +larger than those of the female of the Scarce Vapourer, but are quite +useless as organs of flight (Plate 40, Figs. 4, 6). + +In general colour the caterpillar is violet or smoky grey; the markings on +the back comprise a creamy, red-dotted line along the middle area, this is +edged with black, and on each side of it is a series of raised red spots; +the broken line along the sides is yellowish, and the four brushes of hair +on the back are yellow, sometimes merging into brown above; the pencils of +longer hairs are blackish on the ring nearest the head, and dark grey or +brownish on the last ring. It may be found through the summer on the leaves +of most trees and bushes. Chrysalis blackish, glossy, and rather hairy. The +cocoons are spun up in the crevices of bark on tree trunks, or in the fork +of a twig, under the eaves of an out-house or shed, on palings and fences, +etc. The hairs of the caterpillar are mixed with the silk of the cocoon; +the female lays her pale brownish eggs, which are minutely pitted and have +a darker ring below the sunken top, on the outside of the cocoon, and there +they remain through the winter. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 40. + 1. DARK TUSSOCK MOTH, _male_; 2 _female_. + 3. SCARCE VAPOURER, _male_; 5 _female_. + 4. VAPOURER, _male_; 6 _female_. + 7. PALE TUSSOCK, _male_; 8 _female_. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 41. + 1, 1a. SCARCE VAPOURER: _caterpillar and cocoon_. + 2, 2a. COMMON VAPOURER: _egg-batch on cocoon and enlarged egg_. + 3, 3a, 3b, 3c. PALE TUSSOCK: _egg, caterpillar, chrysalis and cocoon_. + 4. DARK TUSSOCK: _caterpillar_. + +{97} Generally distributed throughout the United Kingdom, but not so common +in Ireland as in England and Scotland. It is quite a Cockney insect, and is +found in almost every part of the Metropolis where there are a few trees. +Occurs practically over the whole of Europe, and in North-east Asia Minor, +Armenia, Siberia, Amurland, and North America. + +THE DARK TUSSOCK (_Dasychira fascelina_). + +The figures of the sexes of this species on Plate 40 represent the dark +grey form. Sometimes the forewings are whitish grey and occasionally slaty +grey; the cross lines may be stronger or fainter, and in some specimens are +nearly absent; the yellowish colour usually seen on the cross lines may be +missing, or, on the other hand, other parts of the wings may be stippled +with yellowish. Laying her eggs in batches, the female carefully covers +them with dark brown hairs from the tuft at the end of her body. + +The caterpillar (Plate 41, Fig. 4) is blackish, with star-like tufts of +hairs, yellow, mixed with longer blackish ones towards the head and tail, +brownish grey on the middle portion; a brush of black hairs on rings four, +five, and eleven, and of white hairs on six, seven, and eight. Head black. +When full grown (Plate 42, Fig. 3) the hairs of the body are greyish, and +those of the brushes on the back are black flanked with white. When +disturbed it rolls in a ring. It feeds on hawthorn, and various species of +_Salix_, also on broom and ling. It hibernates when still small, in a +silken cocoon-like envelope which it spins in the fork of a branch, or +among the twigs of a bush; growth is completed in April or May, and the +winged state attained in {98} June or July. Sometimes the young +caterpillars have been found in their winter quarters about the middle of +July, and this would seem to imply that they occasionally lie dormant for +two winters; at least this would appear to be so in Scotland whence such +individuals have been recorded, with the additional information that they +did not eat through the summer and that one was still alive in the +following March. The chrysalis is glossy black, and hairy (Plate 42, Fig. +3a). + +This is chiefly a northern insect, occurring most commonly on the Cheshire, +Lancashire, and Cumberland coast. It is more generally distributed in +Scotland and is often abundant on the moorlands. In Ireland three +caterpillars were found by Mr. Kane in the Bog of Allen, and the species +has also been recorded from Tullamore and Mullingar. Distribution: Northern +and Central Europe, extending to the Altai. + +THE PALE TUSSOCK (_Dasychira pudibunda_). + +This moth is much commoner and more widely distributed in England than that +last mentioned. The central area of the greyish white fore wings is subject +to variation in width and also in tint; this latter may be darker or +lighter than the example shown on Plate 40, and the cross lines are in some +specimens black and very distinct. The colour of the female ranges from +pale greyish white through various tones of grey, and the bands on the hind +wings may be as well defined as in the male. Black males of the species +have been recorded. + +The hairy caterpillar is green or yellow, the former mottled with whitish +and the latter with greenish; on rings 4 to 7 are thick brushes of yellow +hairs, and on ring 11 there is a tuft of reddish hair; the back is marked +with black between the brushes, and there are black spots on the sides of +the hind rings. Sometimes the caterpillar is light or dark brownish and the +brushes are then greyish, or tinged with pale reddish or blackish. +Altogether it is a pretty creature, and as it is, or was previous to the +modern "washing," common in hop gardens at picking time, it was christened +the "hop dog." It may be found from July to September on the foliage of +birch, hazel, oak, and many other trees, as well as on hop. The moth +appears in May and June, and rests by day on herbage, especially on bracken +in woods (see Fig. 6, p. 7); at night it comes readily to light, but +specimens so obtained are generally of the female sex. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 42. + 1, 1a. YELLOW-TAIL: _caterpillars_. + 2. BROWN-TAIL: _caterpillar_. + 3, 3a. DARK TUSSOCK: _caterpillar and chrysalis_. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 43. + 1. BROWN-TAIL MOTH, _male_; 2 _female_. + 3. YELLOW-TAIL MOTH, _female_; 4, 5 _males_. + 6. WHITE SATIN MOTH, _female_. + +{99} It is most at home in the southern portion, but occurs throughout +England and Wales, to Cumberland. Only doubtfully recorded from Scotland, +but in Ireland it has occurred in Galway, Kerry, Waterford, Cork, and +Wicklow. + +Distribution: Central and Northern Europe eastward to North-east China and +Japan. + +THE BROWN-TAIL (_Euproctis chrysorrhoea_). + +Although sometimes found in the East and West of England, and even in +Yorkshire and Durham, this appears to be essentially a coast species in +Britain, and confined at that to Kent and Sussex, the former especially. +Even in these favoured localities where it is usually abundant, it is, +however, not always in evidence. The moths sit about at the end of July and +early August on leaves of hawthorn, sloe, sea-buckthorn (_Hippophaë +rhamnoides_), and wild rose, generally on the underside. Near the females +will be found batches of eggs, which are covered with "fur" from the anal +tuft of the female. The caterpillars hatch out in August, and while still +very small go into hibernation in a common nest. In the spring, when active +again, they construct a new habitation, and another or perhaps two more +before they are full grown, about June. The chrysalis is very dark, almost +blackish-brown, with tufts of hair, and the fairly substantial brownish +cocoon in which it is enclosed {100} is composed of silk and caterpillar +hairs, and is spun up on the food-plant, often singly, but not +infrequently, several are made up in a common silken covering. + +The caterpillar is blackish with brownish warts, each bearing a tuft of +brownish hairs; a row of tufts of white downy scales on each side of the +back of rings four to eleven; the central line on the back is black, edged +on each side by a red line of variable width from rings six to ten; a +vermillion round spot on nine and ten. Head blackish. + +The moth is shown on Plates 43, 45, and the caterpillar on Plate 42, Fig. +1. + +Distribution, Central and South Europe to North-west Africa and Asia Minor. + +In 1897 an appeal was made to British entomologists to refrain from taking +many specimens of this species; while American entomologists were seeking +power to compel local authorities to suppress the Brown-tail, which about +that time was a new, and no doubt introduced, insect pest in the State of +Massachusetts. + +THE YELLOW-TAIL (_Porthesia similis_). + +The male has usually only one black mark on the fore wings, but sometimes +there are two, as seen in Fig. 5, Plate 43; more rarely there is a dot or +two towards the tips of the wings. The habit of the moth is to sit upon the +foliage of bushes and the branches of trees, where it might easily be +passed over for a fluffy white feather; occasionally it may be found on +palings or even iron railings. About dark it is on the wing, and light has +then a great attraction for it. The caterpillar is black with black and +grey hairs; a vermillion stripe down the middle of the back has a black +central line, and is expanded on rings four, eleven, and twelve; along each +side there are tufts of snowy white fluffy scales; the back of rings four, +{101} five, and eleven is velvety black and slightly raised, especially on +ring four. Head black and glossy. + +The caterpillars hatch from the eggs, which are laid in batches, in August, +hibernate, each in a silken case, and recommence feeding in the spring +(Plate 42, Figs. 1, 1a). In May, when nearly full grown, they separate and +are then common objects on hawthorn hedges in many districts. They also +feed on the foliage of oak, beech, birch, sallow, rose, apple, pear, and +other fruit trees. Sometimes a nearly fully mature caterpillar has been +found in August, this has pupated and produced a moth the same year. The +chrysalis is rather hairy and of a brownish colour; the cocoon is similar +to that of the last species. In late June and through July the moth is +generally common throughout the Southern part of England, and as far +northwards as Lancashire and Yorkshire. It has been very rarely seen in +Scotland, and not at all in Ireland. + +Distribution, Central and South-eastern Europe, extending to Amurland, +China, Corea, and Japan. + +THE REED TUSSOCK (_Lælia coenosa_). + +This insect (Plate 45) was formerly abundant in some parts of fenland, and +was first met with, as a British species, at Whittlesea Mere about 1819 or +1820. It was subsequently found in Yaxley and Burwell fens. Up to 1860 it +continued to occur freely in all stages, but by 1865 larvæ at a shilling +per dozen, the price at which they had been sold by the reed cutters, were +no longer obtainable, and they became so scarce that in the year 1871 or +thereabouts, only two caterpillars were seen. The species was at that time +seemingly on the decline, but a year or two later a good many males were +attracted by the rays of a powerful lamp that had been set up at Wicken. +Then the moths became fewer and fewer {102} until at last, somewhere about +1880, even the lamps would not draw a single specimen, and soon it appeared +probable that the last of the Reed Tussock had been seen in the fens, its +only known habitat in Britain. + +Caterpillar, dusky with a blackish stripe along the middle of the back; the +raised dots are ochreous grey with pale yellowish brown hairs arising from +them; there are four brushes of yellow hairs on the back, bunches of long +hairs on the first ring extended over the brownish head, and a pencil of +similar hairs on ring eleven directed backward. The food plants given are +bur-reed (_Sparganium_), Stephens; _Cladium mariscus_, Barrett, and reed +(_Phragmites communis_). Stephens states that the caterpillar and the moth +were found at the end of July and beginning of August, but other +authorities give August to June for the caterpillar, and July for the moth. +The caterpillar described above, and of which a figure is given on Plate +44, was obtained, together with eggs and cocoon, from Dr. Staudinger and +Bang Haas, of Dresden. All are preserved examples. + +Abroad this species is found in Northern Germany and France, Hungary, +Bulgaria, Amurland, China, Corea, and Japan. + +THE WHITE SATIN MOTH (_Stilpnotia salicis_). + +The English name of this species dates back to about 1773, and is a very +suitable one for it, the fore wings being especially glossy and satin-like. +It seems to be less generally distributed over the country than formerly, +but it is still common in most years, and in many places; more particularly +in the south of England, and on the Lancashire coast. Even yet it occurs in +the suburbs of London, and on the southern side is sometimes not uncommon. +In Scotland it appears to be rare; Barrett mentions it from Aberdeen, +Pitcaple, Inverurie, Peterhead, and Ayrshire. Kane states that in Ireland +the species, so far as he knew, only occurred in a locality near Ahascragh. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 44. + 1, 1a, 1b. REED TUSSOCK: _egg, caterpillar and cocoon_. + 2, 2a. WHITE SATIN: _caterpillar and chrysalis_. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 45. + 1. REED TUSSOCK MOTH, _male_; 2 _female_. + 3, 4. BROWN-TAIL _varieties_. + +{103} + +The caterpillar, which is hairy and variegated with reddish and black and +white, may be recognised by the large bright white marks on the back. It is +often seen in the daytime on the boles or branches of poplars, as well as +on the foliage. It frequently falls a victim to the parasitical flies, and +it is probably due to these enemies that the species is less common in some +years than in others. Besides poplar, it will feed upon sallow and willow. +Hibernating when quite tiny, it reappears in April, and, feeding up, is +ready to enter the chrysalis state in June or July, when it spins a flimsy +silken cocoon among the leaves, or in some suitable cranny on the tree or +bush. The moth is shown on Plate 43, Fig. 6, and the caterpillar and +chrysalis on Plate 44, Fig. 2, 2a. + +The moth emerges in July or August, and may be found resting on or under +the leaves, and on stems and branches of the trees upon which the +caterpillar fed, or on palings, etc., adjacent thereto. + +Distribution, Northern and Central Europe, Iberia, Corsica, Italy, Balkan +Peninsula, South-east Russia, North-east Asia Minor, and Armenia. In the +Far East, including China, Corea, and Japan, it is represented by the var. +_candida_, Staud. + +THE GIPSY (_Lymantria dispar_). + +Up to some sixty-five years ago, this species (Plate 46, Figs. 1 [male], 2 +[female]) seems to have flourished in a wild state in the fens of Norfolk +and Cambridgeshire, and also in Huntingdonshire. Just how long it had been +common in those localities history does not inform us, but about 1792 +Donovan was unable to obtain a native specimen to figure. Stephens, +however, writing in 1828 states that at that time it abounded in the +Huntingdonshire fens. "It is said," he remarks "to have been introduced +into Britain by eggs imported by Mr. Collinson, but the abundance with +which it occurs near {104} Whittlesea, and the dissimilarity of the +indigenous specimens (which are invariably paler, with stronger markings) +to the foreigner, sufficiently refute that opinion." There appears to be no +doubt that some time near 1840 the Gipsy moth began to decrease in numbers, +and that about 1850 it had almost or quite ceased to exist, as a wildling, +in England. At the present time, and probably since the date last +mentioned, the species has been semi-domesticated, and so reared year by +year, at first possibly direct from the original wild stock, but afterwards +from fresh stock derived from eggs of foreign origin. Futile attempts have +been made to re-establish the species in various parts of England, and also +in Ireland. Such failure is curious, seeing that in America the accidental +introduction of a few moths has resulted in the species becoming so +numerous that at least one state has been expending thousands of dollars in +endeavouring to destroy it. The eggs are laid in batches and covered with +the down-like scales from the anal tuft of the female. + +The caterpillar hatches in April, and in warm weather feeds up pretty +quickly. It is grey, covered with black dots and fine marks; the hairs +arising in spreading tufts from the raised warts, are longer on the sides +than on the back; these warts on the back on each side of the pale central +line are bluish on rings one to five, and reddish thence to eleven. Head, +pale brown marked with black. Feeds on the foliage of most fruit trees, +also on oak, elm, sallow, hawthorn, and sloe. + +Chrysalis rather hairy, brownish in colour, in a fairly strong silken +cocoon, which is spun up in any suitable angle. + +The moths appear in August, and there is a striking difference in the size +and coloration of the sexes. The male is pale or greyish brown, lined and +clouded with darker brown on the fore wings, and the female is whitish with +brownish cross lines, and a black central V-mark on the fore wings. + +Distributed over the whole of the Palæarctic Region, except {105} the most +northern, and, as adverted to, it has now become a pest in parts of North +America. + +THE BLACK ARCHES (_Lymantria monacha_). + +Two examples of each sex of this moth are figured on Plate 46, and these +show the normal form of the species; the central markings of the fore wings +vary in width and intensity, and in some specimens the whole of the central +area is more or less filled up with black or sooty black. Sometimes the +wings are partially suffused with blackish, and the normal markings are +consequently somewhat obscured. Examples wholly suffused with black are +referable to var. _eremita_, a form not uncommon on the continent, and +modifications of it are found in a wild state in this country. By selecting +parents showing a tendency to vary in the direction of this dark form, it +has been found possible to obtain a good percentage of darkened specimens, +some of them closely approximating to var. _eremita_. + +The early stages are figured on Plate 47. + +The eggs of this species are laid in August in the chinks of bark on tree +trunks, and do not hatch until the spring. + +Caterpillar, whitish varying to greyish, a deep brown stripe along the +middle of the back with an irregular black line on each side of it; the +stripe is interrupted by a whitish or greyish patch on rings seven to nine; +on ring two there is a black mark, and occasionally red dots appear on +eight and nine; black dots on the back and sides are furnished with hairs. +Head, brownish marked with a paler tint. It feeds from April to July on the +leaves of oak and various other trees, including apple and pine. + +The chrysalis, which is enclosed in a somewhat transparent silken cocoon +spun up in a fissure of the bark, is brownish, hairy, and has a very glossy +metallic appearance. + +The moth emerges at the end of July and in August. It flies {106} at night, +and may be seen resting by day on the trunks of trees. Although it occurs +in most of the counties of England from Yorkshire southwards, and in some +parts of Wales, it is nowhere so often met with as in the New Forest, +Hants. + +Distribution, Central Europe extending to parts of Northern Europe, and +southwards to North Italy and Greece, and eastwards to Ussuri and Japan. + +LACKEYS AND EGGARS (_Lasiocampidæ_). + +Staudinger in his catalogue of Palæarctic Lepidoptera refers twenty genera +comprising sixty-three species to this family. Of these, eleven species +belonging to ten genera occur in the British Isles. According to some +authorities a twelfth species, _Dendrolimus pini_, Linn., should be +included. This is the _Eutricha pini_ of Stephens (1828) and the "Wild Pine +tree Lappet moth" and "Pine tree Lappet" of the more ancient authors. The +claim of this species to a place in the British list rests chiefly on a +specimen captured in the Norwich Hospital, in July, 1809, by Mr. Sparshall. +Wilkes (1773) states that he once found a caterpillar near Richmond Park, +but the moth was not reared. For generations the species now classified as +Lasiocampidæ have been referred to Bombycidæ, but the silkworm (_Bombyx +mori_) is typical of that family, which has but few genera in it, and none +of them occur in Europe. Although some of the moths are of considerable +size, most of them are not large. The general colour is some shade of +brown. Both sexes have the antennæ bipectinated, but more strongly in the +male than the female. + +In his treatment of the species here included under Lasiocampidæ, Tutt. ("A +Natural History of the British Lepidoptera," vols. i., ii.) separates them +into two families, Lachneidæ and Eutrichidæ. The first family is divided +into five sub-families and the same number of tribes. The latter family has +three sub-families and three tribes. The whole are embraced in a +super-family styled Lachneides. Lasiocampidæ disappears as a family name, +but the genus _Lasiocampa_ is retained for _quercus_, L., whilst +_trifolii_, Schiff., is referred to the genus _Pachygastria_, Hb., and +these with _Aurivillia_, Tutt, not represented in Britain, constitute the +Pachygastriidi tribe of the Pachygastriinæ, a sub-family of Lachneidæ. All +this will no doubt appear very complicated to the beginner, but he need not +worry himself very greatly about the matter at present. When he feels that +he has a fair knowledge of the species in the group he will be in a +position to grapple with the niceties of classification. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 46. + 1. GIPSY MOTH, _male_; 2 _female_. + 3, 4. BLACK ARCHES, _males_; 5, 6 _females_. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 47. + BLACK ARCHES MOTH. + _Eggs, natural size and enlarged; caterpillars and chrysalids._ + +{107} THE LACKEY (_Malacosoma neustria_). + +The colour of the male ranges from pale yellow ochre, through pale brown to +reddish or dark brown; and in the female from pale brown to reddish brown; +two cross lines are generally present on the fore wings; the space between +the lines is usually darker in the female, and sometimes in the male also, +forming a dark central band. All these colour forms were reared from some +caterpillars taken by myself at Byfleet, Surrey, in 1901. Another year a +few caterpillars taken at Esher produced ochreous coloured males and pale +brown females only; the bands of the latter were narrower than usual and +much contracted below the middle. As the females last mentioned are +somewhat under the normal size I am inclined to think that the caterpillars +from which they were reared had been on short commons during their last +stage. Two males and a female are shown on Plate 48. + +The greyish brown eggs are laid during July and August in a ring cluster +around a twig as shown on Plate 49, and so they remain exposed to all +weathers during the winter. In April the caterpillars hatch out, and as +they live in company throughout the greater part of their larval existence, +the first business is to {108} construct a silken tent-like web (Fig. 22). +The exterior of the tent affords a suitable surface upon which they can lie +when they take a sun bath, which they seem fond of doing whenever the +opportunity offers. It is also used, as well as the interior, for the +process of skin-changing. + +[Illustration: FIG. 22. WEB OF LACKEY CATERPILLARS. (Photo by W. J. +Lucas.)] + +The full-grown caterpillar is slaty blue above; along the middle of the +back is a bluish white line, bordered on each side by a +reddish-orange-lined black stripe; towards the lower limit of the slaty +blue colour is a black edged reddish-orange line, and below this again the +ground colour is flecked with orange, sometimes forming a line in the +region of the spiracles; there are two velvety black spots on the back of +the ring nearest the head, and a smaller black spot on each side of the +next two rings; the hairs are brownish, rather more numerous on the sides +than on the back. Head slaty-blue with two black eye-like spots. It feeds +from April to June on hawthorn, sloe, and various fruit trees in orchards +and gardens; also on birch, elm, oak, sallow, willow, etc. + +Chrysalis blackish, rather downy enclosed in a double {109} oval-shaped +cocoon; the inner compartment is of rather closer woven silk, and is +thickly covered with a yellowish substance, which is ejected by the +caterpillar as a fluid, and afterwards drying forms a sulphur-like powder +on the cocoon, and in a lesser degree on the chrysalis also. The moth is on +the wing in July and August, but it is rarely seen in the daytime, and not +often at night, except when attracted by light into the house, or to the +gas or electric lamps. It is exceedingly easy to rear, either from eggs or +from collected caterpillars; the latter are often abundant. + +Generally distributed throughout England, but becoming scarcer from the +Midlands to Lancashire and Yorkshire, and not often occurring further north +than the last named county. In Ireland it is unknown in the north, but +occurs in many parts of the south and south-west. + +THE GROUND LACKEY (_Malacosoma castrensis_). + +This also is a variable species. Most frequently the fore wings of the male +are pale buff, cross lined, and more or less clouded with brown; hind wings +brown. The female has all the wings reddish brown, the front pair being +crossed by two pale buff lines. The fringes are pale buff, chequered with +brown in both sexes. Colour and marking are, however, subject to +considerable variation. Sometimes all the wings are pale buff (male), or +reddish brown (both sexes), and the fore wings without marking. The cross +lines on fore wings of the female may be either very slender or very broad; +occasionally almost the whole of the basal area up to, and including, the +first cross line is buff. Two examples of each sex are shown on Plate 48. + +The eggs are laid in a similar manner to those of the last species, around +stems of wild carrot, sea wormwood, and other {110} plants that flourish in +the insects' favourite haunts, which, in this country, are the salt marshes +along the estuaries of the Thames and Medway. + +The caterpillar is black, inclining to bluish between the rings; along the +back are four much broken reddish orange lines and a central bluish line; a +bluish stripe followed by a reddish one along the sides, and below this the +colour is bluish, speckled with black; the hairs are golden brown. Head +blackish grey, without black spots (Plate 49, Fig. 3). + +The chrysalis and its cocoon are similar to those of the Lackey, and spun +up among herbage. + +The moth emerges in July and August and, although it may be occasionally +attracted by light, is rarely seen in the open. The caterpillars are to be +found, most years, in plenty from May to July. They feed on almost every +kind of plant growing on the salterns, and as they are fond of sunning +themselves on sea wormwood, sea plantain, etc., are easily seen at such +times. In dull weather they retire to their webs, which are generally +rather low down in the herbage. In confinement they will do very well if +supplied with fresh sprays or leaves of almost any fruit tree, or of birch, +whitethorn, etc. The receptacle containing them should be constructed and +placed so that the caterpillars get plenty of air and sunshine. It is +considered desirable to sprinkle both food and caterpillars with water now +and then; some rearers deem it necessary to put a tiny pinch of salt in the +water used for sprinkling; and in my own experience I have found that +better results were obtained when the food was thus treated than when the +salt was omitted. + +On the continent this species occurs in woods, and on heaths, etc., but in +Britain it is seemingly confined to salt marshes. Although it has been +recorded from the Suffolk coast, and other places, the best localities for +it are probably the salterns, from Gravesend to the Isle of Sheppey, and at +Southend and Shoeburyness. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 48. + 1, 2, 3. LACKEY MOTH. + 4, 5, 6, 7. GROUND LACKEY. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 49. + 1, 1a, 1b, 1c. LACKEY: _eggs, caterpillar, chrysalis and cocoon_. + 2, 2a. HYBRID BETWEEN LACKEY AND GROUND LACKEY: _eggs and + caterpillar_. + 3. GROUND LACKEY: _caterpillar_. + +{111} + +_Malacosoma_ hybr. _schaufussi_, Standf.--In 1884 Dr. Standfuss made some +experiments in crossing three species of _Malacosoma_, and one of these was +the pairing of _M. neustria_ [male] with _M. castrensis_ [female]; the +offspring he christened as above. Since that time others have succeeded in +crossing the two species with varying results. + +On August 13, 1906, Mr. Percy Richards sent me a small batch of eggs (Plate +49, Fig. 2a) laid by a female, _M. castrensis_, that emerged in a breeding +cage, and had paired with a captured male, _M. neustria_, he introduced. +The larvæ hatched out one or two at a time, from April 7 over a period of +more than a fortnight. Few of the caterpillars would commence to feed, and +of those that took to the plum and sallow with which they were supplied, +only four reached maturity. Three of these pupated during late June and +early July, and three moths, all females, have emerged up to date, one on +July 28, another on August 6, and a third on August 13. The second specimen +was very much crippled, probably owing to the cocoon having been +accidentally injured. One caterpillar was still feeding on August 14, but +died about the 26th. + +The mature larva (Plate 49, Fig. 2) has the head and markings thereon like +_neustria_, also the black spots on the first thoracic segment, but they +are rather large and inclined to unite. The bluish line along the sides is +dotted and freckled with black rather more thickly than in _castrensis_; +the dorsal line is very thin, but bluish as in _castrensis_, and the red +lines on each side of it are broad. + +In colour the three moths are deeper brown than any form of either parent +species that I have seen, but the transverse lines, and especially the +outer, are most like those of _neustria_. + +It should be mentioned that much information on Hybridism in the Lackey +moths and other species will be found in Tutt's "British Lepidoptera," vol. +ii. {112} + +THE PALE OAK EGGAR (_Trichiura cratægi_). + +In its typical form the male of this species (Plate 50, Figs. 1, 2) is ashy +grey, with a darker central band on the fore wings; and the female is dusky +greyish-brown, also with a darker band. The colour of the male varies in +shade from almost whitish (var. _pallida_, Tutt), to blackish grey; in the +paler forms the central band of the fore wings is often of a purplish tint, +and in the darkest forms the band is almost black. The female var. +_pallida_, is pale buff. + +The eggs, which are brownish, inclining to reddish on the micropylar area, +are covered with dark grey hairs from the body of the female and laid side +by side in a chain-like arrangement on a twig of hawthorn or sloe (those +figured on Plate 51 were deposited in a box, and not securely attached). +From eight to twelve is said to be the usual number in a batch, and each +female will deposit an average of 160 eggs. + +The caterpillars do not hatch out all at the same time, but by ones and +twos, at intervals spreading over a period of two, or perhaps three, weeks. +Several forms of the caterpillar have been described, but the ground colour +is generally more or less black above and greyish on the sides; the +ornamentation comprises interrupted white or whitish stripes, streaked or +clouded with reddish, and reddish warts; the hairs are reddish brown. The +example figured on Plate 51 was from eggs laid by a female moth in Selkirk, +South Scotland. From the age of three weeks until it became full grown it +was black marked with yellow on the back and orange on the sides; hairs +pale greyish mixed with black ones, especially on the back towards the +black, glossy, and somewhat hairy head. It hatched on April 26, was reared +on plum, pupated early in June, and the moth, a darkish grey female, +emerged on July 31. Another caterpillar that hatched on May 1, and two +others from still later hatchings, were then in chrysalis. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 50. + 1. PALE OAK EGGAR, _male_; 2 _female_. + 3. DECEMBER MOTH, _female_; 4 _male_. + 5. SMALL EGGAR, _male_; 6 _female_. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 51. + PALE OAK EGGAR. + _Eggs enlarged, and caterpillar._ + +{113} The caterpillar may be found from April to June on hawthorn and sloe, +and it is said also on birch, oak, sallow, apple, bramble, etc. Those that +I have found resting by day on shoots of hawthorn, apparently enjoying the +sunshine, have almost invariably been "ichneumoned"; but others that came +up after sunset to feed on the shoots were generally healthy. Usually the +caterpillar feeds up and pupates the same year, but on the moors in +Aberdeenshire and some other parts of Scotland it is said to hibernate and +to complete its life cycle the following summer and autumn. Furthermore, +the moths from these winter larvæ are much darker than normal, and have +been doubtfully referred to var. _ariæ_, Hübn., a form found in the Alps, +Scandinavia, and Finland. + +The moth is out in August and September, and occurs in wooded districts +throughout the southern half of England, but northwards from the Midlands +it is uncommon; it is found in several parts of Scotland to Inverness. In +Ireland it is reported (Birchall) to have occurred in Killarney, and Kane +mentions that "a blackish form was taken at Magilligan, near Derry, by W. +Salvage. Its larvæ were feeding on blackthorn." The range abroad extends +through Europe to Armenia and Asia Minor. + +THE DECEMBER MOTH (_Poecilocampa populi_). + +This is a rather thinly scaled moth; the general coloration is sooty brown; +the wings are suffused more or less with greyish; there are two pale +ochreous cross lines on the fore wings, the first enclosing a reddish brown +basal patch; hind wings rather paler with a diffuse whitish central band; +fringes brown chequered with pale ochreous. Head brown, collar brownish, +tipped with pale ochreous in the male. The female is rather larger than the +male. The moth is figured on Plate 50, and the eggs and caterpillar on +Plate 53. + +The eggs, which are laid on the bark of trees, are whitish grey, variegated +or mottled with darker grey. {114} + +The caterpillar hatches out in April, and when nearly full grown is +ochreous, but so thickly dotted and freckled with black as to appear of a +dark brown coloration; the back is clothed with dark short hairs, and the +sides with long paler hairs; on the back of the first ring is a reddish +brown mark divided by a white line; a double row of whitish dots along the +back, most distinct on rings two and three, where they are placed on a +velvety black bar; on each side of the white dots is a reddish brown +interrupted line. Head ochreous brown, thickly dotted with black and +clothed with pale hairs. Underparts ochreous, spotted and lined with +blackish. Feeds on the foliage of most trees, and is said to eat lettuce. +April to June. + +Chrysalis glossy red brown, in a cocoon spun up among dead leaves, etc., +under loose bark, or on the ground. + +The moth does not emerge until October, and in that month, but more +frequently in November and December, the males may be seen around gas lamps +quite late at night. + +Although found chiefly in woods it is not essentially a woodland species, +as it occurs in districts where there are no woods but plenty of trees +growing in parks, fields, or even hedgerows. It is fairly common generally +throughout England and Wales, but becoming rather more local northwards to +Cumberland. It occurs through Scotland to Sutherland, but is nowhere +common. In Ireland it is widely distributed, and not uncommon near Dublin, +and at Favour Royal, Tyrone. Abroad it ranges through Northern and Central +Europe. + +THE SMALL EGGAR (_Eriogaster lanestris_). + +Also a brownish insect with somewhat thinly-scaled wings. The fore wings +are light reddish brown with a whitish patch at the base, a white spot +about the centre, and a whitish transverse line beyond; the hind wings are +smoky brown and have a pale central band. The female, which is larger than +the male, has a conspicuous greyish anal tuft, the hairs from which she +uses to cover over her pale oily green eggs when they are deposited in +clusters on twigs of hawthorn or sloe in February or March. Plate 50, Figs. +5, 6; Plate 53, Figs. 2, 2a. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 52. + OAK EGGAR MOTH. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 53. + 1, 1a. DECEMBER MOTH: _eggs and caterpillar_. + 2, 2a. SMALL EGGAR: _eggs and caterpillar_. + +{115} The caterpillar is black or greyish black, with reddish brown hairs, +and a series of black-edged yellowish brown, or reddish brown blotches on +each side of the back; these blotches are outlined in pale yellowish and +occasionally connected by a line of the same colour. From the time they are +hatched until nearly mature the caterpillars live in companies on a closely +woven web of silk on a branch of hawthorn or sloe, only leaving their +habitation to feed. These webs may often be seen on hedgerows from May to +July. The brown chrysalis is enclosed in a solid-looking oval cocoon of a +pale ochreous or whitish colour. Not all the moths emerge the following +year: some will remain in the chrysalis over two or three winters, and +occasionally they have been known to emerge seven years after pupation. The +moth is said to be fully formed within the chrysalis all the time, but for +some reason will not emerge, although if extracted from its shell, the moth +has been known to expand its wings in the ordinary way. Barrett states that +in the middle of February, after a moth had emerged, he "put a large number +of cocoons upon a warm mantelpiece and obtained scores of moths within a +few hours." + +Generally distributed over the southern half of England; plentiful in some +years in the Southern and Eastern Counties. Northwards and in Scotland it +is local and less frequent. Kane states that in Ireland it is very locally +abundant. The range abroad is through Central and Northern Europe to +Southern Lapland, and eastward to Siberia and Amurland. + +THE OAK EGGAR (_Lasiocampa quercus_). + +The three moths, one male and two females, shown on Plate 52, were reared +from caterpillars obtained in Kent, and they {116} represent the more or +less ordinary South English forms of the species. Sometimes the ground +colour of the male is more distinctly reddish, or rust tinted, and the +yellowish bands narrower on all the wings. Or the bands may be much broader +than in the male figured, and the widening is effected by extension in the +form of rays towards the outer margins of the wings. A form that has been +referred to, in error, as var. _roboris_, Shrank (= _marginata_, Tutt), has +the outer margins of all the wings broadly yellow. I have not seen an +English example of this form, but I have a reddish specimen in which the +yellow band on the fore wings is broader than usual, and the whole of the +outer third of the hind wings yellow, with a slight brownish shade on the +external margin; this is _semimarginata_, Tutt, and is also identical with +var. _roboris_ of other British authors. The white spot usually present on +the fore wings varies somewhat in size and shape; it is often seen on the +under as well as the upper surface of the wings, except in the lighter +coloured forms. + +Var. _callunæ_ (The Northern Eggar), is shown on Plate 54. The chief +features of this form are the generally darker coloration in both sexes, +the yellow patch at the base of the fore wings of the male, and the outward +turn of the lower ends of the yellow bands. All these characters are +subject to modification; the yellow bands may be very narrow at one +extreme, or greatly widened at the other, and the hind wings may +occasionally be bandless; the basal patch is often of large size, but in +some examples it is entirely absent. Sometimes the bands are greenish in +colour (var. _olivaceo-fasciata_, Cockerell), and more rarely, perhaps, the +greenish tinge extends over the whole of the wings (ab. _olivacea_, Tutt). +It should be noted here that the var. _olivaceo-fasciata_ has occurred once +or twice in South England, but this phase of aberration seems to be more +connected with _callunæ_ than with _quercus_. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 54. + NORTHERN EGGAR. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 55. + OAK EGGAR. + _Egg, natural size and enlarged; caterpillars and cocoon._ + +{117} _Callunæ_ was not recognized as British until the year 1847, when it +was introduced as a species distinct from _quercus_. The late Richard +Weaver, who gave it the English name of the "Scotch Eggar," took specimens +of the moth at Rannoch in 1845, and he found caterpillars in that year, as +well as in 1844 and 1846. It is now well known to occur not only in +Scotland, including the Hebrides and Orkneys, but also on the moors of +Northern England, and in Ireland and Wales. In North Devonshire it is found +not uncommonly in the Exmoor district, and it has been recorded from +various parts of the New Forest in Hants. + +The egg of _callunæ_ is figured on Plate 55. It appears rather polished, +and in colour is pale brown mottled with darker brown. The eggs are stated +to be deposited whilst the female is on the wing, and consequently they +fall to the ground or are arrested in their descent by the herbage over +which they are scattered. + +The full-grown caterpillar of _quercus_, beneath the brownish fur with +which the body is clothed, is dark brown on the back and rather violet +brown on the sides; the ring divisions are velvety black; there is a white +stripe along each side and below the stripe some reddish marks; the ring +nearest the head is edged with reddish, and the next two rings each have +two reddish centred white spots. The dull purplish brown chrysalis is +enclosed in a hard oval-shaped cocoon which is spun up on or near the +ground in a flimsy web among herbage, dead leaves, etc. Sometimes it is +placed among the twigs of the food plant. + +In Southern England the caterpillars hatch from the egg in August and +usually hibernate when quite small. They feed up during the following +spring and early summer, perhaps in June or July, and the moth appears in +July or August. Occasionally, however, a few individuals depart from the +general habit and complete their growth the same year, hibernate in the +pupal stage, and produce moths the next year, possibly earlier than +hibernating caterpillars. On the other hand, perhaps owing to adverse +weather conditions, feeding after hibernation may be continued well on into +the autumn, when the caterpillars pupate, {118} but emergence of the moth +is postponed until the following year, the second after hatching from the +egg. + +In the case of _callunæ_, at least as regards its normal habit in Scotland +and southwards to the moorland districts of Yorkshire and Lancashire, the +young caterpillar hibernates the first winter, feeds through the following +summer, and passes the second winter as a chrysalis, the moth emerging in +the following May or June. + +Generally speaking, then, it may be stated that _quercus_ has a +twelve-month life cycle, whilst that of _callunæ_ extends almost or quite +to twenty-four months, of which at least twelve months are passed as a +caterpillar. However, as has been noted, _quercus_ sometimes passes one +winter as a caterpillar, and another as a chrysalis, thus assuming the +_callunæ_ habit; whilst _callunæ_ occasionally attains the perfect state +during the summer following that in which the caterpillar left the egg. + +The food plants comprise bramble, dogwood, hawthorn, heather (_Calluna_), +and various low plants; it is even content with ivy. + +Newman, in the _Entomologist_ for 1845, gives a life history of the +Northern Eggar (_callunæ_), and from this the following details are +extracted. The male flies rapidly over the heather by day at the latter end +of May or beginning of June; its flight is jerking or zigzag, and its +object is evidently to find the female, who rarely moves until impregnation +has taken place. Subsequently the female flies over the heather, dropping +her eggs at random as she flies, and the eggs, having no glutinous +covering, do not adhere to any object which they may accidentally touch in +falling. On emergence from the egg the young caterpillar is dark +ash-coloured, the divisions between the rings of the body being indicated +by two minute orange streaks, each of which is accompanied by a small black +spot. After the first moult the ground colour becomes more smoky, the +divisions velvety black, and on each ring a triangular orange spot appears; +these markings become more conspicuous later on, and by the end of October, +when it hibernates, they are very distinct. It rests in a straight +position, and, if disturbed, falls off its food plant, and rolls in a ring +with its head slightly on one side. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 56. + GRASS EGGAR MOTH. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 57. + GRASS EGGAR. + _Eggs, natural size and enlarged; caterpillar._ + +{119} The habits of the Oak Eggar moths (_quercus_) are pretty much the +same as those of the Northern form, except that the moths fly in July and +August, and frequent hedgerows, the borders of woods, heathy commons, and +cliffs and sand dunes at the seaside. + +A bred female of either form will attract numerous males, and even the +receptacle in which a newly emerged female has been placed is almost as +effective as the lady herself. When staying at a cottage on the edge of a +moor near Lynton, North Devon, some years ago, I had some pupæ of the Oak +Eggar. One day, late in July, quite a number of males entered the cottage +and made their way to the cage in which the pupæ were, and I had no +difficulty in boxing several of them. The next day I put the female moth, +which had emerged the previous day, into a roomy chip box, and carried it +in a satchel to the moor, where it was placed on the ground, the males +began to arrive soon afterwards and some fine examples were secured. +Although the female was taken on the moor only on the one occasion, that +satchel continued to be an object of interest to the male Eggars for +several days afterwards. + +Generally distributed, and often common in some localities, throughout the +British Isles. Abroad, its range extends over Europe into Asia Minor, +Armenia, and Siberia. + +THE GRASS EGGAR (_Lasiocampa trifolii_). + +This moth is usually brown in colour. The fore wings are inclined to dark +reddish brown, and have a pale ochreous brown curved band or ring at the +base, a slightly curved line or band of the same colour beyond the middle +of the wing; central spot {120} white, finely margined in black. Except +that the female is generally larger, and the cross lines usually less +distinct, the sexes are much alike. This brown form occurs most frequently +in Britain, but in parts of the Kentish and Sussex coast, and especially +the Romney Marsh district, a yellowish form is obtained. In such specimens +the cross lines are darker. In both forms one or both cross markings may be +faint or quite absent, and even the white central dot, which varies in size +and shape, may be missing. Sometimes the outer band is distinctly broad and +outwardly diffuse (Plate 56). + +The eggs, which appear to be laid loosely, are pale whitish brown, +roughened with darker brown, and the micropylar area is purplish brown. +Some that I received on March 2, 1907, appeared to be on the point of +hatching on the 5th of that month, but no larva came out, although one of +the eggs was chipped at one end. It has been frequently stated that the +caterpillars hatch out in the autumn and hibernate, but as has been pointed +out by Tutt ("Nat. Hist. Brit. Lep.," ii. 20), the eggs of this species +probably do not hatch until some time during February or March, although +when kept indoors the caterpillar has emerged from the egg in January. + +The full-grown caterpillar is black, velvety between the rings, covered +with golden brown hair on the back and greyer hair on the sides, among +which are some black ones; three interrupted whitish lines on the back; +some of the hairs along the middle of the back stand erect and form a +ridge, looked at from either end. Head lightish brown in colour, lined with +black. Feeds in the spring months and up to June chiefly on various kinds +of grass. Among many of the plants that it has been known to eat are +trefoils, bird's-foot (_Ornithopus_), sea thrift (_Statice_), heather, +sallow, hawthorn, sloe, plum, bramble, etc. With regard to the food, it is +interesting to note that although one rearer will find that sallow is +excellent for the caterpillars, another considers that sallow or hawthorn +are but poor {121} substitutes for kidney-vetch (_Anthyllis vulneraria_) +upon which the caterpillars were feeding when found (Plate 57). + +The brownish chrysalis is enclosed in a hard but somewhat brittle, brown, +oval cocoon, and when spun upon the surface of the ground, protected by an +outside covering of loose silk webbing. In August and early September the +moths appear. Emergence from the chrysalis usually takes place soon after +midday; the males are early on the wing, and when reared in captivity they +should be secured as soon as the wings are dry, or they may spoil +themselves in their efforts to escape. Reared females are apt to be +deformed, but for "assembling" they may probably be as useful as more +perfect examples if the rearer happens to be able to exhibit the attraction +in a locality for the species. Both sexes have been taken at electric +light. + +The best known localities for the species in England are, besides those +already mentioned, the sand hills on the Cheshire and Lancashire coast. It +is, or has been, found also on the coast of Cumberland; Lyndhurst and +Ringwood, in Hampshire; Isle of Purbeck, Poole, Swanage, and Bloxworth, in +Dorsetshire; Devonport, Bolt Head, and Salcombe, in Devonshire; and +Penzance and the Scilly Isles. Its range extends through Central and +Southern Europe to Asia Minor and North Africa. + +THE FOX MOTH (_Macrothylacia rubi_). + +The male is reddish brown, and the female generally greyish brown, but +sometimes is of a reddish grey coloration; the fore wings in both sexes are +crossed by two pale ochreous lines on the central area (Plate 59). + +The ground colour in the male ranges in tone from foxy red to dullish red +brown or to greyish red brown. The cross lines in either sex may be widely +apart, near together, or even united throughout their length, forming a +band (var. _fasciata_, Tutt); sometimes one of the lines (var. _unilinea_, +Tutt), or both lines, are absent from the fore wings, or from one of them. +{122} + +The brown clouded greyish eggs are laid in batches, during June, on stems +and stalks of plants, or on heather; sometimes they have been found on a +fence, a rock, or a stone. The caterpillars hatch out at the end of June +and through July. At first they are black, including the glossy head, and +covered with long hairs which are black with some white ones amongst them; +the ring divisions are pale yellow; later on they are more chocolate brown +with yellow bands which, however, do not encircle the body entirely. + +When full grown, in the autumn, the caterpillar is velvety black, and above +this colour is most in evidence between the rings; the back is clothed with +dense, short, bright reddish brown or tawny hair, and the whole body is +covered with brownish hairs, varying in length, but always much longer than +the tawny ones; along each side are some whitish hairs. Head blackish +covered with brownish hairs. It feeds in August and onwards to October, +when it seeks winter quarters, reappearing in the following spring, but not +feeding again. After enjoying the sunshine whenever the opportunity offers +through the early months of the year, it finally pupates in March or April. +The cocoon is a long, more or less tubular, brownish construction of silk +and larval hairs. It is spun up, usually somewhat upright, low down among +the food plant, or at the roots of grass, etc.; sometimes among moss, when +the rounded head end can just be seen above the moss (Plate 58). + +In certain localities and seasons the caterpillars have been seen in +enormous numbers, but such profusion only happens now and then. In some +districts they may be abundant one year, and then scarce or quite absent +for several years. + +When handling the larvæ it will often be noted that the tips of one's +fingers are thickly felted with the tawny hairs from the creature's back; +if these hairs get transferred to the face or neck considerable irritation +may be the result. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 58. + FOX MOTH: _caterpillars_. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 59. + 1, 2. FOX MOTH, _males_; 3 _female_. + +{123} The late Mr. Robson used to collect the caterpillars on fine days in +early spring, put each caterpillar into a separate paper box about two +inches square, and keep them on a shelf over the kitchen fire, where they +would duly pupate. Various methods for keeping these caterpillars through +the winter have been described, and all appear to have been fairly +successful. The most simple would seem to be the following: Bore a number +of holes in the bottom of a roomy box, and fasten wire gauze on a close +fitting frame to serve as a top. Cut a tuft or two of heather to cover the +floor space of the box. Caterpillars collected in the autumn may be put +into this receptacle and supplied with food, such as bramble or sallow, as +long as they seem inclined to feed. Do not crowd too many into the box, and +let it stand out in the garden, preferably on the soil. + +The moths emerge in May or June. The males are very active on the wing in +the afternoon sunshine, and later on, and may often be seen in numbers +dashing hither and thither in an apparently erratic flight over heaths and +open spaces, in search of the females. The latter do not fly till night, +and occasionally they are attracted to a bright light. + +Except that it has not been noted in the Shetlands, the species occurs +throughout the British Isles. Abroad its range extends over Europe, and it +is found in Amurland. + +THE DRINKER (_Cosmotriche potatoria_). + +The male is reddish brown, more or less clouded on the forewings with +ochreous; and the female is yellow, or whitish ochreous. Sometimes this +colour distinction of the sexes is reversed, and the males are pale whilst +the females are dark. In the fens of Cambridgeshire notably, pale or +yellowish males are not altogether uncommon. Such specimens would seem to +accord better with the Linnean type than the more usual form indicated +above. Barrett mentions, among other aberrations, male specimens from South +Wales with the whole of the fore and hind wings deep rich glossy purplish +chocolate. {124} + +There is variation in the two whitish or silvery marks on the fore wings, +the upper one is often very small, sometimes quite absent, and the lower +one reduced to a crescent. The chocolate brown cross lines, of which there +are usually two on the fore wings, are sometimes faint or entirely missing. +Tutt has recently named nine forms, chiefly colour aberrations, and two +others were previously named. (The moth is figured on Plate 61, and the +early stages on Plate 60.) + +The eggs, which are white with bluish grey markings, are laid in clusters +on grass stems, etc. + +The caterpillar is slaty grey inclining to blackish; the lines on the back +are formed of yellowish dots and dashes; two rows of tufts of short black +hairs on the back, with longer brown hairs between; low down on the sides +are shaggy tufts of white and yellowish hairs and longer brown hairs; an +erect pointed tuft of brown hair on second ring, and a similar one on ring +eleven but the latter inclines backward. Head greyish, striped and lined +with brown and yellowish brown, and clothed with brown hair. It feeds on +coarse grasses, including the ribbon grass grown in gardens, in August to +September or October. + +In the latter month it goes into hibernation, being then but little over an +inch in length. About April it resumes feeding and becomes full grown in +June or thereabouts. The long yellowish or whitish brown cocoon in which it +changes to a brown chrysalis is more or less pointed at the lower end, and +generally attached to a culm of grass or a reed. A showery season seems to +suit these caterpillars better than a hot, dry one. The partiality of the +caterpillar for a drop of dew, mountain or otherwise, has frequently been +noted. The old English name of The Drinker Caterpillar (1682) is therefore +not only an appropriate one but shows that this larval habit was observed +even at that early date. The specific name _potatoria_ given to the moth by +Linné is of similar significance. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 60. + DRINKER MOTH. + _Eggs, natural size and enlarged; caterpillars and cocoon._ + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 61. + DRINKER MOTH. + +{125} The moth emerges in July. It seems most addicted to damp grassy +lanes, ditch-sides, fens, marshes, moorlands, and sandhills; and is not +really uncommon in very many suitable districts throughout the United +Kingdom. Abroad, it is common over the greater part of Europe and its range +extends to Amurland and Japan. + +THE SMALL LAPPET (_Epicnaptera ilicifolia_). + +This exceedingly local and rare British moth has the fore wings pale +reddish-brown, suffused on the outer marginal area with grey; about the +centre of the wings there is a short black line preceded by a whitish mark; +beyond is a blackish, indistinct, wavy line; the greyish outer area is +limited by a brown line, and this is inwardly edged with whitish: hind +wings purplish brown with the central area whitish and crossed by a +blackish line. Fringes whitish, marked with brown at the ends of the veins +(Plate 63). + +Kirby states that the caterpillar is rust coloured, with a black stripe on +the back, on which stand white dots; and with reddish-yellow transverse +spots on the second and third rings. Another form is grey, and the back +white, with a broad black central stripe interrupted by rust-coloured spots +dotted with black. + +The following brief description is taken from an inflated skin of an +immature caterpillar received from Dresden: brownish inclining to reddish, +paler between the rings; clothed with short greyish hair, and longer hairs +from and above the fleshy tubercles low down along the sides; there is a +hair-clothed eminence on ring eleven. The only conspicuous markings are on +rings two and three; each of these has two orange spots separated and +narrowly edged externally with velvety black; there are two small black +spots on the back of each of the other rings, and indications of reddish +circles around some of these. Head blackish, covered with greyish hairs +(Plate 62). {126} + +In this country the caterpillar feeds on bilberry (_Vaccinium myrtillus_), +but on the Continent it is said to eat the foliage of sallows and willows, +also of birch. + +The cocoon is spun up among the leaves of the food plant. That figured on +Plate 62, of foreign origin, was on a shoot of bilberry; a moth emerged +from it on April 5, 1907. The first detailed account of this species in +Britain is that in the _Zoologist_ for 1852, in which Mr. Atkinson records +that he took a specimen in May, 1851, at Cannock Chase in Staffordshire. A +year earlier two larvæ were found by Mr. Green on a moor near Sheffield, +and one of these attained the moth state in April, 1851. After this moths +and caterpillars seem to have been taken in varying numbers down to 1896, +when a specimen was captured by Dr. R. Freer of Rugby. Tutt, quoting from a +letter received from Dr. Freer, states that two moths were reared from +three caterpillars found at Cannock in 1898. The only other known British +locality is in the neighbourhood of Lynton, North Devon, where a +caterpillar, which, from the description, must have been this species, was +found in 1864. It was taken on August 3 in a wood abounding with bilberry. + +The species ranges over Central Europe, but seems to be generally rare; it +also occurs in Amurland and Japan. + +THE LAPPET (_Gastropacha quercifolia_). + +Warm reddish brown is the prevailing colour of this fine moth. The wings +are more or less suffused with purplish grey, and crossed by blackish +lines--three on the fore wings and two on the hind wings. Except in the +reddish tinge, which may be bright or dull approaching chocolate, this +species is pretty constant in its coloration. Barrett mentions a specimen +of a light brown colour, and another of a pale buff. The first of these +forms seems to approach the var. _meridionalis_, Staudinger (Tutt), and the +other to var. _ulmifolia_, Heuäcker, which are well known on the Continent. +In certain favourable seasons a second generation of the moth has been +obtained, chiefly perhaps, in confinement, and on the Continent; although +in Britain a caterpillar or two will sometimes feed up and attain the +perfect state the same year they hatch from the egg. These examples, which +are much smaller, but do not otherwise differ from normal specimens, are +referable to var. _hoegei_, Heuäcker. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 62. + 1, 1a. LAPPET MOTH: _eggs, natural size and enlarged; caterpillar_. + 2, 2a. SMALL LAPPET: _caterpillar and cocoon_. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 63. + 1. SMALL LAPPET MOTH, _male_; 2 _female_. + 3. LAPPET MOTH, _male_; 4 _female_. + +{127} The moth is figured on Plate 63, and the eggs and caterpillar on +Plate 62. + +The eggs, which are whitish in colour with greyish markings, are laid, in +July or early August, in twos, threes, or more, on twigs or the undersides +of leaves of sloe, apple, sallow, hawthorn, etc. A single female moth has +been known to lay over a thousand eggs, but this is perhaps exceptional, +and somewhere about half that number is possibly near the average. Even the +latter would take the moth some time to distribute here and there in small +batches. + +The caterpillars hatch out in about a fortnight, feed for a few weeks, and +in the autumn, when about three-quarters to one inch in length, take up +their winter quarters low down on the stems of the food plant, but, in +confinement, often on a withered leaf. + +Caterpillar dark grey, so thickly sprinkled with minute black dots as to +appear almost black; the whole body is clothed with fine and rather short +blackish hair; low down on the side there is a fringe of brownish hair, and +this covers the fleshy lappets (the older writers named this larva the +"Caterpillar with the Lappets"); two white marks edged in front with black +on the third ring, and a hairy prominence on the eleventh, are the most +conspicuous features of this caterpillar. When the front rings are +extended, the divisions between them are seen to be deep blue. Head grey, +with darker stripe and paler lines. Occasionally several white marks appear +on the back, and this is stated by Professor Poulton to occur more +especially in the caterpillars when the twigs and stems of the food plant +upon {128} which they have grown up are covered with grey lichen. Sometimes +the caterpillar has been reported as destructive in orchards; two or three +large ones feeding on a small apple tree would certainly afford evidence of +their presence in the shape of denuded twigs, but it is doubtful if they +ever occur in sufficient numbers to cause any very serious damage to fruit +trees. + +The chrysalis is dark brown, inclining to blackish, and covered with a +whitish powder, which does not shake off. It is enclosed in a long, +grey-brown, tight-fitting cocoon of silk and hairs of the caterpillar, +which is generally spun up among the lower twigs, or to the stem of the +food plant. + +The moth emerges in June or July, and is on the wing at night, when it may +be sometimes netted as it flies along or over hedgerows. When caught in +this way it dashes about so wildly in the net that it is rarely of much +value for the collection. The same may be said of examples taken by light, +which at times attracts the moths freely. When resting in the daytime, it +very closely resembles a withered bramble-leaf or bunch of leaves. The fore +wings are folded down, roof-like, over the hind wings, which are flattened +out and their edges project beyond the margins of the fore wings. It is, +however, very rarely seen in the open at such times. + +The species does not seem to have been recorded from Ireland or from +Scotland, but it has a wide distribution in England, although much less +frequently met with in the north than in the south. In the Cambridge fens +it is perhaps more plentiful than elsewhere, but it is not uncommon in some +parts of Berkshire, Huntingdonshire, and Kent. The range abroad extends +through Central, Southern, and Eastern Europe, to Armenia, Tartary, +Siberia, and Amurland; it is also represented in China, Corea, and Japan. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 64. + KENTISH GLORY MOTH. + _Eggs, natural size and enlarged; caterpillars, chrysalis and cocoon._ + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 65. + KENTISH GLORY. + 1 _male_; 2 _female_. + +{129} + +ENDROMIDIDÆ. + +THE KENTISH GLORY (_Endromis versicolor_). + +This species has the fore wings of the male brownish clouded and suffused +with ochreous; there is a white patch at the base, and some white marks +including three spots towards the apex, on the outer marginal area; two +black cross lines, the first inwardly and the second outwardly, edged with +white; the space between the lines is sometimes clouded with whitish, and +there is an almost central black [sideways vee]-shaped mark. Hind wings +tawny with a black central line, some brownish marks beyond, and sometimes +two white spots at the upper angle. The female is much larger in size, +without ochreous suffusion on the fore wings, and the hind wings have the +ground colour whitish. It varies in the tone of the brown colour, and, in +the male, in the amount of ochreous suffusion (Plate 65). + +The eggs are laid in rows, generally two deep, on a birch twig. At first +they are greenish, but soon change to brownish olive or shining purplish +brown. + +When young the caterpillars cluster together on the twigs, as shown on +Plate 64. They are at first black with glossy dots, and later, greenish, +but still dotted with black. After the third skin change, they are without +the black dots, and the colour is then pretty much that of the mature +caterpillar, which is green, rather whitish on the back, and with a dark +green central line; a series of seven creamy oblique stripes along the +sides, and on the sides of the first three rings there is a whitish stripe +broken at the divisions; these markings are often edged with dark green; on +the eleventh ring there is a somewhat horn-like prominence, striped with +creamy white, and below it a yellow stripe; the spiracles are white, ringed +with black. Head small, paler green, with whitish marks. Feeds on birch, +from late May to {130} July. Alder, sallow, and lime have also been +mentioned as food plants. + +The rough, blackish, or sooty-brown chrysalis is enclosed in a coarse +netted cocoon, dark brown in colour, and more or less covered with moss, +leaves, or other material, among which it is spun up, generally on the +ground, but sometimes just under the surface. Assisted by the points on the +rings of the body, the chrysalis is able to work itself partly out of the +cocoon, and this it does some days before the moth emerges. + +The moths usually emerge in late March and in April, earlier or later in +some seasons. They do not always come up the year after pupation, but often +remain two or more winters in the chrysalis. + +The males fly in the sunshine, and are very strong on the wing; the females +are not active until dark. This sex has been found resting on the twigs of +birch, also on heather, and occasionally on a tree trunk. The males +"assemble" freely to a freshly emerged female. The species inhabits the +more open parts of woods and forests, moors and hillsides where birches +flourish. It is probably more plentiful in its Scottish localities, such as +Rannoch and Forres, than elsewhere, but it occurs also in Aberdeenshire, +Kincardineshire, and Argyllshire. In England it seems to be not uncommon in +Wyre Forest, Worcestershire, and the Reading district in Berkshire. It used +to be so plentiful in Tilgate Forest, Sussex, that over a hundred males +were brought to the net in one day by a bred female put down to allure +them. This happened some fifty years ago, and compares curiously with a +record of one male attracted by a female in Tilgate Forest, April 13, 1869. +Other localities in Sussex that have been mentioned are St. Leonard's +Forest and near Petersfield; it has also been found in Herefordshire and in +some parts of Suffolk. Distributed over Central and Northern Europe, the +range extending to North Italy. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 66. + 1, 2. EMPEROR MOTH, _males_; 3 _female_. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 67. + EMPEROR MOTH. + _Eggs, natural size and enlarged._ + _Caterpillars and cocoon._ (_Photos. by W. J. Lucas._) + +{131} + +SATURNIIDÆ. + +THE EMPEROR MOTH (_Saturnia pavonia_). + +In a general way the fore wings of the male may be described as purplish +grey, suffused with rosy or with tawny shades; a reddish cloud, black +marked above, at the tips of the wings; the outer margins are more or less +whitish, and there is a whitish patch about the middle of each wing, in +which is an eyed spot; the hind wings are tawny, with a central eye spot +and a blackish band towards the outer margin. The female has all the wings +pale purplish grey, with whitish bordered outer margins; markings much as +in the male, but the central area of the hindwings is more or less whitish. +There is some variation in the ornamentation; occasionally the white +markings are of large size, or, on the other hand, may be almost or quite +obscured. Very rarely the eye-spots are absent from all the wings (ab. +_obsoleta_, Tutt), and sometimes they are of abnormal shape. Now and then +specimens of the female sex are dark in colour, with red bands, and Barrett +mentions an example of this sex smoky black in colour, with still blacker +markings (Plate 66). + +The olive brown, clouded greyish eggs are laid in neatly arranged batches +around the stems or twigs of plants; I once found a batch in North Devon on +a loose piece of rock. The caterpillar when full grown is bright green, +with black markings; the warts from which blackish bristles arise are +yellow, sometimes pink or blackish. In an early stage it is black, with an +orange line low down along the sides; later on it is still black, but +ringed with orange. It feeds in June, July, and August on many kinds of +plants, among which may be mentioned heather, bramble, sallow, sloe; also +meadow-sweet (_Spiræa ulmaria_) and purple loose-strife (_Lythrum +salicaria_). + +The curious cocoon formed by the caterpillar (Plate 67) is {132} so +constructed at the narrow end that the moth on emergence can easily pass +through; after the insect's escape, the converging fibres forming the +"door" spring to again, and the point of exit looks pretty much as before +the moth had pushed through. This kind of opening can only be worked from +the inside, therefore enemies from without are unable to effect an +entrance. + +The moths are out in April and May, and the males may be seen on sunny days +flying at a great pace over heaths, moorlands, and mosses, also about the +borders of woods. The female flies at night, but it may occasionally be met +with resting on heather or other herbage in the daytime. A freshly emerged +female moth will, as a rule, attract as many specimens of the opposite sex +as one would care to take; all that one has to do is to take her in a box +to some likely spot, and there await the coming of the males. + +The species seems to be generally distributed throughout the British Isles, +but is commoner in some parts than in others, and apparently rare in +portions of the Midlands. + +The distribution abroad extends through Europe to North Asia Minor and +Armenia, and to Siberia, Amurland, and Ussuri. + +DREPANIDÆ. + +The British species belonging to this family, with one exception, have the +tips of the fore wings pointed and curved downwards, forming a sort of +hook, hence the English name Hook-tips. The exception is _Cilix spinula_, a +round winged moth, not at all like other members of the family, but its +caterpillar is very like others of the group. + +The bristle and catch arrangement for locking the wings is present in all +the species, but the tongue or proboscis is absent, or practically so. The +caterpillars are not furnished with anal {133} claspers, therefore have +only fourteen legs, that is, six true legs and eight false legs (pro-legs). +The last ring of the body is more or less tapered, sometimes terminating in +a point; the back is roughened with raised spots and warts, or humped. They +feed on the leaves of trees and bushes, usually exposed, and they pupate in +a silken cocoon, spun up between leaves, or in a folded leaf, of the food +plant. + +Of the eleven species occurring in the Palæarctic Region, seven are +European, and six of these are found in the British Isles. + +THE PEBBLE HOOK-TIP (_Drepana falcataria_). + +The fore wings are brown, whity brown, or whitish; the central area is +crossed by three blackish wavy lines, a blackish blotch in the third line +and two blackish dots between it and the second line; beyond there is a +dark brown, or reddish-brown curved line from the tip of the wing to the +inner margin. Hind wings similar in colour to the fore wings, but paler on +the front area; crossed by five wavy dusky lines, sometimes not well marked +except on the inner margin; generally, there is a black central dot. The +paler forms have a dusky shading on each side of the curved line on the +fore wings. + +The egg is yellow freckled with orange, chiefly at one end. Caterpillar +green, the back reddish-brown, except towards the black-marked yellowish +head; two conspicuous warts on rings two to five, and less noticeable +raised spots on the other rings, all bearing hairs. In a younger stage it +is blackish, with white marks on the fourth and seventh rings; later it +becomes greenish below, and the markings on the back of rings four, seven, +eight, and ten are whitish or creamy. Until nearly full grown it usually +lives on the underside of a leaf, the edges of which are turned over and +held down by silken threads; sometimes it may be seen on the upper side of +a leaf under a slight web. It feeds {134} chiefly on birch, but is +occasionally found on alder, in June and July, and in September and +October, and may be obtained by searching or by beating, but the former, +although perhaps slower, is much the better method. The moth is shown on +Plate 68, and the early stages on Plate 69. + +The species is widely distributed, and seems to occur, sometimes commonly, +wherever there are birches, especially of bush-like growth, in most English +counties and also in Scotland. In Ireland it appears to be somewhat local +and scarce. + +THE SCARCE HOOK-TIP (_Drepana harpagula_). + +The general colour of this species is brownish; the fore wings are slightly +tinged with ochreous and speckled with minute violet-tinged silvery scales; +between the first and second brown lines there is an irregular ochreous +brown mark enclosing yellowish spots; the violet-tinted glistening scales +are most in evidence on both sides of the black mark before the outer +margin. Hind wings similar in colour to the fore wings; crossed by two +brown lines, the second with an ochreous brown blotch above it (Plate 68). + +Caterpillar, yellow freckled with brown; clouded with brown on first three +rings; a reddish brown irregular stripe runs along the sides and upwards +towards middle of the back on rings five, six, eight, and nine; a +double-pointed hump on the back of ring three, the points tipped with +yellow. Head notched on the crown, dotted and clouded with brown. It feeds +on the small-leaved lime (_Tilia parvifolia_), and may be found from July +to September and even later. I have not seen a living caterpillar of this +species; the above short description has been drawn from an inflated skin +(Plate 69). + +The only British locality for this species is the Leigh Woods near Bristol, +where it was first met with in 1837. It is, however, very rare and +difficult to obtain. Abroad it ranges through Central Europe to Livonia, +Southern Sweden, and to Northern Italy. On the Continent the caterpillar +feeds on the foliage of other trees than lime, and there are two broods in +the year. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 68. + 1. SCARCE HOOK-TIP, _male_; 2 _female_. + 3, 5, 6. PEBBLE HOOK-TIP, _males_; 4, 7 _females_. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 69. + 1, 1a, 1b. SCALLOPED HOOK-TIP: _eggs, caterpillar and chrysalis_. + 2, 2a, 2b. PEBBLE HOOK-TIP: _caterpillar, chrysalis and cocoon_. + 3. SCARCE HOOK-TIP: _caterpillar_. + +{135} + +THE OAK HOOK-TIP (_Drepana binaria_). + +The male is of an ochreous-tinged brown coloration; all the wings are +crossed by two slender deep ochreous lines, and have two obliquely set, +almost central, black dots; outer margin of fore wings often blackish, +marked towards the tip; the hind wings are deep ochreous on the front +marginal area. Fore wings of the female paler, and the hind wings ochreous +yellow; the cross lines on the latter often lost in the ground colour +(Plate 71). + +In freshly emerged male specimens the brown is sometimes purplish tinged, +and in some examples of the same sex the hind wings may be described as +ochreous, with brown bands. The female occasionally has the fore wings +tinged with greyish, and the hind wings are sometimes banded with brown, +especially on the inner marginal area. + +The caterpillar is ochreous brown with a double-pointed hump on ring three, +a yellowish diamond on the back of rings five to ten; the front and hind +rings are brown, more or less tinged with purple; yellowish lines, shaded +below with purplish brown, on the sides meet on the back and form an edging +to the diamond mark. The figure on Plate 70 shows the caterpillar in its +usual resting attitude. It feeds on oak. + +A widely distributed species in the southern half of England, but not +especially abundant in any locality, and not known to occur north of +Lincoln. + +THE BARRED HOOK-TIP (_Drepana cultraria_). + +Fore wings pale fulvous or ochreous brown, with two paler cross-lines on +all the wings, space enclosed by the lines darker brown; a black or +blackish central dot, and before the brownish {136} outer margin there is a +pale line ending on the tip of the wing. The hind wings have an obscure +dusky central dot placed in the upper edge of the band, and usually there +are two brownish bands on the outer marginal area, but these do not extend +to the front margin. Except that the female is generally larger, and the +antennæ are simple, the sexes are much alike (Plate 71). + +This species is best distinguished from _binaria_ by the dark bands, and +the straighter second line. The central dots are less trustworthy +characters, because summer specimens of the present species often have two +of these spots on the fore wings (var. _æstiva_, Spr.), and in occasional +examples of _binaria_ the lower central spot of the hind wings is absent. +As a rule, however, the central dots are more conspicuous in _binaria_ than +in _cultraria_. The egg is yellowish, tinged with reddish at the ends and +along the sides. The caterpillar is somewhat similar to that of the last +species, but the hump on ring three is smaller, and the side lines and +diamond mark are whiter. It may be found in June and July, and again in +September, and even in October in some years. It feeds on beech (Plate 70). + +This species is found where beech trees occur, preferably on a chalky soil, +in the counties of England from Norfolk southwards. The male may often be +seen in May, flying around the beech trees or neighbouring bushes, in the +sunshine; or both sexes may be caused to leave their resting places among +the foliage by tapping the boughs. + +Its range extends through Central Europe to Asia Minor. + +THE SCALLOPED HOOK-TIP (_Drepana lacertinaria_). + +The name Scallop Hook-tip given to this species by Moses Harris in 1775, +doubtless referred to the ragged outlines of the fore wings. These wings +are pale brown in colour, freckled and clouded with darker tints, and +crossed by two dark-brown lines; the central dot is black, but often +minute; fringes {137} white, chequered with brown. Sometimes the freckling +is heavy and the clouding very dark, becoming almost black on the outer +margin; such specimens seem to be referable to var. _scincula_, Hübn. In +another form the fore wings are ochreous brown, with very tiny freckling +and only light clouds on the upper part of the outer margin. The hind wings +in all the forms are pale whitish brown, with a black central dot, and +brown marginal line; in the darker specimens these wings are clouded or +suffused with dark brown (Plate 71). + +The egg is pale yellowish when laid, but changes afterwards to reddish. The +full-grown caterpillar is pale brownish, marked with darker or reddish +brown on the back and sides, and raised spots; there are double-pointed +humps on rings two and three, and a similar but smaller elevation on ring +eleven. In the younger state the caterpillar is blackish, with whitish +marks on the fourth, seventh, and eighth rings, and some white dots on the +end rings. It feeds on the upper surface of the leaves of birch in June and +July, and again in August and September. + +Chrysalis, reddish brown, the ring divisions blackish grey; powdered with +whitish, and appearing as though dusted with flour. Attached by the anal +spike to the interior of the silken web-like cocoon. In the Figure (Plate +69) the pupa is shown hanging from the ruptured cocoon, upon the covering +leaf of which a half-grown caterpillar is depicted. + +The moth is out in May and June, and a second generation appears in August. +It is not uncommon in most birch woods, and on heaths and commons, where +birch flourishes; but the perfect insect, which rests on leaves and twigs +of trees and bushes, and the herbage under them, is not so frequently or so +easily obtained as the caterpillars. The latter may be searched for in the +daytime, or they may be dislodged by beating. + +Widely distributed throughout England, but local or scarce in Lancashire +and Yorkshire and northwards; also, according to {138} Barrett, in +Devonshire and in the fens of Norfolk and Cambridge. It occurs in the +Clydesdale district, Ross, Argyllshire, and Sutherland in Scotland; and in +Ireland it seems to be widely spread and common in some localities. + +THE CHINESE CHARACTER (_Cilix glaucata_). + +Probably in reference to the grey-brown oval blotch on the middle of the +white fore wings, this moth was known to the older entomologists by the +English name of "Goose-egg." On the blotch, however, there are silvery +marks on the veins, and below it (often attached) there is a blackish +blotch with some bluish silvery scales upon it. These markings probably +suggested to Haworth the name Chinese Character by which it is commonly +known (Plate 71). + +The caterpillar is reddish brown, with a darker line along the back, and a +paler patch on rings three to five, extending as a narrow stripe to the +dark-brown spiked tail; two raised warts on rings two and three, with a +white dot between the hinder pair. Head darker brown, paler in front. It +feeds in June and early July, and in September and October, chiefly on +hawthorn and sloe, but it will also eat apple and pear. The chrysalis, +which is enclosed in a brown, rather tough, silken cocoon, spun up among +leaves or under loose bark, is greyish on the wing covers, and reddish on +the body. + +The moth is out in May and early June, and again from late July well into +August. Sometimes it may be seen resting on a leaf in a hedgerow. When +disturbed in the daytime, which may happen where one is beating the bushes, +it falls, rather than flies, to the ground. At night it may be netted as it +flies along the hedgeside or wood borders in almost every county of England +and Wales. In Scotland its range seems not to extend north of Clydesdale. +Kane states that it is "widely spread, but not generally at all numerous" +in Ireland. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 70. + 1. OAK HOOK-TIP: _caterpillar_. + 2, 2a, 2b, 2c. BARRED HOOK-TIP: _egg, enlarged; caterpillar, chrysalis + and cocoon_. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 71. + 1. OAK HOOK-TIP, _male_; 2 _female_. + 3. BARRED HOOK-TIP, _male_; 4 _female_. + 5, 7. SCALLOPED HOOK-TIP, _males_; 6, 8 _females_. + 9. CHINESE CHARACTER, _male_; 10 _female_. + +{139} + +NOLIDÆ. + +Some thirteen or fourteen species occurring in Europe are referred by +Staudinger to this family. Only five of these occur in the British Isles. +The moths are of rather small size, less, in fact, than some of the +so-called "Micros," among which they have been placed. Probably they may, +for this reason, be overlooked. They mostly sit head downwards on the +trunks, branches, or leaves of trees, sometimes on palings, but the rarer +ones hide themselves among the thick, low herbage. The time of flight is +after dark, and the moths occasionally visit the sugar patch. The +caterpillar has only eight false legs (prolegs), the first pair being the +absent ones; the body is clothed with tufts of hair, the hairs of the front +and rear tufts longer than the others. When full grown it spins a more or +less spindle-shaped, toughish cocoon of silk mixed with the larval hairs, +which is usually coated with particles scraped from the surface of twig or +stem upon which it is spun up. + +THE SHORT-CLOAKED MOTH (_Nola cucullatella_). + +The fore wings are whitish or greyish, with a dark, almost black, patch at +the base; this patch is marked with whitish, and is limited by the first +cross line, which is black and curved; the second line, also black, is wavy +and curved inwards towards the front margin; between these lines is a dusky +central shade, commencing in a blackish spot on the front margin, and +sometimes forming an inward border to the second line; a raised tuft of +white, grey-capped scales on the basal patch, and two other tufts beyond it +and in a line with the front margin; hind wings dark grey, paler towards +the base (Plate 73). + +The caterpillar is reddish brown, clothed with short greyish hairs; the +spots and central line on the back are whitish. It {140} hatches from the +egg early in August, and after feeding for a while, retires to winter +quarters, selecting some sheltered cranny, such as a chink in the tree +bark, where it spins over itself a few strands of silk. Feeding is resumed +in May and June, after hibernation, usually on the upperside of leaves of +sloe and whitethorn, and also of fruit trees, such as apple and plum, and +sometimes pear (Plate 72). + +The moth is out in June and July. It flies at dusk. + +Widely distributed and generally common in the south of England; somewhat +rare in Scotland--perhaps overlooked. It has been reported from Ireland, +but is not mentioned by Kane in his catalogue of Irish Lepidoptera. + +THE SMALL BLACK ARCHES (_Nola strigula_). + +Fore wings greyish white, freckled and dusted with grey brown at the base +and on the front and outer margins; two black wavy and toothed cross lines; +between the base of the wing and the second line are three raised tufts of +grey brown tipped whitish scales: hind wings dark grey, paler towards the +base (Plate 73). + +The caterpillar feeds, probably after hibernation, from April to June, on +the undersides of oak leaves. It is pale ochreous in colour, with pale +reddish brown warts and star-like tufts of hair; a blackish bar on the back +of ring six; head blackish. + +The moth emerges from the chrysalis in July. It occurs in oak woods in +Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hants, Somerset and Gloucestershire; also in Berks, +Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex, but it is very local and seems to be +restricted to a more or less limited area in all its known haunts, among +which the most favoured are perhaps the New Forest in Hampshire and Abbots +Wood in Sussex. In some years it may be fairly common, or even plentiful, +and then becomes quite scarce during several seasons in the same place. +{141} + +THE LEAST BLACK ARCHES (_Nola confusalis_). + +Very similar to the last species, but whiter; the first line is curved +towards the second tuft of raised scales, thence gently curved to the inner +margin, above which there is a slight inward angle or elbow; the second +line is less wavy; hind wings whitish grey with a black central dot, and in +the male whiter along the inner area. The head and palpi of this species +are white, but _strigula_ has a greyish white head and dark palpi. Again, +the antennæ in the male of the present species are ciliated, but in male +_strigula_ they are bipectinated (Plate 73). + +The caterpillar, which feeds in July and August on the leaves of oak, +beech, sloe, and apple, etc., is reddish, inclining to yellow on the back, +which is traversed by black lines, the central double and interrupted on +rings seven to nine by rusty V-shaped marks. + +The moth flies in May and June. + +This species appears to have a wider distribution than either of the +others. It is the only one known with certainty to occur in Ireland, and it +is widely spread in that country. In Scotland it is found in Perthshire and +Ayrshire, and probably is present in other parts. In England it is obtained +in most counties, except perhaps the northern, although it has been +recorded from various parts of Yorkshire. + +KENT BLACK ARCHES (_Nola albula_). + +Fore wings white, largely light brown between the obscure cross lines; +outer marginal area clouded, and front margin dotted with light brown; +three tufts of raised scales placed as in previous species; hind wings of +the male, greyish white, browner on the outer margin; of female, brownish +grey. Varies in the amount of light brown, and sometimes this is much +reduced; more rarely it disappears entirely (Plate 73). {142} + +The caterpillar varies in colour from ochreous with pink tinge to bone +white; the warts are set with pale hairs and those along the back and at +each extremity are longest; a double greyish line along the middle of the +back, and a series of black marks on each side; these marks unite across +the back on rings six and ten. After hibernation, it feeds in Spring until +June, on the young growth of bramble, raspberry, strawberry, and cinquefoil +(_Potentilla reptans_), and is stated to also eat hemp agrimony +(_Eupatorium cannabinum_). The brownish cocoon is constructed on a stem of +grass and in appearance looks not unlike a swelling of the stem. + +This species was first observed in England in the year 1859, when four +specimens were taken in July at Chattenden Roughs, a large hilly wood in +North-east Kent. It still occurs, no doubt, in the Kentish locality +referred to, but is now very scarce there compared with what it must have +been some twenty-five years ago. Barrett notes a specimen from the Isle of +Wight. Mr. G. T. Porritt states that he has seen one of two examples +captured in South Devon in 1901; and another, a male, has been recorded as +taken at light in a house near Weymouth, Dorset, in August, 1904, and from +Lewes in 1906. + +At the time the first specimens were met with in England the species seems +to have been rare, or little known on the Continent. Since then knowledge +of its distribution has vastly increased, and it has now been found not +only in many parts of Central Europe, but also in Finland, Italy, Dalmatia; +Asia Minor, Persia, and extending into Amurland and Japan. + +THE SCARCE BLACK ARCHES (_Nola centonalis_). + +The general colour of this moth is white; the fore wings more or less +sprinkled and clouded with brownish grey or dark grey, and crossed by two +black lines, the first curved and the second slightly waved, indented and +edged inwardly with ochreous brown; the three raised tufts are white, +capped with grey (Plate 73). + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 72. + 1, 1a. SHORT-CLOAKED MOTH: _caterpillar and cocoon_. + 2, 2a, 2b. GREEN SILVER-LINES: _caterpillar and cocoon_. + 3, 3a, 3b. SCARCE SILVER-LINES: _caterpillar before hibernation, + chrysalis and cocoon_. + 4, 4a. LARGE MARBLED TORTRIX: _caterpillar and cocoon_. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 73. + 1. CREAM-BORDERED GREEN PEA. + 4, 7. GREEN SILVER LINES. + 10. SCARCE SILVER LINES. + 2, 3. SHORT-CLOAKED MOTH. + 5. SMALL BLACK ARCHES. + 6. LEAST BLACK ARCHES. + 13. KENT BLACK ARCHES. + 8, 9, 11, 12. SCARCE BLACK ARCHES. + +{143} This is the only really variable species among the five occurring in +this country. In some specimens the space between the cross lines is +largely filled in with dark grey, and in other specimens the wings are +almost entirely white, traces of the cross lines being the only markings. + +Mr. Robert Adkin, who has reared this species from the egg, kindly allowed +me to select specimens from his fine series to illustrate the range of +aberration; these are figured on Plate 73. + +Caterpillar brownish inclining to purplish, with an ochreous line along the +middle of the back and some brown V-shaped black marks. Head blackish +brown. It feeds in May, after hibernation, on various clovers, preferring +the blossoms, and bird's-foot trefoil (_Lotus corniculatus_). + +The moth appears some time between mid-July and mid-August. The late Mr. +Tugwell, by keeping some larvæ, reared from the egg, in a warm room induced +them to feed up instead of hibernating, and they attained the moth state in +December. + +This is another exceedingly local species in England. It was first taken at +Bembridge in the Isle of Wight in 1858, and one or two specimens have since +been obtained in that island. Examples have also occurred on the cliffs +near Hastings, and at Folkestone; and one has been recorded as taken in a +light trap at Woodbridge in Suffolk, July 21, 1904. The headquarters for +the species in this country are the Deal sand-hills, on the Kentish coast, +where it was discovered over a quarter of a century ago, and probably +occurs still. + +CHLÖEPHORIDÆ. + +Authors are not at all agreed as to the systematic position of this family, +and there seems to be some difference of opinion as to the species that +properly belong to it. Sir George Hampson {144} has transferred the group +to the Noctuidæ and separated _S. revayana_ from the others, placing it in +his sub-family Sarrothripinæ, to which also belong certain Indian species. + +Only four species occur in our islands. Three of these have green fore +wings and pale grey or whitish hind wings. The other species, _Sarrothripa +revayana_, has the fore wings of various shades of grey, brown, or +blackish; its boat-shaped cocoon is very like a small edition of that of +_Hylophila bicolorana_, and, although the caterpillar is in some respects +not very dissimilar to those of the green-winged species, the moth does not +seem quite to be one of their set. + +THE CREAM-BORDERED GREEN PEA (_Earias chlorana_). + +In size, colour of the fore wings, and general appearance this moth might +be mistaken for the much more common Green Tortrix (_Tortrix viridana_). On +examination however, it will be seen to have white hind wings, whilst those +of the _Tortrix_ are grey. Again, the head, front of thorax, and front edge +of the fore wings are white in the present species (Plate 73). + +The caterpillar is green, inclining to whitish on the back, the latter +lined with brownish, and bearing warts on rings six and eleven. It feeds in +July and August on the terminal leaves of osier and willow; these leaves +are drawn together with silk, and the solid appearance of the foliage at +the end of the twig will afford a clue to the probable whereabouts of the +caterpillar when one is searching for it. Chrysalis, brown, darker on the +back, paler on the under parts, and on the wing covers; enclosed in a tough +boat-shaped cocoon which is often constructed on the bark of a twig or stem +of the food plant. As a rule the moth does not emerge until the following +year, but in some years a few will appear in the autumn, and others remain +in the chrysalis until the following May or June. + +This species inhabits damp places where there are osiers, {145} and it is +especially common in the fens. It occurs in most of the southern and +eastern counties of England, but does not seem to be recorded from other +parts of the British Isles. + +GREEN SILVER LINES (_Hylophila prasinana_). + +The bright green fore wings are crossed by two shaded silvery lines, and a +narrow silvery band, the latter running from the tip of the wing to the +inner margin, and usually there is a whitish shade between the two lines; +the fringes are reddish, or pinkish, and the front and inner margins are +tinged with the same colour, sometimes strongly so on the inner margin. The +hind wings of the male are whitish, tinged with yellowish green; fringes +white, more or less tinted with reddish; in the female the hind wings are +entirely silky white. Antennæ reddish (Plate 73). + +Caterpillar, green, with yellowish dots, lines on the back, and edging to +first ring of the body; the anal claspers are marked above with red. It +feeds in August and September on the leaves of oak, birch, beech and nut +(Plate 72). + +The chrysalis is purplish above merging into pale brown beneath; wing-cases +ochreous brown; the dorsal surface, especially the ring divisions, are +dusted with whitish dots. It is enclosed in a papery cocoon of a pale pinky +brown colour; frequently spun up on the back of a leaf, but also in a +curled leaf, bark chink, or among herbage and litter on the ground. + +The moth flies in June and July, and is not uncommon in woods throughout +the greater part of England, it may be beaten from trees, and is often to +be seen sitting on bracken and other undergrowth. It is also found in +Scotland up to Moray, and seems to be pretty generally distributed in +Ireland. The range of this species abroad extends through Northern and +Central Europe, South Russia, Siberia, to Japan. {146} + +SCARCE SILVER LINES (_Hylophila bicolorana_). + +The green colour of the fore wings of this moth is rather paler than of +those of the last species; they are crossed by two almost parallel +yellowish lines; hind wings white and silky. Antennæ whitish towards the +tip and reddish towards the base (Plate 73). + +Caterpillar green, sometimes tinged with yellow, a dark line along the +middle of the back is edged on each side with whitish. + +The chrysalis is pale greenish, with a narrow black stripe from the head +along the thorax extending to the fourth abdominal ring; the wing cases +reach the sixth ring, which together with the back of the fifth are +roughened with fine blackish points. + +Cocoon boat-shaped with the keel raised at the head end. When the moth +emerges from this end the cocoon closes up tightly again, so that no +opening is to be seen; slight pressure on the back will cause the exit slit +to open. + +This rather local species is perhaps commoner in the eastern counties of +England than elsewhere, but it occurs in the oak woods of Berkshire, and +southward to Kent and Hampshire. Much scarcer in the west and midlands, and +apparently unknown in the north. Barrett gives Galway and Queen's County in +Ireland, but adds that it is rare. + +Distributed over Central and Southern Europe, and its range extends to +South Sweden, and Asia Minor. + +SARROTHRIPINÆ. + +THE LARGE MARBLED TORTRIX (_Sarrothripa revayana_). + +This is a most variable species, ranging from greyish white through various +shades of brown to blackish; the grey and the {147} brown forms are +sometimes tinged with green. In the illustration some of the more usual +forms of marking are shown. 1 (more or less typical) and 2 are the most +common; 5 (_ramosana_) is less frequently met with; 4 (_ilicanus_) has ashy +brown fore wings with a black bar at the base, three black dots on the +disc, and a series of black dots before the outer margin, the triangular +marking on the front margin is reddish; 3 is a modification of the typical +form approaching var. _dilutana_; 6 is of the _afzelianus_ form, with shiny +brownish fore wings and black markings. + +[Illustration: FIG. 23. + +LARGE MARBLED TORTRIX.] + +The caterpillar is green with whiter ring divisions; a few long whitish +hairs on each segment; a faintly darker line along the back, and a paler +interrupted line along the sides. Head yellowish green marked with brownish +and sparsely clothed with whitish hairs. It feeds in June and July on the +leaves of oak and sometimes on sallow. It spins a whitish boat-shaped +cocoon on the under side of an oak leaf or twig, and therein turns to a +pale green chrysalis with a broad purple brown stripe along the back from +the head; the blunt last ring is tinged with purplish brown and the edge of +the ring immediately before it is fringed with minute hooks (Plate 72, +Figs. 4, 4a). + +The moth seems to be out from August to April. It may be {148} beaten from +trees and bushes throughout the autumn, and during the later months of the +year it seems to hide in yews and hollies. Just before dusk it becomes +active and may then be netted as it flies; later on it may be seen regaling +itself on overripe blackberries, or on the ivy blossom, and it is not an +infrequent visitor to the sugar patch. + +The species has been found in almost every part of England and Wales +wherever there are oak woods. In Scotland it occurs up to Argyllshire and +Moray. For Ireland, Kane gives Tyrone, Westmeath, Galway, Kerry, and +Limerick. + +Distribution abroad: Central and Southern Europe, extending northwards to +Scandinavia, and eastwards to Amurland and Japan. + +ARCTIIDÆ. + +In this family Staudinger includes 161 species known to occur in the +Palæarctic Region. About forty of these are found in Europe, and thirty-one +of the latter rank as British species. + +The family is usually divided into two sub-families--Arctiinæ and +Lithosiinæ, fifteen of our species being referred to the former and sixteen +to the latter. In both groups the caterpillars are hairy, but the hairs are +usually longer in those of the "Tigers" than in those of the "Footmen"; the +latter, too, are lichen feeders, whilst the others prefer the foliage of +plants. + +TIGER MOTHS (_Arctiinæ_). + +The moths in this sub-family have short, or, rather, stout bodies, and +ample wings; and as the tongue is imperfectly developed in most of the +species, flowers have not the same attraction for them as for the +long-winged and slender-bodied Lithosiinæ, most members of which have this +organ well developed. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 74. + WHITE ERMINE MOTH. + _Caterpillar, chrysalis and cocoon._ + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 75. + 1, 2, 3. WHITE ERMINE MOTH. + 4, 5. MUSLIN MOTH, _females_; 6 _male_. + 7. WATER ERMINE, _male_; 8 _female_. + +{149} + +THE WHITE ERMINE (_Spilosoma menthastri_). + +Older English names for this generally distributed and often common species +are The Great Ermine Moth of Wilkes (1773), Harris (1778), and The Large +Ermine of Haworth. + +On Plate 75 will be found three colour-forms of the moth. Fig. 1 has the +typical whitish colour, Fig. 2 is creamy on the fore wings, and Fig. 3 has +the fore wings buff. The last represents a specimen from Scotland, where, +especially in the western parts of the country, and also in the north of +Ireland, and the north-west of England, buff forms, both paler and much +darker than the one figured, are not uncommon. Sometimes the Scottish +specimens have smoky hind wings. As regards the black spots on the wings, +the species is subject to considerable variation. In some examples almost +all the markings are entirely absent; in others they are very small and +numerous, or large in size and number; the central spots on the fore wings +are often united, forming irregular designs. Again, there may be an unusual +amount of black spotting on the outer margins, and all other parts of the +wings free of spots. All these aberrations in marking, except, perhaps, the +central cluster, seem to occur in the various colour forms. An uncommon +form, known as var. _walkeri_, Curtis (Plate 78, Fig. 5), has the black +scales gathered together into streaks along the nervures of the fore wings; +modifications of this variety have also been found, or reared. Possibly by +the careful selection of parent moths showing tendency to the streaked +aberration it might happen in a generation or two that var. _walkeri_ would +turn up in the breeding cage to reward the rearer for trouble taken in the +experiment. + +The caterpillar, which is often not uncommon in gardens in August and +September, or even later, is brown, with long hairs, and a reddish stripe +along the middle of the back. It feeds on {150} the foliage of low-growing +plants, and does not appear to be specially attached to any particular +kind. The chrysalis is dark brown, in a close-fitting cocoon of silk and +hair from the caterpillar, spun up in odd corners on the ground or at the +base of a wall or fence, sometimes between the pales (Plate 74). + +The moth emerges in June, and may be seen sitting on walls, fences, trees, +or on the herbage growing on hedge banks; or even on the bare ground. It +often flies into houses when lighted up, and is a frequent attendant at the +public gas lamps and electric lights. The geographical range of this +species extends through Northern and Central Europe southward to North-West +Africa, and eastward to Amurland. + +THE WATER ERMINE (_Spilosoma urticæ_). + +The specimens of this white moth, depicted on Plate 75, are of the form +usually met with in Britain. To Haworth, Stephens, and other early +entomologists this was known by the English name of the "Water Ermine" (_S. +papyrata_, Marsham), whilst a rarer form--with a minute dot on the disc of +the fore wings, and three dusky spots on the hind wings, as in the White +Ermine--was the "Dingy White" of Haworth. Occasionally specimens are +obtained with extra black spots on the basal and front areas of the fore +wings. + +Caterpillar, dark brown with a purplish tinge, the hairs, arising in +spreading tufts from black warts, are dark brownish; spiracles white; head +black and glossy. Feeds in July and August on a variety of marsh plants, +among which are yellow loosestrife (_Lysimachia vulgaris_), mint (_Mentha +aquatica_), lousewort (_Pedicularis_), water dock (_Rumex hydrolapathum_), +and iris. It seems to affect plants growing under bushes, rather than those +more exposed. It is, presumably, not difficult to rear in confinement, as +there is a record of eight broods belonging to three generations, and all +descendants of a captured female, having been reared by Mr. Bacot. +Chrysalis dark reddish brown, in a cocoon similar to that of the last +species. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 76. + BUFF ERMINE MOTH. + _Eggs, natural size and enlarged; caterpillar, chrysalis and cocoon._ + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 77. + BUFF ERMINE MOTH _and varieties_. + +{151} The moth, which emerges in June, is rarely seen away from its +favourite haunts, which are marshes and fens; its English name is therefore +a very appropriate one. It is not often observed in the daytime, but is on +the wing early in the evening, and later on is pretty sure to be attracted +to any strong light that may be set up in its neighbourhood. The best +localities for the species seem to be the fens of Norfolk and Cambridge, +but it used to be fairly plentiful in many suitable parts of East Kent, and +no doubt still occurs in some of the marshes between Dartford and +Gravesend: it is found in Sussex in the Lewes and Brighton districts, and +has been recorded from Kimmeridge in Dorsetshire, from the Isle of Wight, +from near Burton-on-Trent, from the Lancaster district, and from +Pembrokeshire, South Wales. In Scotland it is rare, and, with the exception +of one example reported as taken in an illuminated moth trap at Clonbrock, +May, 1896, not known to occur in Ireland. + +The distribution abroad extends over Central and Northern Europe, through +South Russia to Amurland. + +THE BUFF ERMINE (_Spilosoma lubricipeda_). + +This species is now known by the English name of the Buff Ermine, but the +names bestowed upon it by some ancient writers were perhaps hardly more +suitable. Thus Wilkes in 1773 called it the "Spotted Buff Moth," and Harris +five years later dubbed it the "Cream-dot Stripe." The ground colour is +generally some shade of buff, in the paler specimens merging into cream, +and in the darker to yellowish ochre. In the matter of black marking the +range of variation is extensive. The specimens figured on Plate 77 +illustrate something of this variation, both as regards colouring and +marking. The females are, as a rule, paler than the males, but occasionally +examples {152} of the latter sex are quite as pale as any female. Figures 7 +and 8 represent var. _zatima_, Cramer. Originally this form was only known +to occur in Heligoland. The same form, or a modification of it, was +described by Haworth as _radiata_, from a Yorkshire specimen. Then, in +1837, specimens of the variety were reared with the normal form of the +species from caterpillars obtained at Saltfleet in Lincolnshire; and +subsequently a few more examples were reported from the last named county, +and elsewhere. In 1891 a specimen of var. _zatima_ emerged from an +assortment of chrysalids sent to Mr. Harrison of Barnsley from a London +correspondent. This particular specimen was of the female sex, and it +paired with a male which was also an aberration, but not of the _zatima_ +form. Some of the offspring resulting from this union were of the female +parent form, others favoured the male parent, and others again were +intermediate. In the course of a few generations almost entire broods of +the _zatima_ variety were obtained. Allowing the sexes of _zatima_ to mate +with those of more or less ordinary _lubricipeda_, the late Mr. W. H. +Tugwell obtained many very interesting aberrations, one of which he named +var. _eboraci_, and another _fasciata_. The _zatima_ form and its various +modifications have now been reared by entomologists all over the country, +and presumably directly or indirectly from the original Barnsley stock. In +Yorkshire especially the race has been improved; the specimens are larger +and darker, and there is a tendency towards the almost entirely black form +known as var. _deschangei_. + +The pale whitish green eggs are laid in batches on leaves, sometimes high +up on birch trees, or virginia creeper, but more usually on the foliage of +low growing plants; it is often common in gardens. At first the caterpillar +is tinged with yellowish, but it afterwards becomes greyish, and finally +brownish. When full grown the hairs, with which the body is clothed, are +brown; there is a yellowish or whitish grey stripe along each side, and an +obscure somewhat reddish {153} tinted line down the middle of the back. +Head glossy brown. + +The glossy reddish-brown chrysalis is enclosed in a dingy coloured web-like +cocoon, which is spun up among leaves or litter on the ground. Mr. R. Adkin +found some of these cocoons spun up between the folds of an old brown +blanket used as a covering for a rabbit hutch in winter. The moth emerges +in June. Occasionally, in confinement, specimens will leave the chrysalis +in the autumn instead of passing the winter therein, as they more usually +do (Plate 76). + +A common and often abundant species over the greater part of the British +Isles. Its range abroad extends through Central and Northern Europe, South +Russia, and Tartary to Amurland, Corea, and West China. + +THE MUSLIN (_Diaphora mendica_). + +The early British authors knew this moth as the "Spotted Muslin" or "Seven +Spot Ermine" (Harris, 1778). The male is dark brown or blackish, with a few +usually obscure black dots on each wing. The female is silky white, with +more clearly defined, and often more numerous, black dots (Plate 75, Figs. +4-6). On Plate 78 will be found figures of the rarer and more extreme +aberrations of the female. Those represented by Figs. 3, 4, 6, 7, were +reared some years ago by Mr. G. T. Porritt, of Huddersfield, who at the +same time obtained a number of other interesting intermediate examples +("Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond.," 1889, p. 441, Pl. 14). Variation in the other +direction is towards the complete suppression of the black dots; and I have +seen specimens with only one such dot on each wing. + +In the var. _rustica_, shown on the same plate, it will be noted that the +males assimilate somewhat to the female coloration; the specimens (Figs. 1, +2), were bred by Mr. Robert Adkin in 1887. This form was not known to occur +in the British {154} Isles until 1885, when Mr. de V. Kane detected +specimens in a collection of insects made in Co. Cork, Ireland. It was next +heard of from Belfast, and then, in 1886, again, in Co. Cork, an example of +each sex was taken. The female specimen laid eggs, and some of these were +sent to Mr. Adkin, who not only was successful in rearing the moths, but in +1889 obtained a pairing between an almost white male _rustica_ and an +ordinary English female. Only four eggs were laid, and from these two male +moths resulted in May, 1890, both intermediate in colour between the two +forms. In all its early stages _rustica_ is identical with ordinary +_mendica_. + +Male specimens with pale yellowish grey coloured wings have been reared +from eggs laid by a female captured at Eltham, Kent, exhibiting a tendency +to the _rustica_ form. In the Barnsley district, Yorkshire, the males are +paler than usual, but in the Sheffield area of the same county the males +are black. From North Durham chrysalids, I have a smoky greyish form of the +male. + +The caterpillar is brownish grey covered with yellowish brown hairs arising +from greyish-ringed pale brown warts; a paler line along the middle of the +back, and some white dots forming a broken line below the black outlined +spiracles. Head pale chestnut brown, glossy. When newly hatched it is +whitish, tinged with yellow and semi-transparent; the dots and hairs are +dark grey. After the first moult the colour is greyish with black dots and +blackish hairs. Head yellowish, brown tinged. It feeds in July, sometimes +earlier, and August, and seems to thrive on the foliage of many kinds of +low-growing plants, such as dandelion, dock, plantain, chickweed, etc., and +also eats the leaves of birch and rose. Chrysalis, very dark brown, almost +black, glossy, but minutely pitted, giving a roughened appearance; enclosed +in a close fitting cocoon composed of silk and the caterpillar's hairs, +with particles of earth on the outside (Plate 79). The moth flies at night, +and except that a female may occasionally be seen on the wing, this species +is rarely observed in the daytime. May and June are the usual months for +this moth, but in 1906 a specimen was attracted to light on November 3. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 78. + 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7. MUSLIN MOTH _varieties_. + 5. WHITE ERMINE, _var. walkeri_. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 79. + MUSLIN MOTH. + _Eggs, natural size and enlarged; caterpillar, chrysalis and cocoon._ + +{155} Widely distributed, and often common in most English counties, in +parts of Wales, and in Scotland as far north at least as Ross. In Ireland +one male specimen of the typical form has been obtained in Co. Galway, and +one in Co. Clare; var. _rustica_ occurs in Co. Dublin, and Kings Co., +Waterford, Cork, Kerry, and Galway. + +THE RUBY TIGER (_Phragmatobia fuliginosa_). + +The English name given to this moth only suitably applies to the southern +reddish form of the species (Plate 80, Fig. 1 [male]). In the north of +England the fore wings are darkened with brownish and the hind wings with +blackish tints, until in Scotland the only trace of red colour is found on +the inner edge of the hind wings (var. _borealis_, Staudinger, Fig. 2 +[female]). In these dark specimens the body is also blackish. Very +occasionally, specimens approaching the northern form are obtained in South +England. A female moth captured by Mr. G. E. J. Crallan in May, 1901, at +Bournemouth, laid forty-eight eggs; thirty imagines were bred the same +year, two of which were _borealis_. On the south and south-west coasts the +black band of the hind wings exhibit a tendency to break up into spots; not +infrequently this is completely effected, and the specimens then approach +the larger South European form var. _fervida_, Staud. In a fine series of +this species from Cornwall, lately seen in Mr. A. Harrison's collection, +are a few specimens that come very close to the last-named form. A yellow +aberration has been recorded. The eggs are whitish and deposited in batches +on leaves. Up to the last moult the caterpillar is greyish or brownish, +with dark greyish or blackish {156} warts from which arise star-like tufts +of brown hairs; a reddish line along the middle of the back, and some +reddish spots on the sides. When full grown it is black, and the reddish +line on the back is almost hidden by closer and more compact tufts of black +hairs. Head black and glossy. + +The leaves of various low-growing plants afford it nourishment, but it is +very partial to dock, dandelion, golden-rod (_Solidago_), and plantain; it +is also fond of groundsel and lettuce in confinement, but these plants have +been found unsuitable if given too frequently. In the open it seems to feed +through the summer, hibernate when full grown, reappear in the early +spring, and in due course spin its brownish cocoon among herbage generally +low down near the ground; on moors it often makes the cocoon among the +twigs of heather as shown on Plate 81. The chrysalis is black, marked with +yellowish on the hind edge of each ring. The vitality of the caterpillar is +extraordinary. One known to have been embedded in ice for fourteen days at +least, became active in less than half an hour after the ice around it +melted. It pupated shortly afterwards. + +When eggs are obtained early, it is possible to have three generations of +the moth during the same year. Thus eggs deposited on May 8 produced +caterpillars which fed up quickly and attained the moth state in July. From +July eggs some of the caterpillars will outstrip their companions, pupate +in September, and appear as moths about a month later. The moth is to be +found in May and June, sometimes in July or August, in wood clearings, on +moors and rough hillsides, and also in water meadows, etc. It flies at +night, is attracted by light, and although it occasionally flies in the +sunshine, it is, as a rule, not often seen in the daytime. Occurs +throughout the British Isles to the Orkneys. Distribution: Europe, Western +and Central Asia, Amurland, Japan, North-west Africa, North America. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 80. + 1, 2. RUBY TIGER MOTH. + 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. WOOD TIGER MOTH. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 81. + 1, 1a. WOOD TIGER: _eggs and caterpillars_. + 2, 2a. RUBY TIGER: _caterpillar and cocoon_. + +{157} + +THE WOOD TIGER (_Parasemia plantaginis_). + +On Plate 80 are shown some of the forms of this attractive and somewhat +variable species. Figs. 3, 4, are male and female of the typical form found +in England. The most usual phase of variation is in the narrowing or +widening of the pale yellowish markings of the fore wings, and the black +markings on the hind wings; occasionally the yellow or the black increases +to such an extent that the fore wings appear to be almost entirely of the +one colour or the other. The hind wings range in colour from the normal +yellow through orange to red, and through pale shades of yellow to white; +on the other hand they are sometimes almost entirely black. The var. +_hospita_, Schiff. (Fig. 7), has all the wings white, and although it has +been reported from Shropshire, West Durham, the Lake District, etc., it has +been chiefly obtained in the Hebrides and in the highlands of Scotland. +Only males of this form are known; the females found with them have heavy +black markings on the hind wings, almost crowding out the reddish ground +colour. The creamy markings of the fore wings are narrow, and the central +spot small. + +The full-grown caterpillar is blackish above with greyish-black warts from +which arise tufts of blackish hairs, except on rings four to six, where the +hairs and the warts at the base of each tuft are reddish; the black hairs +of the hinder tufts are the longest (Plate 81). + +Twelve eggs laid by a female in Aberdeenshire were received on June 29, +1906. They were shining yellowish in colour, and were on a leaf of +plantain. The caterpillars resulting from these eggs were reared on a mixed +diet of forget-me-not (_Myosotis_), plantain, and groundsel, but evinced a +decided preference for the former. Some died young in moulting, but at the +beginning of August five were full grown, and four duly pupated in a slight +but roomy cocoon of silk, mixed with the caterpillar's hairs, {158} in +which the blackish brown chrysalis with the cast-off skin attached to the +tail was plainly visible. Four moths, all female, emerged at the end of +August, when the other caterpillar was still feeding, and seemingly about +mature. That caterpillar did not, however, pupate, or survive the winter. +As a rule the caterpillars hibernate when about half grown, and feed up in +April and May of the following year. The somewhat unusual rate at which +those just mentioned completed their growth was no doubt due to the heat of +the summer of 1906. + +The moth is to be found on heaths, moors, the slopes of chalk, and +limestone hills; also in woods that are not too thickly timbered and have a +good undergrowth of heather, etc. The males may sometimes be seen flying in +the sunshine, and they will then be noted to wing their way to some +particular spot where most likely a freshly emerged female will be the +attraction. The male is often started up from the heather or other herbage +as one walks along; or it may even rise from the bare ground upon which it +sometimes has a fancy to sit. The female seems to be more sluggish during +the daytime. + +The species is widely distributed over the British Isles, and its range +extends through Central and Northern Europe, and Northern Asia to Japan. + +THE CLOUDED BUFF (_Diacrisia sanio_). + +Fore wings of the male yellow, with a reddish and greyish central mark; +hind wings whitish, with blackish central spot and outer band; the inner +margin, fringes, and front edge light crimson. The female has orange fore +wings with reddish margins, veins, and central mark; hind wings orange, +with black basal area, central spot, and outer band (Plate 82). + +The female of this species is so different in appearance from the male that +it was described by Linnæus as distinct, under the name _russula_. In the +tenth edition of "Systema Naturæ" it is {159} No. 510, whereas _sanio_, the +male, is No. 506. We must, therefore, in accordance with the law of +priority, adopt the earliest name for the species, however much we regret +having to discard the old familiar name of _russula_. + +Although the central spot of the fore wings is subject to minor +modification in size, shape, and colour, it is in the hind wings that +variation chiefly occurs. In the male the blackish grey band on the outer +area of the hind wing may be broad and complete, or it may be broken up by +the veins into a series of bars; then, again, the bars tend to become +smaller and smaller until only tiny portions remain. Usually, the basal +third of the hind wings is more or less greyish, but sometimes the whole +surface almost, or quite up to the outer band, is clouded with dark grey. +The black markings of the female hind wings are apt to vary in a very +similar way. + +The caterpillar is reddish brown, covered with brown hairs; a yellow-marked +whitish stripe along the back, and two darkish stripes on the sides; a +white spot below each black margined spiracle. It hatches from the egg in +July, and as a rule hibernates when still small, completing growth in April +and May. It feeds on the leaves of many low plants, among which are +dandelion, dock, chickweed, and plantain. The chrysalis is brown, streaked +with greyish, and is enclosed in a flimsy cocoon among herbage, generally +on the ground. + +The moth, which inhabits heaths and mosses, is on the wing in June and +early July; the male may be put up on sunny days, but the female is not +often seen until early evening. After dark both sexes may be found on the +heather. + +It should be noted here that there are usually two broods of this species +abroad, and that in confinement it will develop a more or less complete +second brood in September with us. An instance is recorded of sixty-three +out of sixty-six caterpillars from eggs laid in early July, feeding up and +producing moths in the last week of September. The caterpillar is not an +easy one {160} to deal with during hibernation, so that it would always be +to the advantage of the rearer to get it through to the perfect state the +same year, whenever possible. + +The species is widely distributed over the south and east of England, and +South Wales. It occurs in Cheshire in all suitable places; in Lancashire it +is common on the moorlands, as at Witherslack and Methop, and it is not +uncommon near Quernmore, Clougha, and other places, in July. Local and +somewhat scarce as a rule in Yorkshire, but recorded as not uncommon in the +Scarborough district. In Scotland it is found in Roxburghshire, and +northwards to Aberdeen; and, according to Kane, it is widely spread, +although local, in Ireland. + +THE GARDEN TIGER (_Arctia caia_). + +How frequently the collector has had introduced to his notice, by some +non-entomological friend, or worthy cottage dame, a "fine butterfly," only +to find that the supposed prize, usually imprisoned under an inverted +tumbler, was just an ordinary specimen of the gaudy, but common, Garden +Tiger. Few persons living in the country, and at all interested in the +natural objects around them, will fail to recognize the portraits on Plate +82; other figures, however, on Plate 84 will appear strange, and yet they +only portray some of the many forms which the moths assume. Possibly it +would be true to say that no two specimens could be found that were exactly +identical in tint and marking. Even the markings of any one example are +frequently not precisely alike on corresponding wings. Normally the fore +wings are white or creamy-white with dark brown markings, and the hind +wings are red with deep blue centred black spots, often ringed with yellow. +The dark markings of the fore wings are most inconstant in size and in +form; in some cases they are so greatly enlarged that these wings might be +described as dark brown with narrow, irregular whitish markings (Plate 84, +Fig. 1). On the other hand, but less frequently perhaps, the dark markings +are narrowed, shortened, and reduced in number, until only spots remain on +a white or creamy ground (Plate 84, Fig. 2). The red colour of the hind +wings is sometimes crimson in tone, or it assumes an orange tint, and less +often it gives place to yellow; the central spots often unite and form a +band, or some, occasionally all, disappear; the marginal spots sometimes +run into a band. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 82. + CLOUDED BUFF MOTH, 1 _male_; 2 _female_. + GARDEN TIGER MOTH, 3 _male_; 4 _female_. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 83. + CLOUDED BUFF MOTH. + _Eggs natural size and enlarged; caterpillar._ + +{161} Besides aberration, such as that referred to above, curious abnormal +specimens occur in the breeding cage from time to time, but these are often +more or less deformed. It is, perhaps, remarkable, that so few "good +things" in the way of varieties are obtained from collected caterpillars, +even when these are reared by hundreds. Possibly, if the breeder started +operations with a stock of eggs from unusually pale or unusually dark +females, and then reserving only the lightest or the darkest, as required, +of each generation to continue the experiment, some interesting light or +dark "strains" might result in course of time. The objection to this is +that before the desired result was obtained the stock might be weakened by +"inbreeding," and the moths consequently deformed. If, however, the same +line of experiment were conducted by several people, each living in a +different part of the country, and with stock selected from the products of +his own locality, eggs, caterpillars, or chrysalids might be exchanged, +say, after the second year, and in this way the effect of "inbreeding" +would be minimized. + +The caterpillar, generally known as the "Woolly Bear," is not at all an +uncommon object throughout the country, and is, perhaps, even more often +noticed in gardens, including those of suburban London. The figures of the +early stages of this moth, on Plate 85, are all from material obtained in +my own small garden. {162} + +The foliage of pretty well all low plants, and tall ones, such as the +hollyhock and sunflower, too, seem to be equally acceptable to this larva. +It is not often seen before hibernation, but in the early days of spring it +will be noticed sunning itself on walls and fences that have a good crop of +nettles, dock, or other weeds at their base or around them; or it may be +searched for on the undersides of dock, etc. Mr. Frohawk records these +caterpillars as swarming from mid-May to mid-June, 1904, in the Scilly +Isles. He states that they occurred in such myriads that no vegetation +escaped them, and that they devoured anything from stonecrop to the foliage +of shrubs of various kinds. Every path and roadway was dotted all over with +their crushed bodies. + +In the open the moth is on the wing in July and sometimes in August. When +kept indoors the caterpillars, or at least some of them, will feed up +quickly and attain the moth state in September or October. + +The species is distributed over the whole of Europe, except Andalusia, +Sicily, and the southern part of the Balkan Peninsula, and its range +extends through Asia to Amurland, Corea, and Japan. + +THE CREAM-SPOT TIGER (_Arctia villica_). + +Although this moth does not vary to the same extent as its cousin the +Garden Tiger, it is still subject to considerable aberration in the size, +number, and position of the yellowish-white, or cream-coloured spots on the +fore wings and of the black spots and hind marginal markings of the hind +wings. The former are often much reduced in size, rarely perhaps so greatly +as to leave the fore wings almost entirely black; but they are sometimes so +greatly enlarged and united that these wings appear to be cream coloured +with black markings. On the hind wings the black spots nearest the base are +sometimes widened and lengthened so as to meet and form a transverse band; +in other specimens the black markings on the outer area are run together +into a patch. Occasionally both forms of hind wing aberration occur in the +same specimen. I am not aware of any case in which the hind wings are +spotless, but I have seen specimens in which this condition was very +closely approached. Very rarely the hind wings are suffused with black, and +at least two specimens with all the wings suffused with black have been +recorded. (Plate 87, Figs. 1-3.) + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 84. + GARDEN TIGER _varieties_. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 85. + GARDEN TIGER MOTH. + _Eggs, natural size and enlarged; caterpillars and chrysalis._ + +{163} + +The pearly white eggs are laid in neatly arranged batches on leaves. The +caterpillars hatch out in July, feed for a few weeks, and go into +hibernation while still small. They resume feeding in a favourable season +as early as mid-March. Some that I obtained at the end of March, then about +three parts grown, began to spin up on April 15. The full-grown caterpillar +is black with several star-like clusters of brown hairs on each ring, the +hairs on the back of the hinder rings rather longer and slightly curved +backwards; the head, legs, and claspers are red, approaching crimson. A +diet of dandelion suits it very well, but it will also eat chickweed, dock, +nettle, groundsel, and in fact almost any low-growing plant. The outer +leaves of lettuce are useful on occasion but should not be given +exclusively, and it also likes the tender shoots of gorse (_Ulex +europæus_). Chrysalis and cocoon somewhat similar to those of the last +species (Plate 86). + +The moth emerges in May and June. Occasionally a few larvæ will feed up and +the moths appear the same year, but this only happens in captivity and not +in the open. When reposing in the daytime, on a hedgebank for example, with +the fore wings closed down over and hiding the yellow hind wings this moth +is not so conspicuous as one might suppose it would be. At night it is +active on the wing and often flies into houses, attracted by the light. I +have put up specimens now and then {164} in hay fields, and once found half +a dozen along a short stretch of the Upper cliff at Ventnor, Isle of Wight. + +It is perhaps most frequent in the south-west, but the species seems to be +widely distributed and fairly common from Kent to Cornwall, and westward +from Hampshire to Gloucestershire. It also occurs in the eastern counties +to Cambridge and Norfolk. From Cheshire it has been twice reported, and two +specimens are said to have been taken, a few years ago, in the Lancaster +district. + +THE JERSEY TIGER (_Callimorpha quadripunctaria_). + +This handsome species long known as _C. hera_, Linn., but for which Poda's +earlier name _quadripunctaria_ must be adopted, has its English home in +South Devonshire. The species had been recorded as British as far back as +1855, when one moth was taken at Newhaven in Sussex; in 1859 a specimen was +obtained in North Wales, two were taken in Sussex, 1868, and one was +captured in the Isle of Wight in 1877. The last-mentioned example was +kindly presented to me by the captor, Mr. Rowland Brown. For the county of +Devon, the earliest record is that of a specimen netted in a garden at +Alphington, near Exeter, in 1871, followed soon after by a report of others +at a place near Lodderwell. Ten or eleven years later the moth was found at +Dawlish, and in that neighbourhood and in other parts of a wide area +stretching from Exeter to Teignmouth, and perhaps further west, it has been +taken almost every year up to the present time (1907). Large numbers of +eggs have been obtained and distributed among entomologists, many of whom +have successfully wintered the caterpillars and eventually reared the +moths. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 86. + CREAM-SPOT TIGER MOTH. + _Caterpillars, chrysalis and cocoon._ + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 87. + 1, 2. CREAM-SPOT TIGER MOTH, _males_; 3 _female_. + +{165} The principal variation is in the colour of the hind wings and the +body, which usually are red, but in var. _lutescens_, Staud., are yellow; +between the red and the yellow forms there are all kinds of orange and +other intergrades. There is also variation in the black markings at the +inner angle of the fore wings, some or all of which are sometimes absent. A +specimen with the inner margin of the fore wings black instead of +creamy-white has been recorded, and a specimen with whitish hind wings is +stated to have been seen but not secured. The moth is shown on Plate 89, +and the early stages on Plate 88. + +The eggs, which are laid in batches, are pale yellowish when deposited, but +assume a deep violet tint before hatching. Mr. W. Hewett (_Entom._ xxviii.) +states that in the case of seventeen female moths that he captured in +August, 1895, the average number of eggs laid by each was 133, and as +regards fourteen batches of eggs, the caterpillars hatched out in fifteen +or sixteen days. + +When nearly full grown the caterpillar is blackish with an orange stripe +along the back and a series of creamy white spots on the sides; the hairs, +arising from shining light brown warts, are pale brown mixed with greyish +ones; spiracles black ringed with white, under surface greyish. Head black +and glossy. It hatches from the egg in the autumn and goes into hibernation +while still very small; reappearing in the spring and feeding on until +July, when it spins a flimsy silken web-like cocoon well down among moss +and litter. The food plants are dandelion, white deadnettle (_Lamium +album_), ground ivy (_Nepeta glechoma_), groundsel, plantain, nettle, +borage (_Borago officinalis_), and lettuce. + +The moth emerges in July and August in a state of nature, but often as +early as June in confinement. It sits by day among the herbage, and in the +bushes of hedgerows, but readily quits its retreat when disturbed. The +normal time of flight is at night; and that light has an attraction for the +moths is evident from the fact that they have been known to fly into +cottages at the rate of three or four in an evening. + +The species is distributed throughout Southern Europe, its {166} range +extending to Holland, Belgium, and Livonia. It was known as an inhabitant +of the Channel Islands long before it became established in England. + +THE SCARLET TIGER (_Callimorpha dominula_). + +Except in minor details this tropical-looking moth (Plate 89) seems little +given to variation in England. In parts of Central and Southern Europe, and +Asia Minor, striking forms occur, and some of these are very occasionally +found with us. Among such rare aberrations in this country are var. +_rossica_, Kol., with yellow hind wings; and var. _bithynica_, Staud., with +the spots on the fore wings yellow, and the hind wings of the normal +crimson colour. A South European form, var. _persona_, Hübn., has the hind +wings and body black, with some yellow marks on the basal area; spots on +the fore wings smaller than in the type. Specimens approaching this form +have been reported from Kent, which county is also noted for "black +_dominula_." In the latter variety the hind wings, body, and spots on fore +wings are blackish; it is exceedingly rare. A specimen taken at St. +Margaret's Bay, Kent, some years back has the spots on the fore wings +blurred, due to a cloudy suffusion filling up the space between them; the +spots on the hind wings are pale. + +Caterpillar, black, hairy, with bands of more or less connected spots, +yellow or yellowish in colour, down the middle of the back, and along the +sides; the hairs, arising from shining black warts, are grey with some +black ones intermixed. Head, glossy black. It hatches from the egg in July +or August, feeds for awhile, then hibernates, and completes its growth in +April or May. A number of plants have been mentioned as suitable food for +these caterpillars, but the favourites are, perhaps, nettle, groundsel, +hound's-tongue (_Cynoglossum officinale_), bramble, sloe, and sallow (Plate +88). + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 88. + 1, 1a. JERSEY TIGER: _caterpillars and chrysalis_. + 2, 2a, 2b. SCARLET TIGER: _eggs, caterpillar, chrysallis and cocoon_. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 89. + 1, 2. SCARLET TIGER MOTH. + 3, 4. JERSEY TIGER MOTH. + +{167} + +The chrysalis is dark reddish, rather blacker above; enclosed in a silken +cocoon spun up among leaves, etc., on the ground. + +The moth emerges in June, and seems partial to marshy ground. It is found +in the district between Dover and Deal commonly, and in other parts of Kent +more rarely. Also in Hampshire, Devon, Dorset, South Wales, +Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Berkshire (water meadows by the Kennet), and +Hertfordshire (rare). Some years ago I found a few specimens in the Brandon +district, but it is not plentiful in Suffolk, and is rare in or absent from +Norfolk. It is found in Cambridgeshire, chiefly in Wicken fen. + +NOTE.--Although _Callimorpha_ is here left in its old position among +Arctiidæ, the genus has been referred by Hampson to Hypsidæ, a family of +moths belonging to the African, Oriental, and Australian regions. Our two +species are the sole representatives of the family in Europe. + +THE FEATHERED FOOTMAN (_Coscinia striata_). + +Altogether there do not appear to have been more than six or seven +specimens of this species (Plate 90) recorded as British. Stephens mentions +three of these, two males taken in the autumn of 1815, near Windsor; and +one specimen, without date, in the Isle of Anglesea. Of the others one +appears to have been taken in Yorkshire (1832), one in Essex, and another +in North Wales (1859). Barrett also refers to a specimen, which was +captured but afterwards escaped, near Bettws-y-Coed, North Wales, June, +1859, and gives some circumstantial details of the event. It appears, +therefore, that of the very limited number of British _striata_ North Wales +has furnished almost half. The species is widely distributed in Europe, +except the most northern part; the range extending into Asia Minor, Syria, +Armenia, and Amurland. Abroad, it occurs on heaths, and in warm dry places. +The caterpillar is blackish-brown, {168} marked with orange on the back, +and white on the sides; the warts are yellowish, and the hairs arising +therefrom are reddish brown; the head is black. It feeds in spring, after +hibernation, on grasses, heather, and low herbage, and becomes full grown +in May. + +THE SPECKLED FOOTMAN (_Coscinia cribrum_). + +The fore wings are whitish, crossed by three rows of blackish grey dots, +more or less connected, forming lines; and two streaks of the same colour +through the length of the wings, but not always extending to the outer +margin; a cross series of wedge-shaped marks or dots on the outer area; +hind wings grey. Sometimes the fore wings are wholly suffused with the +darker colour, and between such specimens and less frequent examples in +which the wings are almost devoid of marking, there are many gradations +(Plate 90, Figs. 1 [male], 2 [female]; 4, 5, 6 vars.). + +Eggs received from the New Forest, June 25, 1907, were laid around a +slender, bare, twig of heather, the batch measuring about three-quarters of +an inch in length. At first they were golden yellow, but afterwards became +pale purplish brown and very glossy (Plate 91). + +Although the eggs appear to be more frequently laid on heather than on +anything else, the caterpillars do not seem to be very partial to the plant +as an article of food if others are available. At the present time (October +13) I have about a score or so of young larvæ feeding, and apparently +thriving, on dandelion, lettuce, and grass, but they certainly seem to +prefer the first named. They are now rather over half an inch in length, +and yellowish brown in colour; there is a whitish grey stripe along the +back; the warts are shining black, and the hairs arising from them are +black, mixed with a few longer white ones; head blackish. + +Caterpillars after hibernation have been found on the grass, {169} _Aira +cæspitosa_, during March from about the 10th onwards; they are then about a +quarter of an inch long, and according to the late Mr. Fowler, always found +on the sunny side of the clumps of _Aira_ stretched out, and evidently +enjoying the warmth of the sun. Some collected in that month were reared on +groundsel, and produced moths from July 12 to August 20. The chrysalis is +at first reddish, afterwards shining jet black; in a slight egg-shaped +white silken cocoon, spun up in tufts of grass. + +In exceptional seasons the moth has emerged in late May, but June and July +are the usual months, and it may occur as late as August. It rests among +the heather, is easily disturbed on sunny days, and is very active on the +wing, although it does not fly far before settling again. The species is +very local in England, and only found on a heath near Bournemouth, in a +heathy district between Ringwood and Verwood in Dorset, and in a not +generally known part of the New Forest. + +THE CRIMSON SPECKLED (_Deiopeia pulchella_). + +This white moth, prettily speckled with black and red dots, is a native of +warmer countries than ours. However, it not only visits us now and then in +the course of its wanderings, but if the migrants arrive in England at a +suitable time of the year, the females most probably deposit eggs from +which caterpillars may hatch, and some of them feed up and produce moths +later in the same year. Stephens, writing in 1829, mentions a specimen +taken many years previously in Yorkshire. This was no doubt the earliest +known British example of Haworth's Crimson Speckled. A second specimen +captured in a field near Christchurch, Hants, in October, 1818, was figured +by Samouelle in 1819. Between the year last mentioned and 1827, two other +specimens occurred, both at Hove, Sussex. Stainton (1857) adds Epping, +Manchester, Stowmarket, and Worthing. In 1869 {170} three specimens were +taken in the autumn; and a specimen was found at Scarborough in June, 1870, +and one in Sussex. In 1871 a record was established, when at least thirty +specimens were obtained at various places on the east, south, and +south-west coasts, and in the Isle of Wight; one specimen being also +recorded from Manchester. Two specimens were taken in Cornwall, May, 1874, +and in the autumn of that year three occurred on the south coast, and one +in Derbyshire. The moth seems not to have been noticed in the springs of +1875 or 1876, but twenty-four specimens were recorded later in the former +year, and twenty-three in the latter. Between 1876 and 1892 less than +twenty specimens were reported altogether, and the species was either +entirely absent or overlooked in 1877, 1882, 1883, and from 1887 to 1891, +inclusive. In 1892 several moths were captured in May and June on the +coast; one at Brighton in July, two in the Hastings' district, and one at +Folkestone in August. Since 1892 and up to 1907, a period of fifteen years, +the species seems to have been rarely noted in England; the records showing +in 1894 (2), 1895 (1), 1906 (1). In 1901 three specimens were reported as +captured, and one seen at Earlsfield, Surrey, July 1 to 15. (Plate 92, +Figs. 3, 4.) + +The caterpillar is greyish with black warts from which arise tufts of +hairs, blackish on the back and pale greyish on the sides; a white line on +the back, and one on the sides. Each ring is often barred with orange. Head +reddish-ochreous marked with black. Feeds on forget-me-not (_Myosotis_), +borage (_Borago_), etc. The chrysalis is reddish brown, enclosed in a white +silken cocoon spun up among the food plant, or on the surface of the +ground; in the latter case particles of earth adhere to the outside. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 90. + 1, 2, 4, 5, 6. SPECKLED FOOTMAN MOTH. + 3. FEATHERED FOOTMAN MOTH. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 91. + SPECKLED FOOTMAN: _eggs and caterpillar_. + +{171} The caterpillar is said to feed only in the sunshine, so that in our +islands the weather conditions would often be most unfavourable to the +species in the larval state. On the other hand its sun-loving habit would +expose it to the attacks of parasitical flies and other enemies. Anyway, +the Crimson Speckled seems quite unable to increase and multiply to any +extent even for a season in any part of England. Along the African and +European borders of the Mediterranean there are evidently several +generations of the moth in each year; the life cycle of the summer broods +being short, but more protracted in the later brood. Brownlow states that +eggs laid on October 20, hatched on the 22nd of the same month, and the +caterpillar stage lasted until February of the following year. +Distribution: Southern Europe, Africa, Canaries, Madeira; Asia Minor, +Armenia, Central Asia; India, and Australia. + +Meyrick and others refer this species to _Utetheisa_, Hübn. + +THE CINNABAR (_Hipocrita jacobææ_). + +This species was named the Cinnabar by Wilkes in 1773, such name of course +referring to the more or less vermillion colour of the hind wings and the +markings on the greyish black fore wings. The hind wings are often pinkish +in tint, and probably it was to such specimens that Moses Harris gave the +name "Pink Underwing." Very rarely the stripe on the front edge of the fore +wings unites with the upper hind marginal spot; still less frequently there +are some crimson scales in addition connecting the two hind marginal spots. +Occasionally specimens have been recorded in which the usual red colour is +replaced by bright yellow. The moth is shown on Plate 92, Figs. 1, 2, and +the early stages on Plate 93, Fig. 1. + +The caterpillar is orange yellow and each ring is banded with purplish +black; the scanty hairs are short and blackish in colour. Head black. Feeds +in July and August on ragwort (_Senecio jacobæa_) and sometimes occurs in +such numbers as to completely clear large patches of the plant of every +particle of green, leaving nothing but the tougher portions of the bare +stems. {172} + +The chrysalis is dark-brown tinged with reddish; in a slight silken cocoon +just under the surface of the ground, or among any loose material on the +ground. + +[Illustration: FIG. 24. + +CINNABAR CATERPILLARS FEEDING. + +(Photo by W. J. Lucas.)] + +The moth is on the wing at the end of May and in June; odd specimens have +occasionally been seen in April. It occurs on waste ground, sandy heaths, +railway banks, downs, and hill-sides. Although fairly common generally, in +some years it is not at all plentiful even when caterpillars may have +abounded the previous season. When disturbed from among its food plant or +herbage around, it is not very active on the wing, and is easily captured. +Its usual time of flight is in the evening. Light seems to have an +attraction for it, as it has been taken at gas lamps in towns, some +distance from any place where the caterpillar could have fed. + +Occurs in all suitable places throughout the greater part of England and in +Scotland up to Moray. Common in Ireland. Its range abroad includes all +Europe, except the extreme north and extends into Asia. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 92. + 1. CINNABAR MOTH, _male_; 2 _female_. + 3. CRIMSON SPECKLED FOOTMAN, _male_; 4 _female_. + 5. RED-NECKED FOOTMAN, _male_; 6 _female_. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 93. + 1, 1a. CINNABAR: _caterpillar and chrysalis_. + 2, 2a. REDNECKED FOOTMAN: _caterpillar and chrysalis_. + +{173} + +FOOTMAN MOTHS (_Lithosiinæ_). + +The members of this sub-family of Arctiidæ occurring in the British Isles +are not numerous; we can only muster some fifteen species, and although a +few are not uncommon, several are exceedingly local. + +The moths of the genus _Lithosia_, when resting, fold their drab or +buff-coloured wings down closely along the body, and they then have a very +elongate and stiff appearance which probably gave rise to their English +name "Footmen." Most of them are very inactive, or even torpid during the +daytime. They repose on the branches and leaves of trees and bushes, or +among heather and other low herbage, and often fall to the ground when +disturbed. At dusk they become active and then fly pretty briskly. + +The caterpillars are very hairy, the hairs arising in tufts from warts +(tubercles) are usually short, but in some species are of moderate length. +The majority hatch from the egg in the late summer, and do not complete +their growth until the following year, about May or June. Some of them are +known to be more or less active through the winter. In a state of nature +most of the caterpillars feed on lichens growing on trees, bushes, rocks, +or on the ground, but many kinds in confinement will thrive on a diet of +lettuce or even withered leaves. + +In all cases the chrysalids are enclosed in silken cocoons, and these are +spun up among the lichens, in crevices of bark, or other suitable crannies. + +THE RED-NECKED FOOTMAN (_Atolmis rubricollis_). + +When newly emerged from the chrysalis this moth is black on all the wings, +but it soon loses its early velvety sheen and {174} becomes sooty in +appearance; the last rings are orange, but all the rest of the body is +black; the thorax also is black, but the part nearest the head, termed the +collar, is red, hence the common English name Red-neck moth given to it by +Harris (1778). Haworth called it the "Black Footman." + +The caterpillar is greyish, more or less freckled with ochreous; three +lines along the back, the central one whitish, the others black and +interrupted; the hairs arising from reddish warts are brown or greyish +brown. Head black. It feeds from July to October on lichens, chiefly those +growing on fir and oak, but also on beech, and on old palings. Chrysalis, +glossy dark red-brown in a tight-fitting cocoon of silk mixed with the +hairs of the caterpillar; spun up among the lichen. The moth is shown on +Plate 92, Figs. 5, 6, and the caterpillar and chrysalis on Plate 93. + +The moth is on the wing in June and July; in forward seasons as early as +the end of May. On a sunny afternoon it may be seen careering around trees, +generally pretty high up. When resting the moths sit about on the trees or +on the herbage under them. In some years it occurs in large numbers, but it +is not usually very abundant, and sometimes even in its best localities +only a few specimens will be seen during the season. It frequents woods, +especially the larger ones, throughout the southern half of England up to +Norfolk on the east, and Hereford on the west. In the northern counties it +is rare, and is not common in Scotland or Ireland. + +Abroad, its range is through Central and Northern Europe, except the +extreme north, to Dalmatia, Altai, and Amurland. + +THE MUSLIN (_Nudaria mundana_). + +This delicate little moth has the semi-transparent fore wings pale greyish, +faintly tinged with brown; crossed by irregular brownish lines; the hind +wings are paler, shaded with a darker tint on the outer margins. +Occasionally all the wings have a smoky tinge. The moth is shown on Plate +95, Figs. 3, 6, and the caterpillar and chrysalis on Plate 94, Fig. 2. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 94. + 1. CRIMSON SPECKLED FOOTMAN: _caterpillar_. + 2, 2a. MUSLIN MOTH: _caterpillar and chrysalis in cocoon_. + 3, 3a. FOUR-SPOTTED FOOTMAN: _caterpillar and chrysalis_. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 95. + 1. ROUND-WINGED MUSLIN MOTH, _male_; 4 _female_. + 2, 5. ROSY FOOTMAN. + 3. MUSLIN FOOTMAN, _male_; 6 _female_. + 7. DEW MOTH, _male_; 9 _female_. + 8. FOUR-DOTTED FOOTMAN, _male_; 10 _female_. + 11. FOUR-SPOTTED FOOTMAN, _male_; 12 _female_. + +{175} The caterpillar is greyish, with a broad whitish or yellowish stripe +along the back, divided down the centre and edged by blackish lines; a +velvety black mark on ring seven; raised warts and hairs dark greyish. Head +black, shining; face yellowish. It may be found in April and May, after +hibernation, on rocks, stone walls, especially those formed of loose +cobbles or shale, trees, bushes, and even gate posts. I have beaten them +from an old hawthorn hedge bordering a damp meadow in Middlesex, and +collected them in numbers from the hollows of field boundary walls in North +Devon. They feed on the tiny lichen that grows in such places as those +indicated. The green, or yellowish-green chrysalis, is enclosed in a rather +loose muslin-like silken cocoon, and is not difficult to obtain, especially +from walls. It appears to be pretty generally distributed throughout +England and Wales, except perhaps the midland and eastern counties; it +occurs in the east and west of Scotland. In Ireland it is common, and often +abundant, locally. + +Distribution: Northern and Central Europe. + +THE ROUND-WINGED MUSLIN (_Comacla senex_). + +As indicated by the English name given to it by Haworth, the wings of this +moth are rounder in outline than those of the Muslin, also named by +Haworth. In general colour it agrees with that species, but it differs in +having a larger central dot, and the cross lines are represented by +blackish dots which, however, are not always well defined (Plate 95, Figs. +1, 4). + +The caterpillar, as described by Buckler, is deep reddish-grey, thickly +covered with hairs which are of two kinds; the majority are pale brown with +black points and slightly feathered, others are longer, black, and densely +feathered with soft pale-brown {176} plumage. Head black and shining. It +feeds in August and, after hibernation, in May on lichens and mosses +growing on the ground in marshes and fens. It is known to eat _Peltigera +canina_, and the mosses _Hypnum sericeum_, and _Weissia serrata_. Although +occurring, in July and August, in marshy places in several parts of +Southern England and Wales, it is especially common in fen land. In such +localities as Wicken, for example, it flies at early dusk in hundreds all +over the fen on favourable nights, but if there happens to be a breeze the +moths will not leave their retreat among the herbage. Later on in the +night, if on the wing, they readily assemble around a brightly burning +lamp, and are satisfied to sit on the herbage illuminated by its rays. In +Northern England it is known to be not uncommon in some districts of +Yorkshire, and it probably occurs in other counties also. There appears to +be only a single record each from Ireland and Scotland. + +THE ROSY FOOTMAN (_Miltochrista miniata_). + +The fore wings of this pretty little moth are ochreous yellow tinged with +pink; the front and hind margins are bright pink, in some cases approaching +vermillion; the markings are bluish black; hind wings rather paler. It +varies in the amount of black markings, which are sometimes almost absent, +and in colour ranges from yellow to orange. (Plate 95, Figs. 2, 5.) + +The caterpillar is dark drab covered above with blackish, mouse-coloured +plumed hairs; on rings one and eleven the plumose hairs are replaced by +short simple ones; the hairs of the side tufts are plain. Head brown, the +cheeks outlined in black (adapted from Hellins). Lichens growing upon the +stems and branches of trees supply this caterpillar with food, and it seems +to nibble on all favourable opportunities throughout the winter. It hatches +from the egg in August, and is full grown in May. Boden, writing in +September, 1896 (_The Entomologist_) noted that some caterpillars had then +attained the perfect state, while others were still feeding, and he adds +that the caterpillars actually attacked and ate up the moths. Although +there seems to be few records from the Midlands, this species appears to be +widely distributed over England as far north as Yorkshire. In Ireland it +has been recorded from Claring Bridge and East Galway. The moth is out in +July. It is a wood-loving insect, but is also found on heaths, and even in +lanes and the borders of fields when plenty of trees occur in such places. +It may occasionally be beaten out of trees and bushes in the day time but +it is on the wing at dusk, and although it is a high flier, specimens come +within reach now and then. Light and sugar both attract it. The species +ranges through Central and Northern Europe, and in Asia to Japan. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 96. + 1, 1a, 1b. BUFF FOOTMAN: _caterpillar, chrysalis and cocoon_. + 2. COMMON FOOTMAN: _caterpillar_. + 3. SCARCE FOOTMAN: _caterpillar_. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 97. + 1. BUFF FOOTMAN, _male_; 2, 3 _females_. + 4. DINGY FOOTMAN. + 5. PALE FOOTMAN. + 6. COMMON FOOTMAN. + 7. SCARCE FOOTMAN. + 8. NORTHERN FOOTMAN. + +{177} + +THE DEW MOTH (_Endrosa irrorella_). + +Varies in colour from yellowish buff to creamy white, the colour on the +margins always deeper; the rows of black spots on the fore wings are +usually well defined, but sometimes those of the two central series are +very faint, or quite absent, whilst an unusual number appear in the outer +marginal series, Occasionally black scales appear on the veins, connecting +the spots, and forming the figures [sideways vee between horizontal bars] +more or less distinctly; such forms are known as var. _signata_, Borkh. The +moth appears in June and July. (Plate 95, Figs. 7, 9.) + +When resting, the moth hangs from a blade of grass, or leaf of some plant; +it then has a very transparent appearance. Barrett suggests that this gave +rise to the English name it now bears, and by which it was known to Haworth +and entomologists of his time. + +Buckler and Hellins describe the caterpillar as blackish-brown above, and +dark-reddish grey or purplish grey on the sides; a series of yellow spots +along the middle of the back, then a white {178} and yellow interrupted +line, followed by a light yellow stripe under the spiracles; raised spots +blackish, some white; hairs blackish brown. Head black. + +It feeds, in the sunshine, on the black and yellow lichens growing in the +haunts of the species, which are edges of cliffs and rough stony places +near the sea, and also on hillsides. The species occurs, perhaps, more +abundantly on the Kentish and Sussex coast than inland, but it is certainly +not confined to the cliffs at Dover and Folkestone in Kent, or at Ventnor, +Isle of Wight. Among inland localities for it are Box Hill, Ranmore, +Reigate, and other places on the Surrey hills. It has also been recorded +from the Cotswolds in Gloucestershire; the Isle of Man; St. Davids, South +Wales; Aberdeenshire, Sutherlandshire, and the Tweed, Tay, Clyde, and +Argyll districts in Scotland. For Ireland, Kane gives Mayo; "Ardrahan, +County Galway, and west through the Burren of Clare, widely spread." + +THE FOUR-DOTTED FOOTMAN (_Cybosia mesomella_). + +Fore wings pale creamy white, the margins yellowish: a black dot near the +costa, and another below near the inner margin; hind wings suffused with +blackish grey. Rarely the fore wings are yellow with a whitish central +shade, and the hind wings are yellowish. (Plate 95, Figs. 8, 10.) + +The caterpillar is velvety blackish grey; warts thickly set with densely +feathered blackish hairs. Feeds in April and May, after hibernation, on +lichens growing among heather. In confinement it will, according to +Buckler, eat heather and fresh or withered leaves of sallow. + +Fairly well distributed over England. It appears to be absent from Ireland, +but in Scotland it is known to occur in the Clyde, Solway, and Moray +districts, and has been recorded from Aberdeenshire. In the South of +England it affects heaths and the more open woods; sometimes not uncommon +in {179} such places. The moth, in June, may be disturbed from bushes, or +put up from the heather as one walks through. As the sun goes down it may +often be seen on the wing, but later in the evening is its chief time of +activity. In Lancashire and Cheshire it is found on the mosses, and Cannock +Chase in Staffordshire is a noted locality for it. Still obtained in +Chippenham fen, but Barrett states that it is now supposed to be extinct in +the fens of Wicken, Yaxley, and Burwell, in all of which it used to abound. + +THE FOUR-SPOTTED FOOTMAN (_Oeonestis quadra_). + +The sexes of this species are very different in appearance. The fore wings +of the male are grey tinged with yellowish, except on the outer fourth; the +basal fourth is yellow. The female is larger and yellow in colour; each +fore wing has two black spots, sometimes unusually large, sometimes mere +dots, and more rarely absent altogether. (Plate 95, Figs. 11, 12.) + +Caterpillar blackish with four wavy yellow lines along the back, the spaces +between the lines powdered and freckled with yellow giving a grey +appearance; raised spots on the back red, those on the sides greyish; a +black cross on rings three, seven, and eleven; hairs grey mixed with black. +Head black and glossy. It feeds, after hibernation, in May and June, on +lichens, preferring those upon oak trees. In the breeding cage it is apt to +eat its companions, especially when many are crowded into a small +receptacle. (Plate 94, Fig. 3.) + +The moth emerges in July, and during that month, and sometimes in August, +it may be seen on tree trunks; but it more often reposes on the branches, +from which it may be dislodged by jarring the boughs with a stick, when it +drops rather than flies towards the ground, but generally manages to arrest +its downward course by catching hold of a spray of bracken or some other +plant and there awaits capture. Night is the usual {180} time of flight, +but it is on the wing at dusk. It is partial to "sugar" and has been known +to visit flowers. + +This species has been recorded from a large number of localities in England +extending from the Scilly Isles to the Scottish border. From the +circumstances connected with many of such captures one is led to suspect +that the insect has migratory habits. In England the most favoured locality +is the New Forest in Hampshire, where it abounds in some seasons, but is +quite scarce in others. It occurs, more or less regularly, in the larger +woods in Dorset, extending into Devon; also in Sussex ranging into Kent, +but is only occasionally common in either of these counties. Generally +considered to be uncommon in the eastern counties, but has been reported to +occur in large numbers at Aldeburgh in Suffolk. The localities given in +Kane's catalogue of the Lepidoptera of Ireland are Killarney, Timoleague, +Co. Cork, Curraghmore (abundant), Lismore, Borris, Co. Carlow, and +Clonbrock. To these may be added Dublin, and Nenagh, Co. Tipperary. + +Distribution: Central Europe, Southern Sweden, Livonia, Dalmatia, Armenia, +Amurland, Corea, and Japan. + +THE BUFF FOOTMAN (_Lithosia deplana_). + +Fore wings, ochreous grey, tinged with yellow on the basal half of the +front margins; hind wings paler, becoming greyer on the outer area; fringes +of all the wings yellow. The male is fairly constant in colour, but the +female sometimes has a distinct yellow stripe on the front margin of the +fore wings extending to the fringes (var. _ochreola_, Hübn.); more rarely +in the New Forest (?), and in the Isle of Purbeck a form occurs with the +fore wings orange buff, and the hind wings only slightly tinged with grey +(var. _unicolor_, Bankes). (Plate 97, Figs. 1-3.) + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 98. + 1, 1a. HOARY FOOTMAN: _caterpillar and chrysalis_. + 2. DINGY FOOTMAN: _caterpillar_. + 3. DOTTED FOOTMAN: _caterpillar_. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 99. + 1, 2. HOARY FOOTMAN. + 3, 4. PIGMY FOOTMAN. + 5. DOTTED FOOTMAN. + 6, 7. ORANGE FOOTMAN. + +{181} Caterpillar, greyish, or greenish grey, freckled with darker, hairs +grey inclining to brownish; a broad creamy or yellowish stripe, edged with +black and traversed by a dark central line along the back. Head blackish +and glossy. From August to June on lichens growing on stems and branches of +yew, oak, and beech. + +A local species, and although recorded now and then from several other +parts of the country, and once from Killarney in Ireland, seems to be +pretty much confined to the counties of Surrey, Sussex, Hants, Dorset, and +Devon. The moth, which is out in July, rests during the day upon the boughs +and among the foliage of oak, beech, and yew, the latter especially in the +Dorking district of Surrey. + +Distribution: Central Europe, Southern Scandinavia, Livonia, Northern +Italy, Roumelia, and Russia. + +THE DINGY FOOTMAN (_Lithosia griseola_). + +Haworth's English name for this moth was the "Dun Footman." In its typical +form the fore wings are pale greyish with a yellowish front edging; the +latter most distinct towards the base; the hind wings are whitish ochreous +more or less suffused with grey. The pale form, var. _flava_, Haw. = +_stramineola_, Doubl. at one time considered a distinct species (the +Straw-coloured Footman of Haworth), has pale straw-coloured fore wings and +white ochreous hind wings. (Plate 97, Figs. 4, 5.) + +Caterpillar, sooty brown, with a darker line down the middle of the back +and an interrupted yellow or orange line or stripe on each side of it; dark +brown hairs arising from dark warts; head glossy black (described from a +skin). It may be looked for in the spring months on the lichens affecting +alders and sallows growing in fens and marshy places. (Plate 98, Fig. 2.) + +The moth is abundant in the Cambridge and Norfolk fens, and is common in +boggy places in the New Forest, but it probably occurs in all suitable +places throughout England and Wales. It does not seem to have been observed +in Ireland, {182} but has been recorded from Moray in Scotland. The yellow +variety, which by the way is not known to occur abroad, is found, with the +ordinary form, chiefly in the Norfolk fens and in the New Forest; but it is +also to be obtained, though less frequently, in Surrey (Weybridge +district), Berkshire (Reading district), and still more rarely elsewhere. +It is out in July. + +Distribution: Central Europe, South Russia, Ural, Altai, Amurland, Corea, +Japan, and West Africa. + +THE COMMON FOOTMAN (_Lithosia lurideola_). + +Fore wings, leaden grey with a yellow stripe terminating in a point at the +tip of the wing; the hind wings are pale ochreous yellow. It appears in +July, sometimes at the end of June. + +Caterpillar, dark greyish covered with blackish hairs arising from black +warts on the back, and yellowish hairs from similar coloured warts on the +sides; three black or blackish lines on the back, and an orange stripe +along the sides from the fourth to eleventh rings; head black. August to +June. Generally supposed to feed, in a state of nature, on lichen growing +on trees and bushes. It has been reared on the foliage of sallow, apple, +and oak; also known to eat buckthorn, clematis, dogwood, etc. I have +occasionally beaten it from old hedgerows, and have frequently seen it on +trunks of poplar and ash upon which not much in the way of lichen could be +seen. Such caterpillars, when taken, have almost invariably spun up soon +afterwards. The moth is shown on Plate 97, Fig. 6, and the early stages on +Plate 96, Fig. 2. + +This species is perhaps the commonest and most generally distributed member +of the genus in England. It becomes much less frequent in northern pasts of +Lancashire, and in Yorkshire it is local, but recorded as common in the +south-east of that county. It occurs in Scotland, whence it has been +recorded from Clydesdale, Aberdeenshire, and Moray. Kane {183} states that +it is common near Galway, and also gives Castle Bellingham, Clogher Head +(not rare), and Athlone as Irish localities. + +Distributed over Europe, except the extreme north, Andalusia and Southern +Italy; the range extending to Asia Minor and Armenia. In Amurland, Corea, +and Japan, it is represented by _coreana_, Leech. + +THE SCARCE FOOTMAN (_Lithosia complana_). + +Very similar in appearance to the last species, the yellow stripe along the +front edge of the fore wings, however, does not terminate in a point, but +is continued through to the fringes; the hind wings are sometimes +distinctly yellow, and with but little, if any, greyish shading on the +front area. (Plate 97, Fig. 7.) + +Caterpillar, brown or brownish grey above, and paler beneath; a white-edged +black line along the middle of the back, and a row of orange spots, +alternating with whitish ones, on each side of the line; the orange spots +faint or absent on rings one to three; an interrupted yellow or orange +stripe along the sides; the brownish warts are thickly studded with short +greyish brown hairs. Head black and glossy (described from a skin). From +August to June. The most usual food is probably lichens on trees, but it is +said to eat moss, knot-grass, clover, and the flowers of bird's-foot +trefoil, etc. (Plate 96, Fig. 3.) + +The moth is out in July and part of August, and may be disturbed in the +daytime from its resting-place among heather and low herbage. It is on the +wing in the dusk of the evening, and when the weather is favourable, flies +freely. As it has a weakness for sweets, it should be looked for at night, +by the aid of a lantern, on the flowers of knapweed and thistle. It chiefly +affects heaths, but it is also found in woods, and on sandhills by the sea, +as in Norfolk. A local species, but usually to be more or less frequently +met with in all the eastern {184} and southern counties, and in some of the +midland. Rare in Wales, Cheshire, Lancashire, and York. Only doubtfully +recorded from Scotland. In Ireland it is widely distributed, and, according +to Kane, not uncommon where it occurs. + +THE NORTHERN FOOTMAN (_Lithosia sericea_). + +Gregson named and described this insect in 1860, and in the following year +Guenée described it as _L. molybdeola_. It seems to be peculiar to England; +and only occurs on the mosses of Lancashire and Cheshire. The fore wings +are somewhat narrower and darker in colour than those of the Scarce +Footman; and the hind wings are suffused, to a greater or lesser extent, +with dark grey. Some entomologists maintain that this is probably only a +small form of _L. complana_. According to Mr. Pierce it cannot be +specifically separated from that species or from _L. pygmæola_ by the +genitalia, the usual test in such matters. Prout, however, has stated that +Speyer, in 1867, pointed out structural differences, not only in the shape +of the wings, but also in the size of the costal tuft of scales on the +underside of the fore wings. It should be added that there does not seem to +be any material difference between the caterpillar of _complana_ and that +of _sericea_. Anyway, the question of form or species may here be left +open. The fact of the Northern, or Gregson's, Footman being an exclusive +British production invests the insect with an importance greatly above that +attaching to the majority of our moths. The moth is depicted on Plate 97, +Fig. 8. + +THE PIGMY FOOTMAN (_Lithosia lutarella_). + +Ochreous white, sometimes tinged with greyish, or with yellowish; hind +wings clouded with greyish on the front area. Female almost always smaller +than the male. The fore wings {185} vary a good deal in the matter of +colour, the extremes being yellow and dark grey. (Plate 99, Figs. 3, 4.) + +Buckler describes the caterpillar as brown on the back, with a central +thick black line, and two dark brown lines; sides paler brown, with a dusty +white line along the spiracles; the warts (tubercles) with short brown +hairs, and the head black. August to June. + +This extremely local little moth was unknown as an inhabitant of Britain +until 1847, when it was described as _L. pygmæola_, by Doubleday in the +_Zoologist_ for that year, and noted as having been found among rushes on +the coast of Kent. Two years later the insect was again referred to, and it +was then stated to be confined to a "space of about four hundred yards in +extent, on the coast of Deal." It then became known as the "Deal Footman." +During the past seventy years or so large numbers have no doubt been +removed from this locality, which is the only British one it was known to +occur in. It is still to be found there, although said to be less common +than formerly. In the _Entomologist_ for September, 1912, this species was +recorded as not uncommon on marram grass growing on the Norfolk coast. + +Some present-day entomologists still incline to the opinion that the moth +is a distinct species, and not a local race of _lutarella_, which is found +throughout Central and Eastern Europe; ranging to South Scandinavia, +Finland, and eastward to Siberia and Amurland. The var. _pygmæola_ has been +obtained in Holland. + +THE HOARY FOOTMAN (_Lithosia caniola_). + +Fore wings silky whitish grey with a yellowish streak along the front edge; +the hind wings are whitish with a faint yellowish tinge. Some of the +specimens are entirely whitish (var. _lacteola_, Boisd.). July and August, +sometimes earlier. (Plate 99, Figs. 1, 2.) {186} + +Caterpillar greyish brown, with a black line along the back, and a series +of irregular orange marks, representing stripes, on each side of it; these +orange marks are outwardly edged with black; an orange line low down along +the sides; warts greyish or brownish, each bearing a tuft of short pale +hairs. Head blackish, shining, notched on the crown, and studded with pale +bristles in front. Fed on lettuce from April 30, the date they were +received from Mr. Walker of Torquay. They were then quite small, the +largest not more than half an inch in length. They pupated in June, and the +moths emerged in July, all fine specimens. (Plate 98, Fig. 1.) + +In the open the caterpillar feeds upon the black lichens growing on rocks, +etc., by the sea; also upon Dutch clover (_Trifolium repens_), kidney vetch +(_Anthyllis vulneraria_), and bird's-foot trefoil (_Lotus corniculatus_). + +This species was not known to occur in any part of the British Isles until +August, 1861, when the late Mr. C. G. Barrett took four specimens on the +Hill of Howth in Ireland (_vide Ent. Annual_, 1862, p. 106). A large number +were subsequently captured or reared from caterpillars obtained in the same +locality by others. Kane ("Cat. Lep. Ireland") remarks that the colony +flourished at Howth for many years, but that the species seemingly perished +in the severe winters of 1878 or 1879, and unless a specimen taken in 1890 +was this species, has not since been seen there. The only other Irish +locality from which it has been recorded (August, 1866) is on the coast +near Waterford. Torquay, where the species was first observed in 1864 is +now a noted locality, and it is said to occur in certain spots along the +coast to Babbicombe. Other localities in Devon are Dartmouth, Torcross, and +Bolt Head. Barrett found the species rarely in two places by the sea in +South Pembrokeshire, and mentions Rye in Sussex, and Romney Marsh in Kent, +as localities where specimens have occurred. + +Mr. J. Walker informs me that the moths fly at dusk, and {187} that they +all seem to get active at almost the same moment, and settle again in the +same way at the end of their first flight, which lasts about half an hour. +After dark the rays of an acetylene lamp directed downwards into the bushes +will attract them from their retreat. Occasionally they visit "sugar." + +Abroad this is a southern species, but its range extends to Western +Germany, the Tyrol, Switzerland, and South Hungary, as well as to England; +also to Asia Minor. + +THE ORANGE FOOTMAN (_Lithosia sororcula_). + +This moth is orange yellow on the fore wings, and a paler shade of the same +colour on the hind wings. Except that the tint is brighter in some +specimens and darker in others, there is nothing to mention in the way of +aberration. (Plate 99, Figs. 6, 7.) + +The caterpillar is white on the back with five black stripes, the outer +ones broader than the others; all these stripes are broken up by brownish +patches, and they fail to show at all on the eighth ring, which, therefore, +is conspicuously white; the sides are smoky grey marked with white on the +second and third rings; the warts are reddish, bearing smoky grey hairs. It +may be found from July to September on the lichens growing on the trunks of +oak trees. The moth does not appear until the following May or June, when +it may be beaten from branches. Not uncommon in the woods, chiefly oak, of +Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Kent, Surrey, Hampshire, and Dorset; it also +occurs in Cambridgeshire and Sussex. In Berkshire and Bucks it is fairly +common, but seems to affect the beech woods in those counties. Recorded +from Ireland by Birchall, who stated that it was abundant at Killarney. + +THE DOTTED FOOTMAN (_Pelosia muscerda_). + +The fore wings are pale grey suffused with pale reddish-brown except on the +costal area: there are six black dots, two {188} before the middle of the +wing and placed above the inner margin, and four beyond the middle in an +oblique series from the costa; the hind wings are pale brownish-grey, +becoming somewhat darker towards the apex. (Plate 99, Fig. 5.) + +Caterpillar velvety blackish-brown, marbled with reddish-grey; stripe along +middle of the back, and a line on each side of it deep black; warts and +hairs brown, the latter short but numerous; a pair of red spots on ring +one, and another pair on ring twelve; beneath the spiracles is a fine +reddish-grey line; under surface pinkish grey; head small and blackish +(Buckler). So far it has escaped detection in its fenny home, but it has +been reared from eggs laid by a captured female. Caterpillars obtained in +this way seem to have thrived on a mixed diet of lichens, mosses, and +withered leaves of bramble and sallow. August to May. Buckler states that +the dark chestnut-brown pupa is enclosed in a double cocoon, the inner a +webby one of greyish silk, and the outer one thinner and composed of white +silk. The whole affair was formed in a curled-up bramble leaf. The +caterpillar is figured on Plate 98, Fig. 5. + +The moth is out in late July and through August. It has been obtained in a +certain marshy locality in the New Forest, Hants, and also in some marshes +at Sandwich, Kent. Its chief haunts are, however, in the fens of Norfolk, +such as those on the river Bure, and Brundall fen on the Yare, but Horning +and Ranworth are, perhaps, the headquarters of the species. It may be +mentioned that when Stephens wrote about this insect in 1829 only two +specimens had then occurred in Britain, and these had been found in a marsh +at Horning floating upon the water in a ditch. + +Distribution: Central Europe, Denmark, Sweden, Livonia, Dalmatia, Corsica +and Sardinia, Amurland and Japan. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 100. + 1. SCARCE MERVEILLE DU JOUR. + 2. NUT-TREE TUSSOCK. + 3, 4. MILLER MOTH. + 5. SYCAMORE MOTH. + 6. POPLAR GREY. + 7. MARSH DAGGER. + 8, 9. ALDER MOTH. + 10. DARK DAGGER. + 11. GRAY DAGGER. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 101. + 1. POPLAR GREY: _caterpillar_. + 2, 2a. SCARCE MERVEILLE DU JOUR: _caterpillar and chrysalis_. + 3, 3a, 3b. NUT-TREE TUSSOCK: _caterpillar, chrysalis and cocoon_. + 4. DARK DAGGER: _caterpillar_. + 5, 5a. GREY DAGGER: _caterpillar and chrysalis_. + +{189} + +NOCTUIDÆ. + +This extensive assemblage of moths, commonly known as noctuas, and locally +as "millers," "owlets," and "buzzards," has been divided by Staudinger into +five sub-families--Acronyctinæ, Trifinæ, Gonopterinæ, Quadrifinæ, and +Hypeninæ. These divisions are here adopted, and the arrangement of species +is adhered to pretty closely, except in the Trifinæ, where it has been +considered necessary to make sundry alterations so as to fall more in line +with later classification, at least so far as concerns genera. + +The eggs of species in this family are round and somewhat flattened in +shape, and the shell is fluted or netted. Some few examples of these have +been figured. + +Most of the larvæ conceal themselves during the day, in the ground, among +low herbage, or in spun-together leaves, and only leave their retreat at +night to feed. Most kinds change to the chrysalis state underground, but +some pupate among leaves or in chinks of tree bark, etc. + +With some few exceptions the moths fly only at night, by far the larger +number will visit the sugar patch, and others come readily to flowers or to +light. + +Distribution abroad will only be referred to where this is restricted in +Europe, or extends far beyond European limits. + +ACRONYCTINÆ. + +THE SCARCE MERVEILLE DU JOUR (_Diphtera orion_). + +This pretty moth has the fore wings green variegated with white stripes and +black cross lines; the hind wings are greyish, marked with white at the +anal angle. The spaces between the interrupted cross lines of the fore +wings are often marked with {190} black, and this is the typical form of +the species; the plainer specimens--those less spotted with black--being +referable to var. _runica_, Stephens. Stephens in 1829 notes that the +species was then little known in England. It is still very local, +inhabiting oak woods in Sussex (Hailsham), Hampshire (New Forest, sometimes +common), Devonshire (Plymouth district), Cornwall (East Looe), Essex +(Colchester), and Suffolk (Ipswich). The moth is out in June; on September +5, 1906, Mr. L. W. Newman bred a small specimen that had only been in the +chrysalis seventeen days. Usually it rests by day on boughs, and sometimes +on the trunks of trees (see Fig. 8, p. 9); it flies at night and then +patronizes the sugar patch, but often is a late visitor. The caterpillar, +which feeds upon oak in July and August, is black on the back with a yellow +or whitish blotch on rings four, six, and nine; the reddish warts are +crowned with tufts of brown or whitish hairs. Head black marked with yellow +except on the top. It is also said to eat leaves of beech and birch. +Staudinger gives _alpium_, Osbeck (1778), as an earlier name than _orion_, +Esp. Hampson refers alpinum to _Daseochæta_, Warren. + +Distribution: Central and Northern Europe, and represented by var. +_murrhina_, Graes., in Amurland, China, and Japan. + +The moth is depicted on Plate 100, Fig. 1, and the caterpillar and +chrysalis on Plate 101, Figs. 2, 2a. + +THE NUT-TREE TUSSOCK (_Demas coryli_). + +Usually the fore wings of this moth appear to be brownish, or reddish brown +on the basal half, and whitish, more or less suffused with greyish, or +sometimes reddish brown, on the outer half; the hind wings are pale +brownish, or greyish, lighter towards the base. Not infrequently the fore +wings are greyish white with some brownish clouding between the two +blackish cross lines. The caterpillar is variable in colour, but generally +of some shade of brown, ranging from dark chocolate brown to {191} pale +ochreous, covered with soft hair; the pencils of long hairs on the first +ring, and the tufts of hairs on rings four, five, and eleven, may be red, +greyish, or blackish; the broken stripe along the back is greyish, and the +stripe low down on each side may be red, brown, or greyish. It feeds in +June and July, and as a second generation in September, on the foliage of +beech, birch, hazel, hornbeam, etc.: bushes growing in exposed positions +such as a hedge bank or hill side are chiefly fancied. The moth flies in +May and June, and again in August and September. It probably occurs in most +of the English counties, but is most frequent in Berkshire, Bucks, and +Devon. Not uncommon in Clydesdale, but more plentiful in Aberdeenshire, and +is also obtained in Perthshire, and in other parts of Scotland. Widely +distributed in Ireland. + +The moth is shown on Plate 100, Fig. 2, and the early stages on Plate 101, +Figs. 3, 3a, 3b. + +THE MILLER (_Acronycta leporina_). + +In its typical form the wings are quite white with but little in the way of +marking. Most, if not all, the specimens occurring in Britain are the more +or less greyish suffused and more marked, variety known as _bradyporina_, +Treits. (Plate 100, Figs. 3 [male], 4 [female].) Sometimes the outer +margins of the fore wings, beyond the second cross line, are shaded or +dusted with blackish (var. _semivirga_, Tutt). In the Liverpool district a +form is occasionally obtained in which the fore wings are darkly suffused, +and the thorax is black (var. _melanocephala_, Mansbridge). A specimen with +black fore wings and white fringes has been bred from a caterpillar found +in Essex (_Entomologist_, xxxviii., 289, and xxxix., 97). + +The caterpillar is pale green clothed with long white, and a few black +hairs; these fall downwards, and on the one side curve forwards, and on the +other side backwards. Sometimes in the {192} south of England, more +frequently in the north, the ground colour and hairs are yellow, and there +are more or less distinct reddish brown bands on the back and sides. It may +be found from July to September, or even later, on birch or alder, rarely +on oak and poplar. The moth occurs in May and June, as a rule. In 1904 I +took a freshly emerged specimen on July 23, at Byfleet in Surrey, and some +half-grown caterpillars were obtained on the same day, and very near the +same spot. The species is found in woods, and on heaths and mosses, where +birch or alder flourishes, from Devonshire in England to Sutherlandshire in +Scotland. It is not common anywhere in our islands, but is perhaps most +frequently met with in the south and east of England. In Ireland it appears +to have been found only in the southern counties. + +THE SYCAMORE (_Acronycta aceris_). + +The dark mottled grey moth on Plate 100, Fig. 5, is not much given to +variation, but occasionally brownish suffused forms occur (var. +_candelisequa_, Esp. = _infuscata_, Haworth). + +The caterpillar (Plate 102, Fig. 3) feeds in August and September upon +sycamore, maple, and sometimes plum and chestnut. It has some black-edged +white marks along the middle of the back; the pointed tufts of long hairs +are yellow or reddish. When it is at rest on the underside of a leaf, or +coils in a ring on being disturbed, the hair tufts gave the creature a +somewhat prickly appearance. The moth is out in June and July. + +The species is more or less common pretty well through the southern and +eastern counties, and fairly so in and around London. Its range extends to +Warwickshire and Herefordshire; but it is scarce in both counties. The +Irish localities for it are Claring Bridge and Ahascragh, Co. Galway; +Glandore and Timologue, Co. Cork; Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 102. + 1. KNOT GRASS: _caterpillar_. + 2. SCARCE DAGGER: _caterpillars_. + 3, 3a, 3b. SYCAMORE: _caterpillar, chrysalis and cocoon_. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 103. + 1, 2. LIGHT KNOT-GRASS. + 3. SCARCE DAGGER. + 4. SWEET GALE MOTH. + 5. CORONET MOTH. + 6, 7. KNOT-GRASS MOTH. + 8. MARBLED GREEN, _male_; 11 _female_. + 9. MARBLED BEAUTY, _male_; 12 _female_. + 10. POWDERED WAINSCOT. + +{193} + +THE POPLAR GREY (_Acronycta megacephala_). + +This moth is somewhat like that last noticed, but the fore wings are darker +grey; the whitish orbicular mark is margined with black, and has a dark +central dot. Sometimes the fore wings are clouded with blackish, and +occasionally entirely suffused with black. In several species of +_Acronycta_ newly disclosed specimens have a faint pinky tinge, but this is +especially noticeable in the present species. (Plate 100, Fig. 6.) + +The caterpillar is ochreous or grey brown, marked with blackish; a +conspicuous character is a black-edged whitish or ochreous patch on ring +ten; the hairs are whitish, those on the sides rather long. It feeds from +July to September on the foliage of poplars. (Plate 101, Fig. 1). + +This well-known cockney species is on the wing from late May to mid-August. +Has been bred in September from a caterpillar taken in July, also in +October from August larvæ. It is often abundant on poplars (especially the +caterpillars) in London and suburbs. Common all over the southern parts of +England, except perhaps in Devon and Cornwall; its range extends through +Northern England to Ross in Scotland; and it is found in the south of +Ireland. + +THE ALDER (_Acronycta alni_). + +[Illustration: Fig. 26. + +CATERPILLAR OF THE ALDER-MOTH. + +(Photo by W. J. Lucas.)] + +The sexes of this black-clouded grey moth are shown on Plate 100, Figs. 8 +and 9[female]. Except that the black clouding sometimes spreads over a +greater area of the fore wings, there is little to note in aberration, at +least in a general way. In 1906 a melanic specimen was bred from a +chrysalis taken from alder in Delamere Forest, Cheshire; this is probably +referable to var. _steinerti_, Caspari. + +The caterpillar (Fig. 26) is black, marked with yellow; the {194} curious +clubbed hairs are its distinguishing feature. Although named after the +alder, it feeds on the leaves of most trees and bushes in July and August, +sometimes earlier or later. The moth is out in May and June, but although +an occasional specimen has been taken at sugar or light, once resting on +nettles, it is rarely met with. Caterpillars also are not by any means +common, and any one who may obtain even a single example in a season may +congratulate himself on a good find. They are perhaps most frequent in the +Hampshire (New Forest) district and some of the Sussex woodlands, but have +occurred now and then in almost every county of England up to Yorkshire; +also in Glamorganshire, Carmarthenshire, and at Trefriw in Wales. The only +Irish locality is Powerscourt, Co. Wicklow. The range abroad extends to +Armenia, Amurland, and Japan. + +THE MARSH DAGGER (_Acronycta strigosa_). + +This little moth, known also as the "Grisette," seems confined, as a +British species, to the country around Cambridge; but it has been twice +recorded from Norfolk, two specimens have been reported from +Worcestershire, and one from Gloucestershire; the latter at sugar in June, +1897. The latest records that I have seen refer to a moth taken at sugar +near Chatteris {195} in 1904, two caterpillars beaten out of hawthorn in +August, 1905, and a moth on an ash tree, Wicken, July 31, 1907. (Plate 100, +Fig. 7). + +The caterpillar is yellowish green, with a red brown stripe along the back; +two small elevations on ring four, and one on ring eleven; the hairs are +blackish on the back, one of each tuft longer than the others. It feeds on +hawthorn in August and early September. The moth is out in July. This +species is found abroad in Central Europe and Southern France; also in +Amurland, Corea, and Japan. + +THE DARK DAGGER (_Acronycta tridens_). + +The English name of this moth is not very suitable, as in general colour it +is often really paler than many examples of the next species. Specimens +with a blackish cloud at the base, and a dark band-like suffusion on the +outer margin of the fore wings are referable to var. _virga_, Tutt. It is +widely distributed in England and Wales, but apparently not common; rare in +Scotland and in Ireland. I am unable to indicate any character that will +serve to distinguish this moth from the Grey Dagger. The moth flies in +June; a second brood sometimes occurs in confinement in October. The +caterpillars of the two species are very distinct. That of the present +species is black, with a broad reddish stripe along the back, and one on +each side; the first is interrupted with white, and the others with black; +there is a black hump on the fourth ring, and a broader one on the eleventh +ring. It feeds from August to October on hawthorn, sloe, plum, pear, and +apple; also on birch and sallow. + +The moth is shown on Plate 100, Fig. 10; and the caterpillar on Plate 101, +Fig. 4. + +THE GREY DAGGER (_Acronycta psi_). + +The ground colour varies from whitish to blackish grey, Var. _bivirgæ_, +Tutt, is similar to var. _virga_ of the last species. {196} In var. +_bidens_, Chapman, the first cross line is double, enclosing a pale stripe; +the upper part of second cross line is more angled, and the dagger mark at +the anal angle is much shortened. + +The caterpillar has a taller and more slender hump on ring four, and the +stripe along the back is clear yellow, with black edged red spots on each +side of it. Generally distributed, and often common. + +The moth is shown on Plate 100, Fig. 11; and the caterpillar and chrysalis +on Plate 101, Figs. 5 and 5a. + +THE LIGHT KNOT GRASS (_Acronycta menyanthidis_). + +Portraits of this moth will be found on Plate 103, Figs. 1[male], +2[female]. Several modifications have been named, the most important of +these are var. _scotica_, Tutt, which is larger and brighter than the type, +with the markings clear and distinct; var. _suffusa_, Tutt, is much +suffused with black. The former is chiefly found in Scotland, and the +latter in Yorkshire. + +The caterpillar is black or sooty-brown, with a red stripe, or blotches, +low down along the sides; hairs black or red-brown. In August and September +feeding by day on sweet-gale or bog myrtle (_Myrica gale_), bilberry, +heather, dwarf sallow, etc. The moth flies in June and July, and may be +found on the mosses and moorlands of North England and Scotland. It rests +by day on rocks, stones, and, where they are handy, on posts and rails. I +found several on Danes Moss, Cheshire, sitting on a derelict tub. Also +occurring in Ireland, but not common. + +THE SCARCE DAGGER (_Acronycta auricoma_). + +The pale grey, darker-mottled moth depicted on Plate 103, Fig. 3, is very +local, and only occurs in some of the woods of {197} Kent and Sussex; the +districts mentioned being those of Rochester, Canterbury, Hailsham, and +Hastings. + +The caterpillar is figured on Plate 102, Fig. 2. It is slaty grey in colour +with a black plate on the first ring; on the back of each ring is a broad +black band, and four orange warts from which arise golden-yellow silky +hairs; the hairs on the sides are pale drab (adapted from Buckler). It +feeds in June and early July, sometimes in September, on oak, birch, +various kinds of _Rubus_, such as blackberry and raspberry, and also on +bilberry (_Vaccinium_). The moth is out in late April and in May; +occasionally late July and in August. It is rarely seen in the day time, +but has been found resting on tree trunks. The range abroad extends to +Southern Russia and Siberia. + +THE SWEET-GALE MOTH (_Acronycta euphorbiæ_ var. _myricæ_). + +Our form of this species--var. _myricæ_, Guenée (Plate 103, Fig. 4), is +rather larger and much darker than the type; but although it is generally +somewhat smaller than the Alpine var. _montivaga_, Guenée, it is not +otherwise separable from that form. So far as concerns the British Isles, +it is only found in Scotland and, rarely, in Ireland. It was first obtained +in Perthshire, in 1846, by Weaver, and it is now known to occur more or +less commonly through Scotland from Ayr to Sutherlandshire. In Ireland it +occurs in Cork, Kerry, Galway, and Sligo, and Kane considers that specimens +from Markrea, and Lough Gill in the latter county are referable rather to +var. _montivaga_, than to var. _myricæ_. The moth is out in April, May, and +June. + +The dark greyish caterpillar has a deep black, broken, stripe along the +middle of the back, and a series of pale yellow marks on each side of it; +along the black-margined white spiracles there is a reddish orange line, or +broken stripe; pale brownish hairs arising from yellowish warts on the +back, and a cross-bar of reddish orange near the head. It feeds on sweet +{198} gale, heather, birch, sallow, etc., and may be found from July to +September. Two figures of it, from coloured drawings by Mr. Alfred Sich, +will be found on Plate 102. + +THE KNOT GRASS (_Acronycta rumicis_). + +The ordinary form of this moth is shown on Plate 103, Figs. 6[male], +7[female]. The species varies greatly in the amount of dark mottling and +clouding on the fore wings; sometimes this is much reduced, and the pale +grey ground colour is then clearly seen; more often these wings are +entirely clouded over with blackish or sooty brown, leaving only the white +bracket-like mark above the inner margin, and the submarginal cross line, +distinctly visible (var. _salicis_, Curtis). The moth flies in June and +July, and sometimes in August and September. + +The hairy caterpillar, which is somewhat humped on rings four and eleven, +is figured in Plate 102, Fig. 1. It is dark brownish grey, marked on the +back with a central series of black patches in which are reddish spots, and +a row of white spots on each side; below the white spiracles is a yellowish +wavy line with reddish warts upon it. Various low-growing plants, such as +plantain, dock, sorrel, and also hawthorn, sallow, and bramble, afford it +nourishment, and it is found in July, August, and September. + +Generally distributed throughout England and Wales, its range extending +into Scotland as far north as Morayshire; also in Ireland. The var. +_salicis_ occurs northwards from Shropshire through northern England into +Scotland, but is perhaps most common in Ireland. + +THE CORONET (_Craniophora ligustri_). + +This is also the Crown Moth of Moses Harris, both English names referring +to a fancied resemblance of the whitish or pale greyish mark, just beyond +the reniform stigma, to a crown or coronet (Plate 103, Fig. 5). The +greenish or brownish-olive fore wings are subject to modification in the +depth of tint; sometimes they are blackish in tone--var. _nigra_, Tutt, or +dark olive-green--var. _olivacea_, Tutt. In both of these named forms the +whitish markings are obscured, and in this respect they seem to be about +identical with var. _sundevalli_, Lampa. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 104. + 1, 3. ARCHER'S DART. + 4, 6. TURNIP MOTH. + 2, 5. SHUTTLE-SHAPED DART. + 7, 8. DARK SWORD GRASS. + 9, 10. PEARLY UNDERWING. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 105. + 1, 2. CRESCENT DART. + 3, 4. HEART AND DART, _males_. + 5, 6. HEART AND DART, _females_. + 7, 8. HEART AND CLUB. + 9, 10. LIGHT FEATHERED RUSTIC. + +{199} The caterpillar is bluish green above, and yellowish green below; a +slender whitish line along the middle of the back, and a yellowish line on +each side; the spiracles are reddish, and the raised spots, from each of +which a single black hair arises, are black. It feeds in August and +September on ash, and less frequently, perhaps, on privet. It is stated to +eat hazel and alder, also. + +The moth flies in June and July, and its occurrence in any locality depends +largely upon the presence of ash. Widely distributed throughout England, +Wales, and Scotland to Ross-shire. In Ireland it has only been noted from a +few localities in Co. Galway. + +POWDERED WAINSCOT (_Simyra_ (_Arsilonche_) _albovenosa_). + +In its typical form (Plate 103, Fig. 10), the fore wings are whitish +ochreous with the veins showing up white more or less clearly. A form with +reddish ochreous fore wings has been named var. _ochracea_, Tutt; and +another with silvery-white wings var. _argentea_ by the same author. These +seem to be identical with forms of this species named _flavida_ and +_albida_ by Aurivillius some eight years earlier. + +The hairy caterpillar is blackish or dark grey brown freckled with black; +two stripes along the back and one on each side are yellow, sometimes +marked with orange; the warts are orange with pale, and a few black, hairs; +head black, marked with yellowish. {200} + +It feeds from July to September on the leaves of reeds, at night; hiding by +day under leaves low down. The moth is out in June, but an autumn brood is +sometimes obtained. It only occurs in fenland, chiefly Norfolk and +Cambridgeshire. + +THE MARBLED BEAUTY (_Bryophila perla_). + +Typically the fore wings of this species are white, marbled with slaty +grey, and with the stigmata dark grey (Plate 103, Figs. 9[male], +12[female]). There is less colour variation than in the last species, but +in some localities greenish, ochreous, and ochreous brown forms have been +obtained. The caterpillar is pale slaty grey, with an irregular yellowish +stripe on the back, with black spots forming a central line; the raised +spots are black and shiny, as also is the head. Feeds on lichens growing on +old walls from August to May. The moth, which occurs throughout England, +Wales, Ireland, and Scotland up to the Clyde, is to be found, commonly as a +rule, on walls by day, and gas lamps at night, in July and August. +Sometimes I have found specimens on tree trunks. + +MARBLED GREEN (_Bryophila muralis_ (_glandifera_)). + +Two forms of this very variable little moth are represented on Plate 103, +Figs. 8[male] (typical), 11[female]. The ground colour of the fore wings +ranges from almost white through pale green to bluish green or to a deep +olive green, or through pale ochreous to orange brown. The markings, too, +vary in intensity, and are sometimes very obscure. Several forms have been +named, but only the Cambridge race, known as var. _impar_, Warren, can here +be referred to. In this form the colour is more often greyish or brownish +white, than green; the markings are cloudy and not clearly defined. + +The caterpillar is obscure greenish, with whitish and rather {201} shining +raised spots; there is a black plate on the first ring, and from this three +broken yellowish lines run along the back. Head black and glossy. It feeds +from October to May on the lichens growing on walls and rocks; during the +day it hides in a chamber formed of silk and lichen, which is not easy to +detect in dry weather. The moth is out in July and August, and at +Eastbourne I have found it in September. It may be found generally on +walls, but sometimes on rocks at various places on the coast of Kent, +Sussex, Dorset, Devon, and Cornwall; also in the Scilly Isles. Its range, +according to Barrett, extends to Bath and Wells, Somersetshire, Marlborough +and Chippenham in Wiltshire, and it has also occurred in Gloucestershire. + +THE TREE-LICHEN BEAUTY (_Bryophila algæ_). + +The only record of this species in England that I am aware of is that by +Mr. Edleston, in the _Intelligencer_ for 1860, p. 11, as follows: "Two +specimens of this pretty species (_B. algæ_) were taken in this district +last July." The district referred to was Manchester, and the note was +written on September 28, 1859. + +TRIFINÆ. + +THE TURNIP MOTH (_Agrotis_ (_Euxoa_) _segetum_). + +The ordinary form of the male and the female is represented on Plate 104. +The species is an exceedingly variable one, and Haworth (1803), believing +them to be distinct species, gave Latin and English names to several of the +different forms. The ground colour in the male ranges from pale whitish or +brownish ochreous, with strong markings, to blackish brown, with the +markings obscured. The female ranges in colour of {202} fore wings from +greyish to blackish. Caterpillar, greyish brown, tinged with ochreous, or +sometimes pinkish; a glossy plate on first ring, greyish or brownish; spots +glossy, each with a tiny hair; lines rather darker, but often indistinct. +It feeds from July to April on various plants, but only attacks the tender +stems near the surface of the ground. In fields it is destructive to +turnips and swedes, making large cavities in the bulb, which it enters from +just above the tap-root. The moth flies in June, and occasionally as a +second generation in the autumn. Generally distributed over the British +Isles, and often very common. Its range extends throughout nearly the whole +of Europe and the greater part of Asia. + +THE ARCHER'S DART (_Agrotis_ (_Euxoa_) _vestigialis_). + +The specimens shown on Plate 104 are typical of the sexes (Figs. 1[male], +3[female]). The normal pale brown colour is sometimes replaced by greyish, +reddish, or olive brown. A specimen with black fore and hind wings has been +recorded from North Wales by Mr. Jäger. The markings vary in intensity, and +occasionally are almost or quite absent. Several of the varieties have been +named. The caterpillar, which feeds on bed-straw and various grasses, etc., +is greenish grey, inclining to brownish above, with a dark-edged pale line +along the middle of the back, and a similar line on each side; the raised +spots are black, and the plate on first ring brownish; head ochreous, +marked with darker. August to May. The moth is out in July and August, and +is chiefly found on sandhills by the sea. It is most plentiful on the +eastern and southern coasts, and in Cheshire, Lancashire, and Yorkshire: it +is often not uncommon in the Brandon and Tuddenham districts, and others, +in the "Breck Sand" area of Suffolk and Norfolk. The species has been +recorded from Worcestershire, and I understand that a few specimens were +taken in Surrey last August (1907). In Scotland it occurs on the east +coast, and in the Orkney Isles; also in Ayr, on the south-west. In Ireland, +also, it is found on suitable parts of the coast. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 106. + 1, 2. SAND DART. + 3, 4. COAST DART. + 5, 6. GARDEN DART. + 7, 8, 11. WHITE LINE DART. + 9, 10. WHITE-LINE DART, _var. aquilina._ + 12. SQUARE-SPOT DART. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 107. + 1. TRUE-LOVER'S KNOT. + 2, 3. HEATH RUSTIC. + 4. PORTLAND MOTH. + 5, 6. STOUT DART. + 7, 8. DOTTED RUSTIC. + 9, 10. NORTHERN RUSTIC. + +{203} THE HEART AND CLUB (_Agrotis_ (_Euxoa_) _corticea_). + +The more usual form of the male and the female are shown on Plate 105 +(Figs. 7[male], 8[female]). The colour varies from pale brown to a whitish +or greyish brown tint in one direction, and to reddish or blackish brown in +another. The cross lines, generally well defined, are sometimes absent, or +nearly so, in some of the pale forms, and much obscured in the dark forms. +The black outlined reniform and orbicular stigmata are sometimes obscured +by a blackish cloud; the pale-centred, club-like mark below them varies in +length, and is occasionally reduced to a small spot. "_Noctua subfusca_," +Haworth, has been determined by Mr. E. R. Bankes, who possesses the type, +to be an obscurely marked fuscous [male] example of this species. The +greyish brown, rather rough-looking caterpillar, is freckled with a darker +tint above, and inclined to greenish below; a fine, pale line along the +middle of the back is edged with brownish, and on each side there is a pale +line, edged above with brown, and below this a double pale line; head +marked with blackish (Plate 109, Fig. 1). It feeds from March to April, +after hibernation, on various low-growing plants, including goose-foot +(_Chenopodium_), persicaria, knotgrass, dock, and clover. The moth is on +the wing in June and July, and very occasionally in September. It is rather +a common insect in eastern and southern counties bordering the sea, but +extends into Surrey, and occasionally into Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire, and +Berkshire; and is also found more or less frequently in Herefordshire, +Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Cheshire, Lancashire, and Yorkshire. In +Scotland it occurs in Ayr, and on the eastern side to Moray. It has been +taken in various {204} counties, on the coast, of Ireland from Cork to +Sligo, and from Wicklow to Derry. + +THE LIGHT FEATHERED RUSTIC (_Agrotis_ (_Euxoa_) _cinerea_). + +Both sexes are shown in their typical forms on Plate 105. The fore wings of +the male (Fig. 9) are generally pale greyish in colour, with blackish cross +lines and central shade; the claviform mark is absent, and the orbicular +stigma usually so, or represented by a dusky dot; sometimes the ground +colour is brownish, occasionally purplish grey, and very rarely black. The +female (Fig. 10) is smaller, and always much darker. + +The caterpillar is blackish green or dark greyish, with three fine pale +lines, the central one edged on both sides, and the others edged above, +with a darker tint; a pale stripe along the black spiracles; head, and +plate on first ring black. It feeds on wild thyme, and is said to eat dock. +It hatches from the egg in late June or early July, and presumably +hibernates when full grown, as it does not seem to feed again when it +reappears in early spring. + +The moth flies in May and June, and is only to be found on hills and downs +in chalk or limestone districts. It occurs in Surrey, Dorset, Isle of +Wight, Devon, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, North Wales, Berkshire, +Oxfordshire, Cambridge, and Suffolk; it seems to have been most frequently +met with in Kent and Sussex. The small form, with narrow and distinctly +marked fore wings, and whitish hind wings, occurring in the south of +England, has been named var. _tephrina_, Staud. + +THE SHUTTLE-SHAPED DART (_Agrotis_ (_Euxoa_) _puta_). + +As will be seen by the figures on Plate 104, the sexes of this species also +differ greatly in colour. Usually the cross lines on the fore wings of the +male do not show up so distinctly as in {205} Fig. 2, which closely +approaches a form figured and described as _radiola_ by Stephens in 1829. +Fig. 5 represents the typical blackish-brown female. Gynandrous specimens, +one side [male] the other [female], have been recorded. The caterpillar +feeds on dandelion, lettuce, knotgrass, and other low-growing plants, from +September to April; probably full grown before hibernation. The moth, which +is out in July and August, sometimes in May, is partial to low-lying, +marshy ground and meadows, and is widely distributed over the whole of the +south of England, but it is seemingly rare in the north, and still more so +in Scotland and Ireland. Barrett states that it has been found commonly in +Carmarthenshire, Wales. + +THE CRESCENT DART (_Agrotis_ (_Euxoa_) _lunigera_). + +Although its position in classification is that of a local form of _A. +trux_, Hübn., this moth, which is figured on Plate 105, Figs. 1[male], +2[female], may here retain the name that was given to it by Stephens in +1829. Except that it has been reported to occur in the north of France, it +seems to be peculiar to the British Isles. The earliest known specimens +were captured near Cork in Ireland, June, 1826, and it is now found not +only on the coasts of Cork and Kerry, but also on the Hill of Howth, near +Dublin. In England it occurs in the Isle of Wight, Dorsetshire (Portland), +Devonshire (Torquay), Cornwall, and the Scilly Isles. Reported from Sussex +in 1918. In Wales it is to be found above Barmouth, and in various parts of +South Wales; and in Scotland around Edinburgh and on the Moray coast. The +moth is out in July and August. Mr. A. E. Gibbs, writing of this species in +Cornwall, remarks, "It is generally stated that _A. lunigera_ is only to be +taken on steep and dangerous cliffs, in places where sugaring is by no +means a safe occupation; but its abundance at Polzeath showed that this is +not invariably the case. Here it was found on posts and flower heads in the +valley at some {206} distance from the seashore, and so abundantly did it +occur that one evening's work yielded upwards of fifty specimens." + +The caterpillar is greyish or greenish grey, inclining to brownish above, +and with darker brown marks on the back; lines paler, edged sometimes with +darker grey; raised spots blackish, rather glossy; head brownish, marked +with black, and the plate on first ring is black with a central yellow +line. It feeds from August to May on various low plants growing in rocky +places by the sea. Will eat dandelion, plantain, and knotgrass in +confinement, also sliced carrot. + +THE COAST DART (_Agrotis_ (_Euxoa_) _cursoria_). + +The specimens whose portraits will be found on Plate 106 are more or less +typical of the sexes of this most variable species. The ground colour of +the fore wings ranges from whitish ochreous through all shades of brown up +to dark reddish, and from whitish grey through leaden grey to brown grey. +The markings, too, are exceedingly variable; the cross lines are often +faint, sometimes entirely absent; the stigmata are frequently obscure, and +occasionally the blackish lower part of the reniform is the only indication +of these marks. There is often a white streak along the costa, and in some +specimens this is very conspicuous (Figs. 3[male], 4[female]). + +The caterpillar feeds from September to June on various grasses growing on +sandhills, and is said to eat wormwood and violet. It is ochreous in +colour, more or less tinged with green; the lines are pale grey, edged with +darker grey; spots brown, and head ochreous brown. + +The moth is on the wing from late July to early September, and is to be +found on all the larger tracts of sandhills on the east coast from Suffolk +northwards, and on the coasts of Cheshire and Lancashire. It is not common +on our southern coasts, but occurs in Dorsetshire and Devon. In Scotland it +is obtained {207} on the Firth of Forth, Kincardine, and Aberdeen coasts, +and also in the Hebrides, Orkney, and Shetland Isles; and on very many +parts of the coast of Ireland. + +THE GARDEN DART (_Agrotis_ (_Euxoa_) _nigricans_). + +This moth is typically sooty or blackish brown in both sexes (Plates 106, +Figs. 5[male], 6[female]), but varies to pale brown, or through various +shades of red brown. The markings, usually obscure, occasionally are well +defined, and sometimes there are additional black spots and pale streaks. +The caterpillar is pale or dark ochreous brown on the back, inclining to +greenish on the sides; lines greenish grey, edged with black, and a double +whitish one low down on the sides. It feeds from September to June, on +clover, plantain, dock, and various other low plants; and also cow-parsnip +and other umbelliferæ. The moth flies in July and August, and is to be +found in most English counties, but perhaps most commonly in the eastern. +In Scotland it ranges to Moray, and seems to be generally distributed in +Ireland. + +THE WHITE-LINE DART (_Agrotis_ (_Euxoa_) _tritici_). + +This is another exceedingly variable species. The ground colour of the fore +wings ranges from pale whitish or ochreous brown, through various tints of +greyish and red brown, up to black or sooty brown; variation in markings is +somewhat similar to that referred to in _A. cursoria_. Three forms are +shown on Plate 106, Figs. 7, 8, and 11; the latter represents a specimen +closely approaching _A. obelisca_. Var. _aquilina_ (Figs. 9 and 10), the +English name of which is the Streaked Dart, is larger than the type, and +the wings, consequently, are broader; by some entomologists it is +considered to be a distinct species. + +The caterpillar is obscure greyish or brownish, with a dark-edged pale line +along the middle of the back, and a dusky line {208} on each side of it; +low down on the sides is another dusky line. It feeds from September to May +on mouse-ear chickweed, bedstraw, plantain, and other low-growing plants +growing on sandy soils. + +The moth is out in July and August, and is widely distributed throughout +the British Isles, including the Orkneys and Shetlands, but especially +common on coast sandhills. + +THE SQUARE-SPOT DART (_Agrotis_ (_Euxoa_) _obelisca_). + +The fore wings of this moth (Plate 106, Fig. 12) are pale greyish brown, +purplish brown, or sometimes slaty brown, with fairly distinct black cross +lines, and a pale streak along the front edge; the first line is straight +and less angled, and the second line less curved towards the front margin +than in _A. tritici_. The caterpillar, which feeds from about October to +July on rock rose, bedstraw, and other low plants growing in rocky places +by the sea or on hillsides, is very similar to that of the last species. +The moth is out in August and September in its special haunts. A well-known +locality for it is Freshwater in the Isle of Wight, but it may be obtained +at Torquay, Devonshire; Padstow, Cornwall; and the Scilly Isles. Also +recorded from Sussex, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, South Wales, +Derbyshire, Cheshire, Lancashire, and Yorkshire. In Scotland on the +south-west and east coasts; and in Ireland at Howth, Dublin; Dungarvan, Co. +Waterford; and Mt. Charles, Donegal. + +THE HEART AND DART (_Agrotis_ (_Feltia_) _exclamationis_). + +On Plate 105 are figured two examples of the male (Figs. 3, 4) and two +female specimens (Figs. 5, 6). The colour of the fore wings ranges from +pale whitish brown through various shades of brown and grey to a sooty +brown or black. The cross lines are rarely very distinct, the reniform, +orbicular, and claviform marks are, however, generally much in evidence; +but either of the two last, sometimes both, may occasionally disappear. Not +infrequently the reniform is connected with the orbicular by a black streak +from the former; more rarely the claviform is much widened and lengthened, +and almost united with a dusky cloud above it (var. _plaga_, Steph.). This +species is sometimes mistaken for _A. corticea_, but apart from the shorter +teeth of the male antennæ, the present species has a distinct, and often +conspicuous, black mark on the front of the thorax. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 108. + 1, 2, 4, 5. NORTHERN DART. + 3. ROSY MARSH MOTH. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 109. + 1. HEART AND CLUB: _caterpillar_. + 2. HEATH RUSTIC: _caterpillar_. + 3. NEGLECTED RUSTIC: _caterpillar_. + 4. TRUE-LOVER'S KNOT: _caterpillar_. + +{209} The caterpillar is brownish with darker pear-shaped marks on the +back; lines dark edged; spiracles black and of large size. Head pale marked +with brown. It feeds from July to May on various low herbage, including +lettuce, chickweed, plantain, and goose-foot; also turnips. + +The moth flies in June and July (sometimes in September), and is generally +common; but in Scotland it does not appear to extend north of Moray and +Argyle. + +THE DARK SWORD GRASS (_Agrotis ypsilon_). + +The sexes of this moth are represented on Plate 104, Figs. 7 [male] and 8 +[female]. In occasional specimens of the male the ground colour of the fore +wings is rather pale brown; otherwise there is little variation to note. +The caterpillar feeds from April to July on roots and leaves of cabbage, +lettuce, goose-foot, and many low plants; also on swedes, mangold wurzel, +etc. It is purplish or bronzy brown above and somewhat greener on the +sides; the usual spots are blackish and the lines greyish edged with +darker. Head black with two white spots. The moth is on the wing from July +to September, and as it is sometimes seen in April and May and earlier, it +is said to have probably hibernated. Possibly, however, such early +specimens, found at least once in February, are immigrants. Sometimes the +species is common and at others rare. It has occurred at one time or other +almost everywhere in the British Isles, but it seems to be most regularly +obtained in England and in Ireland. {210} Abroad its range extends through +Europe, Asia, and North America, and also to Australia, and Honolulu. + +THE SAND DART (_Agrotis_ (_Lycophotia_) _ripæ_). + +This species varies a good deal in the ground colour of the fore wings. +According to Barrett it ranges from pure white through pale reddish, rich +reddish (var. _desillii_, Pierret) reddish drab, yellowish drab, and +various shades of pale brown to brownish grey, and the markings to all +degrees of distinctness or obliteration, especially the latter. The two +specimens on Plate 106 have the markings fairly well defined (Fig. 1 is a +male, and Fig. 2 a female). + +The caterpillar is ochreous grey, whitish tinged with pink, or greenish; +the lines and spots are greyish, and the spiracles large and black; head +and plate on first ring ochreous brown. It feeds on saltwort (_Salsola_), +sea rocket (_Cakile_), seablite (_Suæda_), sea holly (_Eryngium_), and +various other plants that flourish on sandy shores. It is usually full +grown in late autumn, when it goes down some depth into the sand, but does +not pupate until the spring. If the caterpillars are not full fed when +obtained they must be furnished with plenty of sand to burrow in, and kept +supplied with slices of carrot until it is seen that the last put in +remains untouched. + +The moth flies in June and July, and may be found on the coasts of +Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Kent (Deal), Isle of Wight, Dorset, +Devon (Dawlish and Torquay), Somersetshire, South Wales, Cheshire, +Lancashire, and the Isle of Man. Rare in Scotland and in Ireland. + +THE TRUE LOVER'S KNOT (_Agrotis_ (_Lycophotia_) _strigula_). + +The white marked reddish moth (Plate 107, Fig. 1) frequents most of the +moorlands and heath and ling-clad heaths and {211} commons throughout the +British Isles. It varies in the tint of the reddish colour, and in the +greater and lesser prominence of the white markings. Specimens from +Scotland, especially from the Shetland Isles, are generally larger than +English examples, and are often clouded with darker tints. The caterpillar, +which is figured on Plate 109, Fig. 4, is reddish brown with a pale line +along the middle of the back edged with dark brown or blackish marks on +each side; a whitish or pinkish white stripe along the sides with a brown +edging above. Head ochreous brown, marked with darker. It feeds on heath +and heather, and hides by day in the moss or among dead leaves, etc., below +the food plant, August to May. The moth flies, sometimes by day, but +usually at night, in June, July, and in late seasons in August. + +THE PORTLAND MOTH (_Agrotis_ (_Lycophotia_) _præcox_). + +The pretty greenish moth with black cross lines, white spots, and +reddish-brown clouding on the outer area (Plate 107, Fig. 4), is said to +have been first reared in this country by the Duchess of Portland, early in +the nineteenth century, hence the English name. Although occasionally found +several miles from the sea, it is essentially a coast species, and may be +obtained on the sandhills of Dorsetshire, Devon, Suffolk, Norfolk, +Cheshire, Lancashire, Yorkshire, and the Isle of Man. Odd specimens +occasionally occur inland, as for example at Kendal (1899), and in +Worcestershire (1901 and 1903). In Scotland it is found in suitable places +along the west coast, from the Firth of Clyde to Sutherland, and on the +east to Moray; and it is widely spread on the coasts of Ireland. The +caterpillar is slaty grey; central line on the back whitish or pale +greyish, expanding on each ring and so forming a series of connected spots, +edged with darker tint; then a whitish stripe, edged above by a slender +black line; a whitish or bluish grey stripe along the black spiracles. Head +pale {212} brown, obscurely marked with darker. It feeds from September to +June on dwarf sallow, grasses, chickweed, wormwood, etc. The moth flies in +August. + +THE PEARLY UNDERWING (_Agrotis_ (_Lycophotia_) _saucia_). + +Two specimens, both males, are represented on Plate 104. Fig. 10 is more or +less typical and Fig. 9 is referable to var. _margaritosa_, Haworth; both +occur together wherever the species is found, but the typical form is +generally the most frequent. + +The caterpillar, which tapers slightly towards the head, is reddish grey or +brown above and paler on the sides; a line along the middle of the back is +yellowish and edged with dark brown dashes; the line along the greyish +ringed black spiracles is pale and edged above with black; a yellowish +blotch on the last ring and a black bar on ring eleven; head pale brown or +greyish brown marked with black. It feeds on most low plants; also on +cabbage and rape. It occurs in June and July, and in a second generation in +September, October, and sometimes November. From eggs laid in September the +caterpillar hatched in from five days to a fortnight and moths resulted +from these about six weeks later. + +Although it certainly does occur in May and June sometimes, the moth is +very much more frequently seen in autumn. On the south coast, extending to +Cornwall and the Scilly Isles, the species is possibly a resident. In other +parts of the British Isles its occurrence is more or less casual, and, +although common in some years in other southern, and also eastern and +northern counties, it does not seem to be permanently established therein. +No doubt its more general distribution, and abundance here and there, in +certain years, is due to the arrival of immigrants, either in small numbers +in the spring, or in swarms later on in the year. {213} + +The distribution abroad includes Central, Western, and Southern Europe; +Asia Minor; Northern Africa, Canaries, and Madeira; North America. + +THE NORTHERN RUSTIC (_Agrotis_ (_Episilia_) _lucernea_). + +The specimens of this locally variable species shown on Plate 107 are from +Scotland (Fig. 9 [male]), var. _renigera_, Stephens, and North Wales (Fig. +10 [female]). Barrett (_Brit. Lep._, vol. 3), discussing the variation, +remarks, "On the south coast of England, and especially at Portland, the +general tint is pale smoky grey, much darker towards the hind margin, and +with the markings moderately distinct; inland mountainous districts, +especially in North Wales, produce a still paler form; coast districts in +the west and north a decidedly darker; and in the far west, as in Kerry, +some specimens are actually slate-black, without more than the faintest +trace of markings. The Isle of Wight produces deep slate-coloured +specimens, darker than those from the Isle of Man, which are grey brown. +Shetland specimens are large and dark, even to glossy blue-black." The +caterpillar is dusky olive green, mottled all over with small black streaks +and dapplings; each segment of the body having a faintly indicated pale +olive-green spot on each subdorsal region, below which, on each side, is an +oblique shading of blackish green. Head shining black-brown, rather lighter +brown at the sides (Barrett). It feeds on harebell (_Campanula_), stonecrop +(_Sedum acre_), saxifrage, cowslip, chickweed, and grasses, from August to +May. The moth flies in July and August, and in the north and west in +September. It occurs in rough stony places, on rocky places on the coast, +and on hills inland, in Kent (Folkestone district), Isle of Wight, Dorset, +Devon, Cornwall, Gloucestershire (rare), Sussex, Shropshire, Wales, +Lancashire (rare), Yorkshire, and Westmoreland. It is widely distributed in +Scotland and Ireland. {214} + +THE DOTTED RUSTIC (_Agrotis_ (_Episilia_) _simulans_). + +The sexes of this local moth are figured on Plate 107. Fig. 7 represents a +male from Aberdeen, and Fig. 8 a female from Dorsetshire. The latter is of +a pale brown colour on the fore wings, and this is somewhat unusual, as the +prevailing colour of specimens from the Dorset coast is greyish brown. + +The caterpillar is ochreous brown, dotted with brown, and marked with dark +brown, sometimes greenish tinged, on the back; a white stripe below the +spiracles; head brown and rather glossy. It feeds on grasses and low +plants, such as dock, dandelion, groundsel, etc. September to May. The moth +flies in July, August, and September. It occurs at various places on the +Dorsetshire coast; on the Cotswolds in Gloucestershire; in North Wales, and +the Isle of Man; also from Cheshire to Cumberland. Widely distributed in +Scotland, extending to the Hebrides and the Orkneys. In Ireland only +recorded from Sligo. + +THE HEATH RUSTIC (_Agrotis_ (_Eueretagrotis_) _agathina_). + +The moth, shown on Plate 107, varies in colour and in marking. Fig. 2 +depicts a specimen from Perthshire, and Fig. 3 one from North Devonshire. +In Southern England the general tint is pinkish brown, and in the north and +in Scotland it is dark reddish brown or blackish. A pale greyish form from +Ireland has been named var. _hebridicola_, Staud. Sometimes specimens are +distinctly rosy in tint, and these are referable to var. _rosea_, Tutt. The +caterpillar (Plate 109, Fig. 2) is reddish brown, or green, with whitish +lines on the back, the central one edged on each sides with blackish, and +the others inwardly marked with black; a yellowish stripe low down along +the sides, sometimes marked with reddish; usual dots black; spiracles +white, dark ringed; head greenish yellow marked with darker in the green +form, and yellowish brown marked with darker in the brown form. It feeds +from September to June on heath and heather. The above brief description +was made from apparently full-grown caterpillars received from the New +Forest on May 28, 1907, but not one of them attained the chrysalis stage. +The moth is out in August and September, and occurs on most of the larger +heaths, and on moorlands throughout the British Isles, including the +Hebrides and Orkneys. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 110. + 1. ASHWORTH'S RUSTIC. + 2, 3. NEGLECTED RUSTIC. + 4. AUTUMNAL RUSTIC. + 5. PLAIN CLAY. + 6. DOUBLE DART. + 7. FLAME SHOULDER. + 8. SETACEOUS HEBREW CHARACTER. + 9. TRIPLE-SPOTTED CLAY. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 111. + 1. FLAME SHOULDER: _caterpillar_. + 2. TRIPLE-SPOTTED CLAY: _caterpillar_. + 3. DOUBLE DART: _caterpillar_. + +{215} THE STOUT DART (_Agrotis ravida_ (_obscura_)). + +The somewhat dingy brown, or greyish brown moth (Plate 107, Figs. 5 [male], +6 [female]) is sometimes tinged with reddish, and this tint is generally +present on the front or costal area. + +The caterpillar is ochreous brown with a paler line along the back, and a +series of dark edged, oblique and more or less curved, yellowish marks on +each side; head greyish freckled with brownish; plate on first ring brown +marked with pale lines. It feeds on low-growing plants such as dock, +dandelion, chickweed, etc.; September to May. The moth flies in July and +August, but its occurrence in Britain is somewhat irregular. It is found, +sometimes commonly, in most of the southern and eastern counties of +England, and also in Durham; and has been occasionally recorded from other +parts of the country, as well as from Scotland. For several years it may +seem to quite disappear and then suddenly become common in various +districts. Its range abroad extends to Amurland, North China, Corea, and +Japan. + +THE NORTHERN DART (_Agrotis_ (_Episilia_) _hyperborea_). + +Of this pretty Scottish species (_alpina_, Westw. and Humph.) four examples +are figured in Plate 108. Figs. 1 and 2 represent specimens from Shetland, +and Figs. 4 and 5 are from Rannoch specimens. These will show something of +the variation in this {216} moth, which was not known to occur in the +British Isles until 1839, when a single specimen was taken on Cairn Gowr in +Perthshire. No other example seems to have been noted up to 1854, when one +was found on a rock in the same part of Perthshire. Up to the year 1876, +only a few specimens had been obtained, but in that year, which was a hot +and dry one in the Highlands, quite a number were secured. A female was +also detected laying her yellowish white eggs on crowberry (_Empetrum +nigrum_) and thus gave a clue which led to the subsequent discovery of +caterpillars and chrysalids; and these have been obtained in some quantity. +The caterpillar is reddish, inclining to pinkish brown, freckled with +darker; three whitish lines on the back, the central one irregularly black +dotted, edged on both sides with black, and the others with black bars +along their inside edge; head pale brown freckled and lined with darker +brown. It feeds from August to June (of the second year following hatching +from the egg, it is said), on crowberry, bilberry (_Vaccinium_), and +bearberry (_Arctostaphylos uva-ursi_). + +The moth is out from late June until about the middle of August. It only +occurs with us on the higher mountains in Perthshire, notably those to the +south of Loch Rannoch; and at lower elevations in Unst, the most northern +isle of the Shetland group. It has also been recorded from the Orkneys. +Kane mentions a specimen bred at the end of February, 1893, at Clonbrock, +Co. Galway, from a caterpillar found at a bog in the vicinity, where +crowberry grows abundantly. Abroad the species in its typical form is found +on mountains in Central and Southern Scandinavia, and in modified form in +Silesia, Hungary, and Switzerland. + +ASHWORTH'S RUSTIC (_Agrotis_ (_Episilia_) _ashworthii_). + +This moth, which is figured in Plate 110, is considered by some +entomologists to be a form of _A. candelarum_ peculiar {217} to the hills +and mountains of North Wales, and found chiefly at Llangollen, Penmaenmawr, +and Snowdon. The colour of the fore wings varies from pale dove colour to +dark slaty grey. The caterpillar is blackish, or dark slate colour, with +two series of velvety black spots, or dashes along the back; head reddish +brown. It feeds on various low-growing plants, among which are rock-rose, +wild thyme, sheep's sorrel, bedstraw, etc. Towards the end of April, in +Flint, they feed freely and crawl about their food plants in the day time +as well as at night (E. W. H. Blagg). The moth has been reared in November +and December from eggs found in July, about the second week; the +caterpillars having been supplied mainly with sallow, with the addition of +dock, groundsel, plantain, and knot grass (R. Tait). On another occasion +moths were bred in October from eggs laid by a female reared from +caterpillars taken in North Wales in the spring (A. Harrison). The moth is +out in July and August and in its rugged haunts, may be disturbed from +among the loose rubble, and from chinks in the rocks; but as they come +freely to sugared herbage, captives in this way would probably be more +numerous. Discovered at Llangollen in 1853, by Mr. Joseph Ashworth after +whom it was named by Doubleday in 1855. + +NOTE.--Barrett mentions the following Agrotids as having occurred in the +British Isles. + +_A. crassa_, Hübn., "one specimen in the cabinet of Mr. S. Stevens." _A. +spinifera_, Hübn., a specimen taken in the Isle of Man, August, 1869. _A. +fennica_, Tauscher, a specimen recorded in the _Zoologist_ for 1850, as +captured in Derbyshire. + +THE ROSY MARSH MOTH (_Noctua_ (_Coenophila_) _subrosea_). + +The last two moths were respectively productions of Scotland and Wales; the +present one is exclusively English, at least it was, because now and for +perhaps the last fifty years it has been extinct in its old fenny haunts at +Whittlesea, in Cambridgeshire, {218} and Yaxley, Huntingdonshire. In the +latter fen it was first noted by Weaver about the year 1837. In 1846 and +onwards it was plentiful, and the caterpillars were common. All was well +with the species until about 1851 when the fens were drained, and the moth +then ceased to appear. (Plate 108, Fig. 3.) In Sweden, Southern Russia, and +in Amurland the species is represented by a bluish form, var. +_subcoerulea_, Staud. + +THE DOUBLE DART (_Noctua_ (_Exarnis_) _augur_). + +The dull brownish moth (Plate 110, Fig. 6), is generally distributed +throughout the British Isles, including the Orkneys. The fore wings of +southern specimens are usually suffused with reddish, but this is less +obvious in northern examples. The markings are sometimes bold and striking +or, on the other hand, only faintly defined, or largely absent. A +pinkish-tinged brown form without markings was formerly confused with the +Continental _A. helvetina_. The moth is on the wing in June and July, +sometimes in August, especially in the north; and the caterpillar is to be +found from July to May. When young it feeds on various low-growing plants, +but later it crawls up at night to devour the leaves of hawthorn, sloe, +sallow, birch, etc. It is brownish, tinged with pink, and marked on the +back with a series of V-shaped dashes, and white points; on ring eleven +there is a yellowish-edged black mark; above the white spiracles is a +black-edged red-brown stripe. Head pale brown, freckled with darker brown. + +THE AUTUMNAL RUSTIC (_Noctua glareosa_). + +In its typical form as depicted on Plate 110, Fig. 4, this species is slaty +grey with black markings. In Devonshire and other parts of the west of +England, and also in Ireland, it assumes a decided pinkish tinge (var. +_rosea_, Tutt). Through Scotland the colour becomes darker grey, and in +Perthshire it merges into blackish grey. In the Shetlands a blackish, or +sooty-brown form (var. _edda_, Staud.), occurs. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 112. + 1. INGRAILED CLAY: _caterpillar_. + 2. PURPLE CLAY: _caterpillar_. + 3, 3a. SQUARE-SPOT RUSTIC: _caterpillar_. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 113. + 1. DOUBLE SQUARE-SPOT. + 2. SQUARE-SPOTTED CLAY. + 3, 4. PURPLE CLAY. + 5, 6, 7. INGRAILED CLAY. + 8, 9. INGRAILED CLAY, _var. conflua_. + 10, 11. INGRAILED CLAY, _var. thulei_. + +{219} The caterpillar feeds on grasses and various low plants, also on +ling, heath, sallow, and has been found on wild hyacinth. It is +yellowish-brown with dark shaded pale lines on the back, and a dark brown +stripe on the sides; spiracles and dots blackish. October to June. The moth +flies in August and September, and affects heathy places, borders of woods, +etc., throughout the British Isles, including the Hebrides, Orkneys, and +Shetlands. Except in the New Forest, Hampshire, it does not seem to be +common in the southern counties of England; it occurs in Epping Forest, and +in other parts of the eastern counties; northwards it becomes more +generally distributed and more plentiful. + +THE NEGLECTED, OR GREY RUSTIC (_Noctua castanea_). + +The reddish typical form of this species is shown on Plate 110, Fig. 3. +Fig. 2 represents the greyish form, var. _neglecta_, which is most +frequently met with in southern England. Between these extremes +intermediate forms occur connecting one with the other. Specimens of a pale +ochreous colour have been obtained in the vicinity of Market Drayton, +Shropshire. The caterpillar, which feeds on heather and sallow at night, is +pale reddish-brown, finely powdered with greyish; below the pale ochreous +stripe on the sides, the ground colour is greenish; head marked with darker +brown. September to May. The moth flies in August, and occurs on the larger +tracts of heathery ground throughout the British Isles, but it is commoner +in some parts than in others, and appears to be scarce in Ireland. The red +form, and intermediates, occasionally occur in the New Forest, and also in +other parts of Southern England, but in Scotland it is not uncommon. The +distribution abroad is, like that of the last species, pretty much confined +to Western Europe. {220} + +THE DOTTED CLAY (_Noctua baja_). + +This species, a male and female of which are shown on Plate 114, Figs. 7 +[male] and 8 [female] is common in wooded districts throughout the British +Isles, except the Orkneys and the Shetlands. The colour of the fore wings +ranges from pale greyish brown, or reddish grey, to reddish brown or +purplish brown. Sometimes the first and second cross lines are bordered, or +represented, by pale bands. + +The caterpillar is dingy ochreous brown, or reddish brown; three yellowish +lines along the back, the central one edged with blackish; the others have +blackish bordered yellow triangular marks between them, on each ring from +three to eleven; spiracles and dots black; head pale brown, shining. It +feeds in the autumn on various low plants, and in the spring on hawthorn, +sloe, sallow, bramble, etc. September to May. The moth flies in July and +August. Its range abroad extends to Amurland and to North America. + +THE PLAIN CLAY (_Noctua depuncta_). + +This species is represented on Plate 110, Fig. 5, by a female specimen. +Sometimes the fore wings are more reddish brown in colour, and the markings +are occasionally bolder. The caterpillar is pale or dark reddish brown +above, and rather greyish below; the back is marked with dark outlined +diamonds, and the dark edged white spiracles have a dark shade above them, +and an ochreous stripe below; head pale brown marked with darker. Feeds on +primrose, dock, sorrel, nettle, etc. from September to May. The moth flies +in July, August, and the early part of September. It seems to be more +frequently and regularly obtained in Scotland, especially in the woods of +Perthshire, Aberdeen and Moray. In England the species is, or has been, +found in Oxfordshire (rare in beech woods), {221} Berkshire, Wiltshire +(Savernake Forest), Devonshire (Dartmoor), South Wales (near Swansea), +North Wales (Mold), Cheshire (one specimen, Staley-brushes), Yorkshire +(Scarborough), Durham (one at Bishop Auckland), Cumberland (Barrow Wood). +The range abroad includes Central Europe (except Holland and Belgium), +Southern Sweden, Lavonia, and South-east Russia, Armenia, and Northern Asia +Minor. It may be noted that Stephens, writing in 1829, considered this to +be a doubtful British species. + +THE SETACEOUS HEBREW CHARACTER (_Noctua c-nigrum_). + +A male specimen of this often common and generally distributed species is +shown on Plate 110, Fig. 8. The fore wings vary in colour, from pale +reddish grey through bright reddish or pinkish brown to purplish brown; the +costal mark may be whitish, ochreous, or pinkish tinged. The moth is most +frequently obtained in the autumn, but it is sometimes met with from May to +July. + +The caterpillar is pale brownish or greenish grey, with two series of black +streaks, and a dark-edged pale central line, on the back; below the black +outlined white spiracles is a black-edged yellow ochreous, or whitish +stripe; head ochreous brown streaked with darker brown. It feeds on dock, +chickweed, groundsel, and other low plants. It is said to feed from +September to April or May. Possibly, however, in favourable seasons, some +may pupate either in the autumn or in the early months of the year, and so +attain the moth state greatly in advance of the majority. The range of this +species' distribution extends to India, Corea, Japan, and North America. + +THE BLACK COLLAR (_Noctua flammatra_). + +Fore wings pale greyish brown, with dark-edged pale cross lines; a pale +whitish brown pink-tinged streak along the front {222} margin to the second +line; below this is a short black dot; the reniform and orbicular marks are +pale, the centre sometimes darker, and the claviform has a dark edge but is +not distinct; the front of the thorax is broadly marked with black, hence +the English name. + +Only three British examples seem to be known; two of these were captured in +the Isle of Wight, 1859 and 1876, and the third occurred in the lighthouse +at Cromer in 1875. The range abroad is Central and Southern Europe, Western +and Central Asia and India. + +THE TRIPLE-SPOTTED CLAY (_Noctua ditrapezium_). + +The ground colour of the fore wings of this moth ranges from pinkish brown +through pale reddish brown to a purplish grey brown. The specimen shown on +Plate 110, Fig. 9 [male] is of the pinkish brown form from Tilgate Forest +in Sussex. In a series bred from caterpillars obtained at Hampstead, +North-west London, the bulk of the males are pale reddish brown, and the +females purplish brown; one male, however, is as dark as the females. +Caterpillar, purplish brown, mottled above with dark brown; a thin white +line, interrupted with black, along the middle of the back, and a row of +black marks on each side; on the sides are oblique blackish marks, with the +white spiracles showing distinct at their lower ends. Head pale shining +brown, the cheeks marked with darker brown. Feeds on dandelion, dock, +chickweed, primrose, and other low plants; also on bramble and sallow, and +in the spring on the young leaves of birch. September to May (Plate 111, +Fig. 2). + +The moth flies, in and around woods, in July. It is local and not always +common, but has been found in the north-west and south-west districts of +London, Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Dorsetshire, Devon, Wales (Swansea +and Barmouth), and Norfolk (Cromer). It occurs in Scotland (Perthshire), +and {223} two specimens have been recorded from Ireland. Its range extends +to Siberia and Amurland. + +THE DOUBLE SQUARE-SPOT (_Noctua triangulum_). + +This species (Plate 113, Fig. 1) is usually pale brown, more or less tinged +with reddish, but some specimens are of a rather darker hue, and others +inclined to greyish. The conspicuous marks in the discal cell, usually +black or blackish, are sometimes pale or dark reddish brown. The moth flies +in June and July, and occurs in woods or well-timbered districts throughout +England (except in Somerset, Dorset, and westward), Wales, Scotland +(mainland), and Ireland. + +THE SQUARE-SPOTTED CLAY (_Noctua stigmatica_). + +As will be seen from its portrait (Plate 113, Fig. 2), this moth, although +darker in colour, is marked somewhat similarly to the last referred to. It +should be noted, however, that the basal line is less distinct; the +submarginal line is inwardly shaded with blackish, and there is no blackish +spot at its costal extremity. The fore wings are sometimes pale reddish +brown, and sometimes almost blackish. + +The caterpillar, which is ochreous, or brownish, is somewhat similar in +marking to that of _A. ditrapezium_, and feeds on dandelion, dock, +chickweed, plantain, sallow, etc. In confinement it is said to eat sliced +carrot or potato, and, if kept warm, may be induced to feed up and attain +the moth state early in the year. + +The moth flies in July and August and seems to be partial to woods. It is +very local, but occurs not uncommonly in the New Forest, Hampshire, and in +Oxfordshire and Berkshire beech woods; also found in Buckinghamshire, the +Eastern Counties, Kent, Sussex, Dorsetshire, Devon, Lancashire (once), +Yorkshire (very local), and North Wales (once). In Scotland {224} it +appears to be more widely spread, but has not been noted in Ireland. + +THE PURPLE CLAY (_Noctua brunnea_). + +The fore wings of this moth (Plate 113, Figs. 3, 4) range in colour from +purplish brown to reddish brown, or pale reddish brown; some of the darker +forms are suffused with greyish, and the central area is occasionally +ochreous tinged. There is also variation in the markings, especially the +reniform stigma which is usually more or less filled in with ochreous or +whitish tint, but not infrequently it is merely outlined in one of these +colours, and the centre is then dark grey brown, sometimes enclosing a +whitish or ochreous crescent. These remarks are of general application, but +refer to a long series I obtained in North Devon. + +The caterpillar (Plate 112, Fig. 2) is reddish brown with a yellowish tinge +and with black dots and ochreous markings. It feeds on bilberry, wood-rush +(_Luzula_), various low plants, bramble, sallow, and in the spring it +attacks the buds and young leaves of the birch saplings, etc. August to +May. The moth flies in June and July, and is often common in woods over +almost the whole of the British Isles, including the Hebrides and the +Orkneys. The range abroad extends to Amurland. + +THE INGRAILED CLAY (_Noctua primulæ_). + +This species, long known as _festiva_, but for which Esper's earlier name +_primulæ_ will have to be adopted, is exceedingly variable. Specimens of +the more or less typical form and also of the forms known as _conflua_ and +_thulei_ are portrayed on Plate 113. The fore wings range in colour from +pale ochreous to chestnut brown, and from grey to smoky grey brown. The +cross lines are distinct in some specimens, but in others are hardly +visible; the discal cell is often no darker than the {225} general colour, +but sometimes there is a reddish square spot in place of the usual black +one; the reniform and orbicular marks may be only faintly outlined, and the +latter sometimes cannot be traced; the brownish band-like shade between the +outer and submarginal lines is frequently only indicated by a short dash +from the front margin, and even this is occasionally absent. + +The smaller moorland and mountain form, var. _conflua_, Treitschke, and in +the vulgar tongue The Lesser Ingrailed, varies on somewhat similar lines. +(Plate 113, Figs. 8, 9.) Var. _thulei_, Staudinger, also varies greatly in +colour and in marking. Some specimens are dark reddish brown, or +occasionally smoky brown; others are pale reddish brown, grey brown, +reddish grey, or grey; the pale cross lines are generally distinct, in the +darker specimens especially. This form, which is peculiar to the Shetland +Isles, is shown on Plate 113, Figs. 10, 11. In the foregoing remarks +reference has been made only to the general trend of variation; many other +forms of aberration in this species might be mentioned if space permitted. + +The caterpillar is pale or dark reddish or olive brown inclining to pinkish +between the rings; the lines are yellowish, the central paler edged with +brown, and the outer ones edged with blackish marks; oblique darker dashes +on the sides; spiracles black, ochreous ringed, with a pale stripe below +them; head pale brown marked with darker. It feeds on primrose, bilberry, +dock, sallow, hawthorn, bramble, etc. August to May. (Plate 112, Fig. 1.) +The moth flies in June, but specimens of a second generation have been +obtained, in confinement, from August to October. The species in one form +or another occurs in woods, on moorlands, etc., over the whole of the +British Isles. + +THE BARRED CHESTNUT (_Noctua dahlii_). + +The sexes of this species are depicted on Plate 114. It will be noted that +the female (Fig. 2) is darker in colour than the {226} male (Fig. 1). The +sexual colour difference holds good generally, but there are exceptions and +the male may sometimes be dark, like the female; or the latter sex may +occasionally assume a reddish coloration. As a rule the reniform mark is +most distinct in the female. A form occurring in Ireland with the fore +wings dark sepia colour and the reniform mark clear whitish has been named +var. _perfusca_, Kane. The caterpillar varies in the colour of the back +through various shades of ochreous and brown to dark reddish brown, and +this is always in strong contrast with the colour of the lower parts; the +lines are pale, and the outer ones on the back are edged with black dashes; +spots and spiracles black; head pale brown. It feeds on dock, plantain, +etc., and in the spring on young sallow leaves. In confinement will become +full grown before Christmas, but normally it feeds from September to May. +The moth is out in late July and in August. It is found on heaths, +moorlands, and in woods; it is not uncommon in some parts of the Midlands, +and is found in Cheshire and northwards to Cumberland. It also occurs in +Herefordshire, Pembrokeshire; in the south and east of England it is not +frequent, but has been taken in South Oxfordshire, Berkshire (Newbury), +Suffolk, Hants (Winchester and New Forest), etc. Widely distributed in +Scotland, and locally abundant in Ireland. The distribution abroad extends +to Amurland and Japan. + +THE SMALL SQUARE SPOT (_Noctua rubi_). + +There are two generations of this species. The first is on the wing in +June, and the second in August, September, and sometimes even in October. +An example of each brood is shown on Plate 114, Fig. 3, 1st gen., Fig. 4, +2nd gen. The early moths are larger in size than the later ones, but are +fewer in number. Moths of the second generation often abound at the sugar +patches, and on ragwort blossom. The colour of {227} the fore wings varies +from pale to dark reddish brown in both broods. + +The caterpillar is greyish ochreous or brown, with dark-edged paler lines, +and the brown head is marked with darker. It feeds on dandelion, dock, +grass, etc. Those of the first generation feed from autumn to spring, and +those of the second during the summer. The moth is found in almost every +part of the British Isles, except, perhaps, the Hebrides and Shetlands. + +THE SIX-STRIPED RUSTIC (_Noctua umbrosa_). + +This species (Plate 114, Fig. 5), is also generally distributed over our +islands as far north as Moray, but it is rather partial to marshy +situations. The caterpillar, which feeds from August to May on dock, +plantain, bramble, bedstraw, etc., is pale ochreous or brownish, freckled +with darker, and with dark-edged, pale ochreous lines on the back, the +outer ones with a series of black wedges along them; a dark brown stripe +low down along the sides; head pale brown marked with darker. The moth +flies in July and August. It seems to prefer the flowers of the ragwort and +the honey-dew on foliage to sugar, but the latter has attractions for it +nevertheless. + +COUSIN GERMAN (_Noctua_ (_Mythimna_) _sobrina_). + +On Plate 114, Fig. 6, is a portrait of this greyish suffused purple-brown +species, which in the British Isles is seemingly confined to certain +localities in Perthshire and Aberdeen, and was first met with in the former +county by Weaver in 1853. According to Barrett it is found chiefly in +mountain districts from 700 feet above sea-level upwards. + +The caterpillar is reddish or red brown, slightly mottled with grey; the +marking on the back almost linear, widening a little, but narrowly +lozenge-shaped near the end of each ring, and {228} having on the widest +part a round pale spot of dirty ochreous; sides much mottled with grey; +dots and spiracles black, and under the latter a pale pinkish, ochreous, +brown stripe; head shining brownish ochreous, with two black dots in front +of each lobe. (Adapted from Buckler.) It feeds on heather, bilberry, birch, +grass, etc. September to June. The moth flies in July and August. + +THE SQUARE-SPOT RUSTIC (_Noctua_ (_Segetia_) _xanthographa_). + +Four examples of this very common and most variable species are shown on +Plate 114, Figs. 9-12. The colour of the fore wings ranges from whity +brown, or drab, through various shades of grey-brown and red-brown to +blackish. The more or less square reniform, and the orbicular, marks are +subject to a good deal of modification; in some specimens they are whitish +or ochreous and very conspicuous, and in others exceedingly faint or +entirely missing; or the reniform may be well defined and prominent, and +the orbicular absent; the cross lines are frequently obscure, except the +dark-edged, pale submarginal, and this, too, may be wanting; occasionally +there is a blackish shade between the stigmata and extending from the front +to inner margins. The hind wings of the males are whitish, with a dark +marginal border of variable width, but rarely, so far as I have noted, +entirely absent; those of the females are uniformly darker. + +The full-grown caterpillar (Plate 112, Fig. 3) is hardly separable from +that of _N. umbrosa_, and feeds at the same date on low-growing plants, +etc. The moth flies in August and early September. It is generally +distributed throughout the British Isles, and is abundant pretty well +everywhere. + +THE FLAME SHOULDER (_Noctua_ (_Ochropleura_) _plecta_). + +This moth (Plate 110, Fig. 7) is also common, and generally distributed +throughout England, Ireland, Scotland (mainland), and Wales. The fore wings +are usually purplish brown, but sometimes they are palish red brown; the +creamy stripe on the front margin is more or less sprinkled with scales of +the ground colour, occasionally so thickly that these marks appear reddish +in tint; there is often a pale, wavy submarginal line, and in some +specimens a dusky second line can be detected; not infrequently there are +traces of the claviform mark, but I do not remember ever seeing any +indication of a first line. The hind wings are white, and frequently the +fringes are pale pinky brown. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 114. + 1, 2. BARRED CHESTNUT. + 3, 4. SMALL SQUARE-SPOT. + 5. SIX-STRIPED RUSTIC. + 6. COUSIN GERMAN. + 7, 8. DOTTED CLAY. + 9, 10, 11, 12. SQUARE SPOT RUSTIC. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 115. + 1, 2. LUNAR YELLOW UNDERWING. + 4, 5, 7, 8. LESSER YELLOW UNDERWING. + 3, 6. LARGE YELLOW UNDERWING. + +{229} The caterpillar is brownish, varying from ochreous to reddish, +freckled with darker; the broken lines on the back are pale, with dark +edges, and there is a brown freckled, pale ochreous stripe along the sides; +the usual spots are black, and the spiracles whitish, edged with brownish; +head brown marked with darker. It feeds on various low plants, and also on +lettuce, beet, etc., in gardens; there are certainly two broods in most +years, one in the summer and the other in the autumn. The moth is out in +May and June, and again in August and September. Specimens have also been +taken in July, and occasionally in April. The species has a very extensive +range abroad, extending to India, Corea, Japan, and North America. + +THE FLAME (_Axylia putris_). + +This species, which is depicted on Plate 132, Fig. 13, is pretty constant +in its pale coloration and darker markings. It is often common, and is +widely spread throughout England, Wales, Ireland, and in Scotland up to +Ross. + +The caterpillar is greyish brown, mottled and dusted with blackish, chiefly +so on the sides; the central line is darker but indistinct, and there is a +yellow spot on each ring; a whitish line on each side of the central one is +edged above with curved black dashes, and these are most distinct on rings +four to ten; {230} the eleventh ring is edged behind with ochreous; head +dark brown; spiracles and raised dots blackish. (Adapted from Fenn.) It +feeds on hedge bedstraw (_Galium mollugo_), dock, plantain, nettle, and +many other low plants; also on lettuce. July to October. Generally the +winter is passed in the chrysalis stage, and the moth comes out in the +following June or July. Sometimes the moth has emerged in September. + +THE LESSER YELLOW UNDERWING (_Triphæna_ (_Agrotis_) _comes_ = _orbona_). + +This very variable species, of which the typical forms and two varieties +are represented on Plate 115, is to be found, often abundantly, almost +everywhere in the British Isles, except the Shetlands. + +Apart from a form peculiar to Scotland, which will be separately referred +to, the colour range of the fore wings is from pale ochreous-brown to a +deep brown; in all shades there may be a tinge of reddish, or a suffusion +of greyish. In Ireland and Scotland, and less frequently in England, a +distinctly red form occurs. (Plate 115, Fig. 7.) Then there is variation in +the markings, and more particularly in the reniform and orbicular marks; +both stigmata are, perhaps, rarely absent, but they are frequently very +faint, and of the orbicular there is often not a trace. On the other hand, +both may be filled up with dark brown, or blackish, and very conspicuous. +The cross lines, and more especially the shaded submarginal, are usually +pretty much in evidence, but these are apt to disappear entirely. The +yellow hind wings are occasionally smudged with blackish towards the base; +the central crescents vary in size, and somewhat in shape, and although +sometimes greatly reduced, they are only rarely quite missing; the black +band before the outer margin is also subject to modification in width and +the regularity of its edges. {231} + +Var. _curtisii_, Newman, was discovered in the Isle of Bute by Curtis in +1825, but until 1871, when Newman gave it the name it now bears, it had +been known as _consequa_, the name assigned to it by Curtis when figured by +him in 1831. The form is generally rather smaller than the type; the fore +wings are rich reddish brown, clouded to a greater or lesser extent with +blackish, and sometimes entirely suffused with that colour. The yellow +ground of the hind wings is rarely quite free of black scales, but in some +specimens they are so thick that the yellow is hidden. A specimen of this +form is shown on Plate 115, Fig. 8. It is found in the Orkneys, +Sutherlandshire, Elgin, Inverness, Aberdeenshire; also in the Hebrides, and +in the Isles of Bute and Arran. + +The caterpillar (Plate 118, Fig. 2), is greenish ochreous varying to +greenish brown; three yellowish lines on the back, the central edged with +blackish and the others with dark oblong marks; spiracles white, edged with +blackish, and below them an ochreous stripe; head grey brown marked with +darker. It feeds on grass and most low plants from September to April. The +moth is out in July and August. + +Abroad it occurs chiefly in Central and Southern Europe, but its range +extends to Southern Scandinavia and eastward to Asia Minor and Armenia. + +THE LUNAR YELLOW UNDERWING (_Triphæna_ (_Agrotis_) _orbona_ = _subsequa_). + +Two specimens of this species are shown on Plate 115. Fig. 1 represents a +specimen from Forres, in Scotland, and Fig. 2 an example from the New +Forest, Hants. + +Although there is some variation in the colour of the fore wings (which +ranges from pale greyish brown to dark reddish brown), and also in the +intensity and clearness of the markings, this species is far less aberrant +than that last referred to, and {232} from which it is at once separated by +the black mark on the front margin, placed on the inner edge of the +submarginal line. The caterpillar is distinguished from that of _comes_ by +the black-edged broader ochreous central line, and a series of black oblong +spots on each side of it; the stripe under the spiracles is broad, and +ochreous. It feeds from September to April on grasses and various low +plants. The moth flies in July and August. The species is widely +distributed in Scotland, and occurs in Unst, the most northern of the +Shetland Isles. In England it occurs, or has been found, in Durham, +Yorkshire, Worcestershire (Malvern), Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, +Oxfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk (not uncommon in the "Breck" district), +Surrey, Sussex, Wilts, Hants (rather commonly in the New Forest), and the +Isle of Wight. For Wales, Barrett states that it is rare in Pembrokeshire; +and Kane mentions Co. Galway (four specimens), Killarney, and Lisbellaw for +Ireland. The range abroad is somewhat similar to that of _comes_, but it +extends further north in Scandinavia. + +THE LARGE YELLOW UNDERWING (_Triphæna_ (_Agrotis_) _pronuba_). + +The colour of the fore wings of this common, and often abundant, species +ranges through various shades of brown to dark purplish. In the typical +form (Plate 115, Fig. 3), the wings are of the paler shades, mottled with +darker, and the thorax, except the pale front, agrees in colour with the +darker mottling of the wings. Fig. 6 shows the plain form (var. _innuba_, +Treitschke), and it is in this form that the darkest colours appear; the +thorax is always of the wing colour, and without the pale front. The black +mark at upper end of the submarginal line is rarely absent, but I have a +pale reddish-brown example of the _innuba_ form without the mark. In the +black-bordered yellow hind wings a central crescent is very {233} +exceptional, but specimens in which it is more or less evident are not +unknown. + +The eggs figured on Plate 118 were found in August, 1906, on a leaf of +gladiolus in the garden. When first noticed they were of a pale +creamy-white colour, but two days afterwards the upper half of the batch +became purplish grey, and the caterpillars hatched out the following +morning, when the other half had also changed colour, and the larvæ hatched +next day. + +The caterpillar (Plate 118, Fig. 1), is obscure brownish, sometimes +ochreous or green tinged; with ochreous lines on the back, the outer ones +edged with blackish bars on rings four to eleven; head pale brown marked +with darker. It feeds from August to May on grasses and low plants, and is +often a pest in the flower or vegetable garden. When eggs are obtained +early, the caterpillars from them will sometimes attain the moth state in +the same year. The moth flies in June and July, and has occurred in April, +September, and October. + +THE BROAD-BORDERED YELLOW UNDERWING (_Triphæna fimbria_). + +This is another species with variable coloured fore wings, and four +examples of it are shown on Plate 116. Pale ochreous brown and greyish +brown is the most frequent colour, but various shades of greenish or olive +brown are not uncommon. A dark reddish-brown form, known to collectors as +the "mahogany form," seems to be somewhat rare. In the majority of +specimens the basal third, and more or less of the central area adjacent to +the second line seems to be the darkest coloured; but occasionally these +parts are pretty much of the same tint as the rest of the wings. + +The caterpillar (Plate 118, Fig. 4) is of a soft ochreous brown, sometimes +red tinted, minutely dotted with blackish; the central line on the back is +pale, and on each side are darkly-edged pale {234} oblique streaks; the +white spiracles are followed by blackish marks; head brown freckled with +darker. It feeds in the autumn on primrose, violet, dock, etc., and in the +spring it seems to prefer the buds and young leaves of birch, sallow, +bramble, hawthorn, sloe, chestnut, etc. The chrysalis, which also is +figured, is dark reddish-brown, with two short anal spikes. + +This species occurs in June and July, and frequents woodland localities +throughout England, Ireland, Scotland (up to Moray), and Wales. + +THE LESSER BROAD-BORDER (_Triphæna ianthina_). + +Fore wings violet or purplish grey with blackish cross bands and brownish +suffusion, the latter more especially on the basal area; reniform and +orbicular stigma outlined in whitish. (Plate 116, Fig. 3.) In another form +the bands and suffusion are reddish-brown. The black clouding on basal area +of hind wings sometimes extends further towards the marginal band. The +caterpillar (Plate 118, Fig. 3) is of a greenish tinged ochreous brown +colour, with a pale central line and series of dusky dashes along the back, +these dashes becoming blackish on the hind rings; the white spiracles are +set in a blackish mark, and under them is a pale ochreous stripe. It feeds +in the autumn on primrose, bramble, dock, etc., and in the spring on the +young growth of sallow, elm, hawthorn, etc. The moth flies in July and +August, frequenting lanes, hedgerows, and woods. It is pretty generally +distributed throughout England, Wales, Ireland, and Scotland as far north +as Moray. + +THE LEAST YELLOW UNDERWING (_Triphæna interjecta_). + +Fore wings, dull reddish brown with darker cross lines and shades, often +faint. On the inner margin of the yellow hind wings, two dusky shades run +from the border to the base; these {235} are not infrequently as black as +the border, which is often broader than in the specimen shown on Plate 116 +(Fig. 4). The caterpillar is ochreous brown dotted with black; on the +middle of the back is a brown stripe enclosing a whitish central line. A +brown stripe along the sides is edged above with whitish; the head is pale +ochreous brown lined with darker. Stated by Barrett to feed on grasses and +low plants, or, in the spring, on young shoots of sallow; said also to eat +primrose and dock. September to May. The moth is out in July and August, +and affects lanes and hedgerows. I have found it more frequently on flowers +of ragwort, and on "honey-dew," than on the sugar patch; but have met with +it occasionally darting along some particular bit of hedgerow, in the late +afternoon. Although apparently uncommon in the Midlands, it occurs more or +less freely throughout England to Durham. In Ireland it has been found in +counties Dublin, Wicklow, Waterford, Cork, Louth, Westmeath, Galway (Kane), +and, Barrett adds, Antrim. + +THE GREEN ARCHES (_Eurois prasina_). + +This moth is shown on Plate 117. When quite fresh the ground colour of the +fore wings is a beautiful green, but this often fades after a time, and the +wings then assume an ochreous hue. The cross lines are black relieved with +whitish, and there is a whitish blotch on the second line touching the +outer edges of the reniform stigma. The green colour varies in tint even +when the insects are alive; and the black markings differ in intensity, +being much stronger in some specimens than in others. The caterpillar is +greyish brown, more or less tinged with violet; there are three fine +whitish lines, and a series of blackish diamond-shaped marks on the back; +the spiracles are white, and there is an ochreous stripe below them. It +feeds on dock and other low plants, bramble, and in the spring on sallow +shoots and the young growth of bilberry. July to April, or May. {236} The +moth, which frequents woods; flies in June, but has been reared, as a +second generation, late in the year. The species seems to be pretty +generally distributed over England and Ireland, and is often common, +especially in the south and east of the former country. From the Midlands +northwards it appears to be less common, and its range more restricted. In +Scotland it has been recorded from Roxburghshire (common at sugar in 1898), +the Clyde district, and, Barrett adds, Perthshire. + +THE GREAT BROCADE (_Eurois occulta_). + +On Plate 117, Fig. 3 represents the typical grey form of this species, and +Fig. 4 the black var. _passetii_, Thierry-Mieg. Intermediates occur +connecting the melanic form with the type, and sometimes specimens are +found of a paler hue than the type. Bred specimens occasionally have a rosy +tinge, and this is then usually most in evidence between the first and +second cross lines. The caterpillar is brown, with three ochreous lines on +the back, the outer with dark oblique dashes on each ring; a whitish stripe +along the spiracles is blotched with reddish, and edged above with black. +It feeds in the autumn on dock, plantain, primrose, dandelion, etc., and in +the spring on bramble, bilberry, sallow, heather, and birch, among other +things. Usually it hibernates when small, but when kept indoors, and fairly +warm, it can be induced to complete growth, and attain the moth state in +October or later, sometimes even earlier. In the open the moth flies from +the end of June to August. + +Scotland appears to be the British home of the species, and it is found in +most woods throughout that country, including the isles, but it is rare in +the Shetlands. It occurs in Durham (rare), and in Yorkshire was not +uncommon at Everingham in 1897, and several were obtained at Middlesbrough +in 1900. Further south its occurrence is even more casual, and the most +recent captures I have any note of are, two specimens in Lincolnshire, +August, 1896, and one each in Norfolk and North East London, August, 1900. +Also recorded from Essex. Only two specimens are known from Ireland. + +The range abroad extends to Amurland, Corea, and to North America. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 116. + 1, 2, 5, 6. BROAD-BORDERED YELLOW UNDERWING. + 3. LESSER BROAD-BORDERED YELLOW UNDERWING. + 4. LEAST YELLOW UNDERWING. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 117. + 1, 2. GREEN ARCHES. + 3, 4. GREAT BROCADE. + 5. SILVERY ARCHES. + 6. PALE SHINING BROWN. + +{237} THE SILVERY ARCHES (_Aplecta_ (_Mamestra_) _tincta_). + +The moth represented on Plate 117, Fig. 5, has the fore wings silvery grey +clouded with brownish on the central area; or occasionally spreading over a +larger portion of the wings, and sometimes purplish in tint. The +caterpillar is brownish inclining to reddish, clouded on the back with +paler and darker brown. The central line, which has a broken blackish +edging, is only distinct on the front rings. Spiracles black; head pale +brown marked with darker brown. In the autumn it feeds on low plants such +as dock, plantain, etc.; but in the spring it is found at night on the +young growth of birch and sallow bushes, and more rarely on hawthorn, and I +believe, on bilberry. The moth which occurs in birch woods in June and +July, is not uncommon in the south of England from Essex to Hampshire, and +has been found in Dorset and Devonshire. It has also been obtained more or +less frequently in Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Cambridgeshire (once), +Huntingdon, Worcestershire (Wyre Forest and Malvern), Staffordshire +(north), Lancashire (Witherslack), Yorkshire (Huddersfield, once), and +Westmoreland. In Scotland it ranges on the west from Ayr to Argyllshire, +but although local is more frequent in Perthshire, Moray, and Sutherland. +Var. _obscurata_, Staud., is a form of this species occurring in Amurland +and Southern Siberia. + +THE PALE SHINING BROWN (_Aplecta_ (_Mamestra_) _advena_). + +This moth (Plate 117, Fig. 6) is pale reddish brown and glossy, especially +on the outer area, on the fore wings. The caterpillar {238} is pale +ochreous brown above, and inclining to greenish below; three dark-edged +pale lines, and a series of dark diamond-shaped marks on the back. The +usual dots are whitish encircled with blackish, and the blackish edged +spiracles are reddish brown; head olive brown, and plate on first ring +blackish with the three lines showing distinct. From July to September it +feeds on various low plants, including rest-harrow, dandelion, and +knotgrass, also on broom, bilberry (Barrett); and Newman mentions +sowthistle (_Sonchus_) and lettuce. In confinement the moth sometimes +emerges in the autumn, but in the open it flies in June and July. Flowers +seem to have more attraction for it than sugar. I have taken it at the +blossoms of wood sage, white campion, and woundwort (_Stachys_), and +Barrett notes, bladder campion, viper's bugloss, and the martagon lily. The +species is chiefly found, as regards England, in the southern and eastern +counties; and in the Solway, Clyde, Forth, and Tay districts of Scotland. +Louth is the only Irish county from which it has been reported. The range +abroad extends to Amurland. In North America the species is represented by +var. _purpurissata_, Grote. + +THE GREY ARCHES (_Aplecta_ (_Mamestra_) _nebulosa_). + +Grey of some shade is the more general hue of this species, but it varies +in the West of England and in Ireland to white (var. _pallida_, Tutt), and +this form is shown on Plate 119, Fig. 3. In Cheshire (Delamere), Lancashire +(Warrington), and South Yorkshire black or blackish forms occur, and two +examples of this melanic race are portrayed on the plate, Fig. 4 being var. +_robsoni_, Collins, and Fig. 5 var. _thompsoni_, Arkle. Over the greater +part of England, and in Scotland, the greyish form is most frequently met +with, but the white form has been found in Argyllshire and in Sutherland. +The caterpillar is ochreous brown or brownish grey, with a series of +diamond-shaped blackish marks, and a pale central line, on the back; {239} +the dots and the spiracles are black, each of the latter with a blackish +streak in front of it. In the autumn it feeds upon dock and other low +plants; but in the spring, when it is more easily found, the caterpillar +eats the buds and young leaves of birch, oak, sallow, bramble, etc. The +moth is out in June and July, and is not uncommon in woods. The black form +seems to be peculiar to north England. In Amurland the species is +represented by var. _askolda_, Oberthür, and in North America by var. +_nimbosa_, Guenée. + +THE CABBAGE MOTH (_Barathra brassicæ_). + +The darker markings of this very common greyish moth are often very +obscure, but the white outline of the reniform stigma, and the white +submarginal line are usually distinct. The caterpillar varies in colour, +but generally is some shade of dull brown or greenish, with the usual dots +greyish or green tinged. The central line on the back is dusky, speckled +with white, and the stripe low down on the sides is yellowish, greenish, or +dingy brown; head ochreous brown marked with darker or greenish. Although +it is exceedingly partial to the cabbage and other plants of the kind, it +will feed upon almost every sort of low herbage, wild or cultivated. +Barrett states that it has been found feeding on oak. I have taken it from +birch in the garden, and it is known to eat leaves of almost any tree or +shrub that may be offered to it in confinement. July to October. The moth +is out in June and July, and sometimes there is an emergence in September. +The species occurs over the whole of the British Isles, and abroad its +range extends to India, Amurland, and Japan. (Plate 120, Figs. 3[male], +6[female].) + +THE DOT (_Mamestra persicariæ_). + +The striking feature of the bluish-black moth shown on Plate 120, Figs. 1, +2, is the brownish centred white reniform {240} stigma. Except that the +yellowish submarginal line is sometimes obscured, the species is very +constant in the British Isles. Abroad, a form without the white mark is +known as _unicolor_, Staud., and one or two examples have been recorded as +occurring in England, two in 1895 said to have been reared by a northern +collector from caterpillars obtained in the London district. The +caterpillar figured on Plate 129, Fig. 2, was pale green with darker green +markings. In another form the colour is pale brown with the markings darker +brown. It is found from August to October on all sorts of low plants, and +in the garden, where it is often common in the suburbs of London, is very +fond of the foliage of _Anemone japonica_ and lupin, among other plants. +The moth is out in July and August, but is not often common north of the +Midlands, though it occurs, or has been found in almost all the counties of +England. Its occurrence in Scotland seems to be doubtful, and Kane states +that it is rare in Ireland, and almost absent from the northern counties. +Its range abroad extends to China and Japan. + +THE WHITE COLON (_Mamestra albicolon_). + +Two specimens of this species are shown on Plate 120, Figs. 7, 8. It will +be noted that, except for the two white dots at the lower outer edge, the +outline of the reniform mark is very obscure; these dots are placed one +below the other, thus forming a :, hence the English name of the moth. +Blackish specimens have been obtained on the east coast of Scotland. + +The caterpillar is green or bluish grey, with a dark-edged pale central +line; spiracles white, margined with black. Barrett states that it feeds in +June and July, and probably as a partial second generation in September, on +plantain, dandelion, and other low plants growing in sand; probably also on +_Atriplex_, _Chenopodium_, and Cruciferæ; but it is a larva of secret +habits and is very little known. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 118. + 1, 1a. LARGE YELLOW UNDERWING: _eggs and caterpillar_. + 2. LESSER YELLOW UNDERWING: _caterpillar_. + 3, 3a. LESSER BROAD-BORDER: _caterpillar and chrysalis_. + 4, 4a. BROAD-BORDERED YELLOW UNDERWING: _caterpillar and chrysalis_. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 119. + GREY ARCHES MOTH _and varieties_. + +{241} + +The moth, which flies in May and June, and again in July and August, +frequents sandhills on the west, especially those of Yorkshire, Lancashire, +Cheshire, and Wales. In Norfolk and Suffolk it is found in the Breck Sand +district as well as on the coast, and it also occurs on the coasts of +Dorset, Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall, but seems to be uncommon in most of +these counties. In Scotland it occurs in suitable parts of the east coast +to Aberdeen, and on the west coast to the Clyde; and in Ireland on the +coasts of Kerry, Louth, and Derry. + +THE BRIGHT-LINE BROWN-EYE (_Mamestra oleracea_). + +The English name of this very common moth (Plate 120, Figs. 4, 5), applies +to the majority of specimens, but now and then the ochreous, or yellow +reniform stigma, referred to as the brown eye, is blurred and indistinct, +and the white submarginal line may almost disappear. The ground colour of +the fore wings ranges from reddish or purple brown to dark brown. The +caterpillar (Plate 129, Fig. 1), varies from green to light brown, +sometimes the brownish forms are tinged with pink; the body is minutely +dotted with white, and the usual dots are black; the spiracles are white, +margined with black, and placed on the blackish edge of a yellow stripe; +there are three greyish, but frequently indistinct, lines on the back. It +feeds from July to September on most low plants, and is often found in +abundance under spreading clumps of goose-foot (_Chenopodium_), and has +been noted in profusion upon tamarisk growing by the sea. The moth flies in +June and July, sometimes in the autumn. Except, perhaps, in the Hebrides, +it has been found throughout the British Isles. + +THE LIGHT BROCADE (_Mamestra genistæ_). + +The moth portrayed on Plate 121, Fig. 1, is not given to much variation. +The central area enclosed by the cross lines is {242} more or less clouded +with reddish or purplish brown, not extending, as a rule, below the black +bar between the lines, but sometimes the inner area is clouded with +purplish from the second cross line to the base of the wing. The +caterpillar is pale olive greenish above, with brownish and blackish +diamonds or V-shaped markings; three lines on the back are dark-edged but +indistinct; a cloudy line along the white spiracles. The colour varies from +greenish to brownish grey or purplish brown, and all shades may occur in +the same brood. It feeds in July and August on broom, dyer's greenweed +(_Genista tinctoria_), persicaria, and other low plants. The moth is out in +May and June, and may be seen in the daytime on palings and other kinds of +fencing, and also on tree trunks. It occurs in England from Worcestershire +and Northampton southwards, but seems to be rarely met with northwards. +Four or five specimens were taken at electric light near Tarporley, +Cheshire, about 1900 (Day's List). It has been recorded from Ayr, Argyll, +and Paisley in Scotland, but its occurrence in Ireland is doubtful. The +distribution abroad ranges to Eastern Siberia. + +THE DOG'S TOOTH (_Mamestra dissimilis_). + +The example of this species shown on Plate 121, Fig. 2, is of the +reddish-tinged pale brown form from Essex; but in that county, and also in +other parts of England, the fore wings are sometimes clouded with +sooty-brown. In other forms the fore wings are purplish or reddish brown, +and the markings may be very distinct, or much obscured. The caterpillar is +greenish or brown, minutely dotted with white, and freckled with dark +greyish; the usual dots are black; there are indications of darker lines on +the back, but these are not always clearly defined; the white spiracles are +set in the black interrupted edge of a yellowish stripe. It feeds in July +and August, on dock, plantain, etc. The moth flies in June and July, and +occasionally in the autumn. Its haunts are marshy places, especially on the +coast, and mosses; and it is found in most of the seaboard southern and +eastern counties, and more rarely inland. Recorded from Ayr and +Kirkcudbright in Scotland; is widely distributed in Ireland, and not rare +in Louth and Kerry. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 120. + 1, 2. DOT MOTH. + 4, 5. BRIGHT-LINE BROWN-EYE. + 3, 6. CABBAGE MOTH. + 7, 8. WHITE COLON. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 121. + 1. LIGHT BROCADE. + 2. DOG'S TOOTH. + 3, 4. DARK BROCADE. + 5. BEAUTIFUL ARCHES. + 6. BEAUTIFUL BROCADE. + 7. PALE SHOULDERED BROCADE. + +{243} THE PALE-SHOULDERED BROCADE (_Mamestra thalassina_). + +The whitish or creamy-white patch at the base of the reddish-brown fore +wings is a noticeable feature of this moth (Plate 121, Fig. 7), and is +almost always present, even when the wings are darkened and the other +markings more or less obscured. The W-like angles of the white submarginal +line run through to the fringes. In some specimens the general colour is +purplish brown, and in others greyish brown. The caterpillar is +greyish-brown with a slight reddish tinge, and freckled with darker brown; +the usual dots are black; central line dusky, a series of darker oblique +dashes on each side of it; the line along the spiracles is rather broad and +sometimes edged above with blackish. It feeds in August and September on +dock, groundsel, honeysuckle, broom, sallow, hawthorn, apple, etc. The moth +is out in June, earlier or later according to the season; sometimes it +appears again in August or September. It may be found, commonly as a rule, +in most woods over the greater part of the British Isles. + +THE BEAUTIFUL BROCADE (_Mamestra contigua_). + +The moth (Plate 121, Fig. 6) has a pale patch at the base of the fore wing, +but this is not so conspicuous as is the pale orbicular stigma, which is +often united with a pale mark at its lower edge; another pale patch lies at +the inner angle, and the whole area between the second cross line and the +clouding on {244} the outer margin may be pale. Sometimes these pale +markings are tinged with pink, and more rarely the whole surface is pinkish +suffused. The caterpillar is yellowish-green with reddish V-shaped marks on +the back; a yellowish line along the black-margined white spiracles. +Buckler figures a reddish-brown form, with a yellowish stripe below the +spiracles. It feeds in August and September on birch, oak, golden rod, bog +myrtle (_Myrica gale_), dock, brake-fern (_Pteris aquilina_), etc. The moth +appears in June, and may sometimes be seen in the daytime on tree trunks or +palings. It is a woodland species, but although it occurs in most southern +and eastern counties, it is not common in any of them; it becomes commoner +in the Midlands, but is scarce in, or absent from, the northern counties of +England, and in Wales. In Scotland it is more frequent in some localities +from Argyll to Ross. Kane notes it as local, and sometimes abundant, but +from the localities given it would seem to be widely distributed in +Ireland. The range abroad extends through Northern Asia to Japan. + +THE BROOM MOTH (_Mamestra pisi_). + +The moth shown on Plate 122, Figs. 1, 2 varies considerably, in the colour +of the forewings ranging from purplish red to dingy ochreous brown or +greyish brown. The cross lines and occasionally the stigmata and shades may +disappear, but the yellow submarginal line always remains, at least in +part. The caterpillar (Plate 129, Fig. 3) feeds on the foliage of a variety +of plants including brake fern or braken, sweet gale, broom, bramble, wild +rose, and sallow, and may be found, often in the daytime, in August and +September. It is usually of some shade of green or brown, occasionally +blackish, with yellow stripes. The moth is out in June and July and is more +or less common almost throughout the British Isles. The range abroad +extends to Amurland. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 122. + 1, 2. BROOM MOTH. + 3, 4. NUTMEG MOTH. + 5, 6. GLAUCOUS SHEARS. + 7, 8, 9. SHEARS MOTH. + 10. THE STRANGER. + 11, 12. BRINDLED GREEN. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 123. + 1, 4. NORTHERN ARCHES MOTH. + 3. NORTHERN ARCHES MOTH, _var. assimilis_. + 2. BARRETT'S MARBLED CORONET. + 5. GREY MOTH. + 6. MARBLED CORONET. + 7, 8. MARBLED CORONET _vars._ + +{245} + +THE NUTMEG (_Mamestra trifolii_). + +The fore wings of this species (Plate 122, Figs. 3, 4) are usually greyish +brown variegated with darker; cross lines pale with black edging. Sometimes +the general colour is tinged with ochreous. The caterpillar is green with a +darker central and two whitish lines on the back, the outer lines with +black marks on them; a white edged pinkish stripe along the black-margined +white spiracles. It feeds from July to September, sometimes earlier or +later, on goose-foot, orach, beet, and other Chenopodiacæ, and has also +been found on young leaves of onion. The moth is out in May and June, and +as a second generation in late July and August. In 1903 a specimen was +taken, at Boscombe, on March 21. The species is more especially attached to +the coast, but is plentiful in the Breck Sand district of Norfolk and +Suffolk, in market gardens and waste places around London, and is found +more or less frequently up to Staffordshire. In Cheshire and Yorkshire it +is scarce. Barrett states that in Scotland it is found rarely in +Roxburghshire and Aberdeenshire; and not very uncommonly in the Clyde +Valley; it is, however, not mentioned in the list of the lepidoptera of the +Clyde area published in 1901. Only two specimens have been recorded from +Ireland. The range abroad includes Northern Asia, Canada, and the United +States of America. + +THE GLAUCOUS SHEARS (_Mamestra glauca_). + +Noticeable features of this dark-clouded whitish grey species (Plate 122, +Figs. 5[male], 6[female]) are the whitish, or whitish outlined, stigmata; +and the conspicuous black wedges on the inner edge of the pale submarginal +line. The ground colour is sometimes purplish tinged; the dark clouding may +spread over the greater part of the fore wings. The caterpillar is dark red +brown with darker freckles, a whitish central line, and two {246} series of +dusky dashes; a paler line along the black-edged white spiracles; head pale +brown freckled with darker. Feeds in July and August on heather, sallow, +bog myrtle, etc., and will thrive on lettuce. The moth is out in May and +June, and may be found resting by day on tree trunks, fences, or rocks. +This species in England occurs chiefly in hilly districts of the northern +counties from Staffordshire to Cumberland; recorded from Glamorgan. In +Scotland it is widely distributed from Ayr to Ross, and is also found in +the Hebrides and the Orkneys; and in Ireland is obtained in several of the +northern counties, and on the Hill of Howth. The range abroad extends to +Amurland. + +THE SHEARS (_Mamestra dentina_). + +The ground colour of this species, three specimens of which are shown on +Plate 122, Figs. 7, 8[male], 9[female], ranges from the normal pale grey +through various shades of brownish grey. The markings, usually well in +evidence, are sometimes obscured in the darker specimens. The caterpillar +is brownish with three white lines and a series of grey-brown +diamond-pattern blotches on the back; the outer lines with blackish spots +upon them; the stripe along the black spiracles greyish; head pale brown +marked with blackish; plates on first and last rings of the body glossy. +Feeds in July and August on dandelion, knotgrass, chickweed, hawk's-beard +(_Crepis_), hawkweed (_Hieracium_), etc. The moth flies in May and June and +appears to be found throughout the British Isles. Represented in Siberia by +the dark form _latenai_, Pierret. + +THE STRANGER (_Mamestra peregrina_). + +This species, which is an inhabitant of Asia Minor, Southern Russia, +Turkey, Dalmatia and Northern Italy, occurs in Southern, Western, and +Northern France; and three specimens {247} have been recorded as taken in +England--all at Freshwater in the Isle of Wight--the first in 1858, the +second in 1859, and the third about 1876. The specimen depicted on Plate +122, Fig. 10, was received from abroad. + +BARRETT'S MARBLED CORONET (_Dianthoecia luteago_, var. _barrettii_). + +The type, which is of ochreous coloration, does not occur in the British +Isles, although in one example of var. _barrettii_, reared by Mr. Kane, a +faint ochreous tinge was apparent, but this faded out in a few weeks. Fig. +2, Plate 123, represents a specimen, kindly lent by Mr. R. Adkin, of var. +_barrettii_, Doubleday, a form discovered in Ireland, at Howth, by the late +Mr. C. G. Barrett, in June, 1861. In 1879 a specimen was taken on the coast +at Ilfracombe, North Devon; one example was reared from a caterpillar found +at Tenby, South Wales, in 1884, and one was captured in Carnarvonshire, +North Wales, in 1897. In the last mentioned year specimens were taken by +the late Major Ficklin on the coast of Cornwall, and as the Cornish form +differs from the Irish form in being grey instead of brown, it has been +named var. _ficklini_, Tutt. A second specimen was obtained in North Wales +in 1899. Since its first detection at Howth the insect has been taken in +limited numbers almost every year; and in 1906 Major C. Donovan recorded it +as widely distributed along the coast of Co. Cork, the specimens being +large, of a dark slate colour with distinct light whitish grey markings. + +The caterpillar is pale ochreous with a pinkish tinge; the central line is +greyish brown and the spiracles black; head reddish brown marked with +darker. It feeds on the roots of seaside campion (_Silene maritima_), July +to September. The moth flies from June to August. Like most of the species +in this genus, it does not care for the collector's sugar, and except {248} +that an occasional specimen may be found resting on the rocks, the moths +must be netted as they fly at dusk to the flowers of _Silene_. Staudinger +considers that var. _barrettii_ is identical with var. _argillacea_, Hübn. + +THE GREY (_Dianthoecia cæsia_). + +The obscurely marked slate grey insect shown on Plate 124, Fig. 5, was +first found at Tramore, Ireland, and in the Isle of Man about the same year +(1866 or 1867). Kane mentions that he has found the insect at Tramore, and +also in eleven other localities on the rocky coast line of the South of +Ireland, from Hook Point to Dingle Bay. Our form of the species, var. +_manani_, Gregson, differs from the greyish blue continental type in its +darker coloration, and this is intensified in the south-west corner of +Ireland where specimens of a uniform bluish black occur. + +The caterpillar is pale ochreous brown minutely freckled with darker; the +lines on the back are blackish, but indistinct; usual dots margined with +black; head pale brown, marked with darker. It feeds on the buds, flowers, +and seeds of campions (_Silene maritima_ and _S. inflata_) from June to +August. The moth flies in June, July, and early August, and may be taken, +like the last species, at the flowers of the campions growing on the rocks +in its seaside haunts. + +THE MARBLED CORONET (_Dianthoecia conspersa_). + +Three forms of this locally variable species are shown on Plate 123. Fig. 6 +represents the typical form occurring generally in England, but in North +Devonshire, on the coast, specimens are found closely approaching the Isle +of Lewis form (Fig. 7), whilst others from that district agree in the +blackish ground colour with specimens from Ireland. A still darker {249} +race occurs in the Shetland Isles, and chiefly on the east coasts, whence +came the specimen depicted (Fig. 8). On the western sides of the Shetlands, +Mr. McArthur found the species to be rather more typical as a whole, +although some specimens approached the darker eastern form. The dark +Shetland race has been named var. _hethlandica_ by Staudinger, and the form +with the white markings yellowish tinged is var. _ochrea_, Gregson. + +The caterpillar is pale ochreous brown; the back sprinkled with darker, and +forming still darker V-shaped marks, central line pale; spiracles ochreous +with black outlines, set in the upper edge of a pale stripe; head shining +pale yellowish-brown freckled and lined with darker. It feeds on the seeds +of catchfly, campion, and will eat those of sweet-william and garden pinks. +July to September. The moth is out in June and July, and at dusk visits the +flowers of its food plants, and occasionally comes to sugar. It is chiefly +found in the seaboard counties, but as regards England is commoner in the +south than in the north. Although generally rare in the inland counties, it +is sometimes not uncommon in some Surrey localities, such as the Croydon +district, and Mr. Scollick has reared moths from caterpillars found in seed +capsules of white campion at Horsley. + +The distribution of this species extends to Amurland. + +THE WHITE SPOT (_Dianthoecia albimacula_). + +The moth shown on Plate 124, Fig. 1, is "The Beautiful Coronet" of some +writers. Although a specimen was taken in Kent in 1816, nothing further was +heard of the species in England until 1865, when one example was captured +in the Portsmouth district. Then in 1873 caterpillars were found in the +Birchwood locality where the first moth was secured. The next year the +species was found to occur at Folkestone, and subsequently at other places +along the Kentish coast. Since {250} 1889 it has been obtained, not +uncommonly, at Seaton on the South Devon coast. The caterpillar, which is +somewhat similar to that of the last species, feeds in July and August on +the seeds of the Nottingham catchfly (_Silene nutans_), but will thrive on +those of other kinds of catchfly, campion, or even sweet-william and garden +pinks. The moth flies in May and June. + +THE VARIED CORONET (_Dianthoecia compta_). + +In Europe this species has a less northerly range than _D. conspersa_, and +its eastward range extends to Japan. The caterpillar feeds on the seeds of +_Dianthus_. + +In his list of the lepidoptera of Ireland (_Ent. Mo. Mag._, 1866), Birchall +remarks: "A pair of this well-known species, taken in Ireland by Mr. Tardy, +are in the collection of Trinity College, but I am unable to indicate the +exact locality of their capture." This is probably all the evidence we have +of the occurrence of this species in the British Isles. The specimen +represented on Plate 124, Fig. 2, is from the Continent. + +THE LYCHNIS (_Dianthoecia capsincola_). + +Except that the brown ground colour is sometimes of a reddish shade, or +greyish in tone, there is not much to notice in the variation of this +species. Occasionally the outlines of the reniform and orbicular marks are +usually white and distinct, and now and then the black markings are +intensified. Two specimens are shown on Plate 124, Figs. 3 [male], 4 +[female]. The caterpillar is brownish ochreous freckled with darker, and +with a pale central line and a series of dusky V-shaped marks on the back; +a paler stripe along the whitish spiracles; head pale reddish brown, marked +with darker brown. It feeds in July, sometimes in September, on campion, +ragged robin, catchfly, and sweet-william and pinks. Fig. 3, Plate 130, is +from a coloured drawing {251} by Mr. A. Sich, and represents the +caterpillar, as seen when making the sketch, holding a seed between its +front pair of legs and up to its mouth. The moth is out in May and June, +and in some years there is a second flight in the autumn. The species is +more or less common over the greater part of the British Isles. + +THE CAMPION (_Dianthoecia cucubali_). + +This moth (Plate 124, Figs. 5 [male], 6 [female]) is very similar to the +last, but it has a distinct violet tinge, the orbicular mark is lengthened, +and its lower edge touches, or almost touches, the reniform; the second +line is distinct and straighter above the inner margin. The caterpillar is +greenish, tinged with orange-brown on the front rings; the central line is +greyish-brown, and the V-marks on the back and oblique stripes low down on +the sides are orange-brown. It feeds on the leaves as well as the unripe +seeds of campion, ragged robin, and catchfly in July, August, and +September. The moth is out in June, and examples of a second generation in +August. Like the rest of the species of the genus, it is most partial to +flowers, but it occasionally puts in an appearance at the sugar patch. +Pretty generally distributed over the British Isles. The range abroad +extends to Amurland, China, and Japan. + +THE TAWNY SHEARS (_Dianthoecia carpophaga_). + +This species ranges in the colour of the fore wings from almost white, +through various shades of ochreous brown. + +The white and ochreous-tinted specimens are found in Kent and Sussex +chiefly, whilst the ochreous-brown forms are more generally distributed in +England. Barrett states that in the south of Scotland a form occurs in +which the ground colour is very pale dull brown with all the darker +markings and cloudings deep umberous, the cloudings more extended. Var. +_capsophila_ {252} (The Pod Lover), which represents the species in Ireland +and the Isle of Man, is of a greyish coloration and lacks the ochreous +tint; the dark markings, especially on the area between the first and +second cross lines, are blackish or black, and the outlines of the stigmata +are very distinct. Kane mentions dull black specimens, from the Blasket +Islands, in which only vestiges of the stigmata and submarginal line +remained clear. Pembrokeshire specimens have a colour range intermediate +between _carpophaga_ (Plate 124, Fig. 9) and var. _capsophila_ (Figs. 7, +8), and serve to connect one with the other. The caterpillar, which is +purplish brown with rather broad ochreous-brown lines on the back, feeds in +June and July and again in September, on seeds of catchfly, campion, and +sweet-william. The moth flies in May and June, sometimes in late July and +August. + +THE VIPER'S BUGLOSS (_Dianthoecia_ (_Epia_) _irregularis_). + +The earliest British specimen of this moth (Plate 125, Fig. 1) of which +there is any clear record is that found by the late Rev. A. H. Wratislaw, +in July, 1868, resting on viper's bugloss (_Echium vulgare_), in a locality +about ten miles from Bury St. Edmunds. Subsequently Tuddenham was indicated +as the locality, and there, as well as in other parts of the Breck Sand +district of Suffolk and Norfolk the species continues to flourish. _Echium_ +was at first supposed to be the food plant, but it was soon ascertained the +larval pabulum was the flowers and seeds of the local catchfly (_Silene +otites_). In September, 1870, Mr. Porritt described the caterpillar, and he +found that in confinement it did not object to Ragged Robin (_Lychnis +flos-cuculi_) in place of the _Silene_. + +In colour the caterpillar is pale yellowish brown, tinged with green; three +more or less distinct pale lines, and a series of smoke-coloured V-shaped +marks on the back. Spiracles black with a yellowish white stripe below +them, and a smoke-coloured one above; head wainscot brown dotted with +black. It may be found on its food plant from late July to early September. +The moth flies in June and July, but seems to have been very rarely met +with in the open, although large numbers of the caterpillars, which are +frequently "ichneumoned," are collected almost every year. A specimen, +recently presented to the Lincoln Museum, is said to have been reared from +a caterpillar found on viper's bugloss in the neighbourhood of East Ferry +in North Lincolnshire. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 124. + 1. WHITE SPOT MOTH. + 2. VARIED CORONET. + 3, 4. LYCHNIS. + 5, 6. CAMPION. + 7, 8. POD LOVER. + 9, 10. TAWNY SHEARS. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 125. + 1. VIPER'S BUGLOSS. + 2. SMALL RANUNCULUS. + 3, 4. BROAD-BARRED WHITE. + 5, 6. MINOR SHOULDER-KNOT. + 7, 8. MINOR SHOULDER-KNOT _varieties_. + +{253} THE SMALL RANUNCULUS (_Hecatera chrysozona_). + +Except that the general grey coloration of the fore wings of this moth +(Plate 125, Fig. 2) may be whiter or of a darker grey tint, there is little +in the way of variation to refer to. Usually the area between the cross +lines is dark grey, sometimes marked with yellow on the reniform and +towards the inner margin. A series of yellow dots on the submarginal line +is almost always present, but may be absent. The caterpillar is pale +reddish brown; three fine double blackish lines and two rows of black dots +on the back; a fine blackish line along the black spiracles. Head pale +brown and glossy. In another form the general colour is some shade of +green; yellowish to olive. It feeds in July and August on the flowers and +seeds of the wild lettuce (_Lactuca saligna_, and _L. virosa_), +hawk's-beard (_Crepis_), and also on those of the garden lettuce. The moth +is out late in June and July, and at dusk may be seen at the blossoms of +various plants in gardens and elsewhere, but seems to be most partial to +those of spur-valerian (_Centranthus ruber_). It is found in the eastern +counties, especially in Cambridgeshire; Surrey, and (rarely) in Sussex and +Dorsetshire. Other English counties in which it has been noted are +Hertford, Huntingdon, Northampton, Oxford, Berks, Somerset, and Hereford. +{254} + +THE BROAD-BARRED WHITE (_Hecatera serena_). + +Most of the British examples of this species have the thorax and fore wings +almost pure white, the latter with a central blackish grey band (var. +_leuconota_, Ev., Plate 125, Figs. 3[male], 4[female]). The white, however, +especially on the outer margin, is sometimes clouded with greyish, and +occasionally the ground colour has a greyish tinge, thus approaching var. +_obscura_, Staudinger. The caterpillar is ochreous brown, more or less +tinged with green, minutely dotted with dark grey, forming indistinct +blotches; the stripe along the black spiracles is yellow tinged with green +below. Head brownish, glossy. It feeds in July and August on hawk's-beard +(_Crepis_). The smaller caterpillars may be found by day resting on the +yellow flowers. In confinement they will eat the flowers and seeds of +garden lettuce; and Prout mentions dandelion blossoms, and also those of +almost any of the Compositæ. The moth is out from June to August, and in +the daytime may be seen sitting on fences, tree trunks, rocks and walls. It +is pretty generally distributed in the southern portion of England, but +becomes scarce northwards. In Scotland it seems to be little known, but +Renton records it as common in Roxburghshire, and in 1898 Mr. Kirkaldy +kindly gave me three greyish-shaded specimens that he picked up casually at +Pitlochry, Perthshire, in July of that year. It has been found in North +Wales, but is more frequent in the southern parts of that country. Rather +local and usually scarce in Ireland; but has been found in counties +Waterford, Dublin, Wicklow, Louth, Antrim, Westmeath, Galway, Cork, and +Kerry. The range abroad extends to Siberia and Amurland. + +THE BORDERED GOTHIC (_Neuria reticulata_). + +The cross lines and the veins are pale brown, sometimes tinged with pink. +These markings give the moth (Plate 126, Figs. 1[male], 2[female]) a netted +appearance, which, apart from the different ground colour and clouding, +distinguishes it from the Gothic, with which it is sometimes confused. The +antennæ, too, of the male are only fringed with minute hairs, whilst those +of the male Gothic are broadly pectinated. The caterpillar is greenish or +pinkish ochreous, mottled with darker, and with slightly paler lines on the +back and sides; head light brown. It will feed in July and August on +knot-grass; and soapwort (_Saponaria_), _Silene inflata_, and _Dianthus_, +have been mentioned as food plants. The moth is out in June and July. The +species occurs in nearly all the counties of England to Yorkshire, but +except in Cambridgeshire, and perhaps Oxfordshire, it is not common in any +of the southern or eastern counties, although more frequently found in them +than northwards. It has not been recorded from Scotland, and seems to be +rare in Ireland, as it has only been noted from Co. Dublin and Co. Cork. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 126. + 1, 2. BORDERED GOTHIC. + 3, 4. DUSKY SALLOW. + 5. ORACHE MOTH. + 6, 7. SAXON MOTH. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 127. + 1, 2. FIGURE OF EIGHT MOTH. + 3, 4. FEATHERED GOTHIC. + 5. GREEN BRINDLED DOT. + 6, 7. BEAUTIFUL GOTHIC. + 8, 9. ANTLER MOTH. + +{255} FEATHERED GOTHIC (_Tholera_ (_Epineuronia_) _popularis_). + +The male of this species (Plate 127, Fig. 3) is strongly attracted by +light, and frequently seen in houses, and is no doubt a familiar object to +most residents in the country, and even in the suburbs of London. The +female (Fig. 4) does not visit light, but this sex, and the males also, may +be found sitting after dark upon the upper erect leaves of the hard +grasses, such as the matweed (_Nardus stricta_). Of course a lantern will +be required to throw a light on the business of collecting them, and it is +curious to note that even the brilliant glare of the acetylene lamp does +not seem to disturb the moths very much, if at all. + +The caterpillar is dark greenish brown and rather glossy, with a dusky +plate on the first ring upon which are traces of the five dark-edged pale +brownish stripes which traverse the body and meet on the last ring; the +latter has a black plate. The spiracles are black, and the head is +brownish, marked with {256} darker. The caterpillars hatch in the spring +from eggs laid the previous autumn, and may be found until July. They feed +at night on the leaves of grasses, especially _Nardus_ and such kinds, +growing in parks and open places. The moth is out in August and September, +and occurs more or less commonly throughout England and Wales. In Scotland +it is found in Ayrshire, and in other localities in the Clyde area; thence +eastward to Aberdeen. Kane states that in Ireland it is generally +distributed, and in some localities very abundant, as at Clonbrock, and on +the Wicklow coast. + +THE HEDGE RUSTIC (_Tholera cespitis_). + +The sexes of this moth are depicted on Plate 128, Figs. 8[male], 9[female]. +In habits, and also in the kind of places it frequents, this species has +much in common with that last mentioned. It is certainly more local, but +its range in the British Isles is somewhat similar to that of the Gothic. +The life history also is very like that of the last species, and the +caterpillar feeds on the same kinds of grass. + +ANTLER MOTH (_Cerapteryx_ (_Charæas_) _graminis_). + +This moth (Plate 127, Figs. 8[male], 9[female]) has the fore wings greyish +brown or reddish brown, sometimes tinged with ochreous in the paler forms, +or with olive in the darker forms. There is also variation in the markings, +and chiefly of the central forked streak which has been likened to the +antler of the stag. In most British specimens of the greyish form this is +white throughout its length, and it has three branches; the stigmata are +whitish, and there is often a whitish bar below the central streak. A +number of aberrations have been named, and of these the following seem to +be the most important: var. _tricuspis_, Esp., reddish brown; branched +streak, stigmata, and bar ochreous; var. _rufa_, Tutt = _tricuspis_, Hübn., +as above, but the markings white; var. _ruficosta_, Tutt = _graminis_, +Hübn., greyish brown, with reddish front margin, and ochreous markings; +var. _hibernicus_, Curt., yellowish brown with the markings ochreous, and +the stigmata more or less united with the central streak. In some specimens +most of the markings are obscured or absent, and only the reniform stigma +and the forked extremity of the central line remain distinct. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 128. + 1. FEATHERED EAR MOTH. + 2, 3. STRAW UNDERWING. + 4. SILVER CLOUD. + 5, 6. FLOUNCED RUSTIC. + 7. HAWORTH'S MINOR. + 8, 9. HEDGE RUSTIC. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 129. + 1, 1a. BRIGHT-LINE BROWN EYE: _caterpillar and chrysalis_. + 2. DOT MOTH: _caterpillar_. + 3, 3a. BROOM MOTH: _caterpillar and chrysalis_. + 4. BRINDLED GREEN MOTH: _egg, natural size and enlarged_. + +{257} The caterpillar, which is glossy, and the skin much wrinkled, is of a +bronzy-brown colour, with black-edged pale lines; there is a brownish plate +on the first ring and a blackish one on the last; the spiracles are black +and the head is brownish, marked with darker. It feeds from March to June +on grasses, and in some years and localities occurs in enormous numbers, +denuding considerable areas of grass land. Rooks and other birds devour +them readily, and where their feeding places are on hillsides, they are apt +to be washed off by heavy rain, so that the drains and ditches become +filled up in places by masses of these caterpillars. Even after such +wholesale destruction, the moths may still appear in the autumn in +countless numbers. The male moths are sometimes seen flying in the sunshine +and visiting the flowers of thistles, ragwort, etc. Such flight usually +takes place between eight a.m. and noon, but both sexes have been seen +flying over grass and heather continuously from just before midday to four +p.m. The moths are also on the wing at night, and the male is very +susceptible to the attraction of light. The species has occurred in all +parts of the British Islands, but its presence in the south of England +would appear to be more casual than elsewhere. The range abroad extends +through Northern Asia to Siberia. + +THE FEATHERED EAR (_Pachetra leucophæa_). + +Stephens, in 1829, figured one of two specimens of this species said to +have been taken near Bristol in 1816, a part of England {258} from which no +other specimen has ever been recorded so far as I am aware. In June, 1855, +the late Mr. S. Stevens obtained a few specimens at sugar, at Mickleham, +Surrey. Between the year last mentioned and 1894 five other specimens have +been recorded from the same county, these are Redhill (W. R. Jeffrey), +Boxhill (G. Elisha, a pair, and B. A. Bower), Reigate (R. Adkin). In Kent, +specimens have been found in the Folkestone and Tunbridge districts, but +the chalk downs between Ashford and Wye appear to be the headquarters of +the insect in Britain. + +A portrait of a male specimen will be found on Plate 128, Fig. 1, but the +ground colour is much whiter in the majority of British specimens. + +According to Dr. Chapman, the caterpillar varies from a nearly uniform +nankeen-yellow with the markings only indicated, to a handsome larva with +distinct black stripes. There is a pale dorsal line, quite narrow; thence +to the black spiracles is divided into three longitudinal stripes, a dark +dorsal, a dark (but less dark) lower one and a pale intermediate. In all +these the ground colour is the same, nankeen-yellow, and the darker areas +depend on the greater or less darkness of fine black mottlings, generally +in fine wavy streaks running more or less longitudinally. The head is +rather brown than yellow, mottled in a honey-comb pattern, with some black +marking about the mouth parts. It feeds at night from July to March on +various grasses, but seems to prefer _Poa annua_, and _P. nemoralis_. Dr. +Chapman reared some of these caterpillars by keeping each individual in a +separate glass jar and supplying it at frequent intervals with a fresh tuft +of _Poa annua_. The moth is out from May to July, and hides during the day +among the tufts of grass on chalk hills. It comes freely to sugar, and has +been taken at privet blossom. + +THE SILVER CLOUD (_Xylomania conspicillaris_). + +Three forms of this species occur with us. In that represented on Plate +128, Fig. 4, the fore wings are almost entirely {259} blackish. Another has +a larger portion of the inner marginal area ochreous brown, or whitish, ab. +_melaleuca_, Vieweg; a third form, and the least frequent, may be described +as pale ochreous brown with darker mottling on the basal half, and black +central markings representing a broken streak from the base of the wing to +the outer margin, in this form the pale outlined stigmata are fairly +distinct, and there is a blackish shade between them extending from the +front to the inner margin. From chrysalids obtained by digging under oak +and elm trees in a private park several miles from Taunton, Somerset, Mr. +H. Doidge (1901) reared moths and obtained eggs which were laid in a batch +on the covering of the cage in which the female was placed with a growing +plant of bird's-foot trefoil. The eggs hatched on May 31, ten days after +they were laid. The young caterpillars were purplish grey, but after +feeding on the yellow flowers they assumed the same colour. "After +finishing the flowers they commenced on the leaves, by which time they were +a pale green colour, with a yellow spiracular stripe, and were fond of +resting by day on the stems of the plant. As they approached the final +stage, the green became shaded with brown and black," and then resembled +the ripening seed pods. They were afterwards supplied with blackthorn, and +did not object to the change of food. They also ate dock (sparingly), and +_Trifolium minus_. "About July 8 they began to go under ground to pupate. +The pupæ, which were of a dark reddish-brown colour, and somewhat obese and +blunt, being enclosed in a very compact and brittle earthy cocoon" +(Doidge). + +The moth is out in April and May, but is very local in England. It has +occasionally been found at rest on isolated tree trunks or on posts, but +very rarely captured in any other way. Specimens have been obtained from +chrysalids dug up now and then from about the roots of trees, but perhaps +most of the specimens in collections, not numerous altogether, have been +reared from eggs. In England the species is only known {260} to occur in +Kent, Surrey, Suffolk, Gloucester, Somersetshire, Worcestershire, and +Herefordshire. Barrett also mentions one specimen at Gower, South Wales. + +THE BEAUTIFUL ARCHES (_Eumichtis_ (_Hadena_) _satura_). + +Of this species (Plate 121, Fig. 5) probably less than a dozen specimens +have been taken in England, and apparently none in any other part of the +British Isles. It is very similar to some of the darker forms of _E. +adusta_, specimens of which have often been mistaken for examples of the +present species and recorded as such. The wings are rather more ample; the +reniform and orbicular stigmata are reddish, with a blackish cloud under +them, and the space between the second and submarginal lines towards the +inner margin is also reddish. The hind wings are dark in both sexes. The +caterpillar, which is said to feed in July and August on hop, honey-suckle, +and cherry, among other plants, is pinkish brown, darker above; the +dusky-pink central line on the back is interrupted and indistinct, and on +each side of it is a series of oblique greyish but not clearly defined +streaks; the line low down on the sides is yellow-green. The moths flies in +June, July, and August. + +Abroad the species occurs in Central and Northern Europe (except the most +northern parts, and perhaps Western France); eastward the range extends to +Amurland. + +THE DARK BROCADE (_Eumichtis_ (_Hadena_) _adusta_). + +The sexes of this moth are figured on Plate 121, Figs. 3[male], 4[female]. +The ground colour is grey-brown in some examples of this species, whilst in +others, especially in the north of England and in Scotland, the colour +ranges through rich reddish brown, blackish brown to almost black. In the +lighter coloured forms the markings are usually clear and distinct, but in +the darker forms are often much obscured. The caterpillar is somewhat +variable in colour and markings. Barrett describes one form as pale sage +green strongly tinged with ochreous and dusted with greyish brown; the line +along the middle of the back is white, interrupted, and edged with greyish +brown; a series of outlines of greyish-brown diamonds spread over to the +brown margin of the pale ochreous stripe along the whitish spiracles, and +form a network on the back and sides. Another form, described by Buckler, +has the general colour brilliant yellow, suffused on the upper surface with +deep rose pink; a stripe on the middle of the back composed of two darker +pink lines, united and forming a spot at the beginning of each segment, and +an interrupted yellow stripe on each side. It feeds from July to September +on grass and various low plants, including knot-grass, bladder campion +(_Silene cucubalus_); also sweet gale, sallow, etc. The moth flies in June +and July, sometimes in May. The species occurs in woods and on heaths and +moors, and is generally distributed, and more or less common throughout the +British Isles. The range abroad extends to Amurland. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 130. + 1. SLENDER BRINDLE: _caterpillar_. + 2, 2a. CLOUDED BRINDLE: _caterpillar and chrysalis_. + 3. LYCHNIS: _caterpillar_. + 4. CLOUDED BORDERED BRINDLE: _caterpillar_. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 131. + 1, 2. LARGE NUTMEG MOTH. + 3, 4. CONFUSED MOTH. + 5, 6. CRESCENT STRIPED MOTH. + 7, 8. DUSKY BROCADE MOTH. + +{261} THE BRINDLED GREEN (_Eumichtis_ (_Hadena_) _protea_). + +Green of some shade is often the prevailing colour in the much ornamented +moth portrayed on Plate 122, Figs. 11, 12; but in some specimens the +general colour is pinkish white. The variegation consists of reddish brown +or pinkish, and white clouds and black streaks, chiefly as edging to the +pale cross lines, or between the stigmata; these latter are as often +obscure as distinct, but sometimes the orbicular is white with a white mark +below it extending to the black bar connecting the first and second cross +lines. + +The caterpillar is green freckled with yellow, with a yellow central line +on the back; head brownish. It feeds from March to June, and when it leaves +the egg it bores into an oak bud to {262} feed; later on it spins the young +leaves together, and finally it dispenses with a retreat altogether and +feeds openly on the leaves. The moth is out in the autumn, rather earlier +in Scotland. It is widely distributed in England, and in some seasons and +localities very abundant. In Scotland it is found from Roxburgh to Moray, +and in the latter county as well as in Perthshire and Argyll it is often +plentiful. Single specimens have been recorded from Ireland, and these from +Co. Galway and Co. Westmeath. + +THE NORTHERN ARCHES (_Crymodes exulis_). + +The specimens of this species shown on Plate 123, Figs. 1, 4, are from +Shetland, and more or less of the typical form, but rather more variegated, +perhaps, than the actual type. In other specimens from the same locality +the yellowish submarginal line is band-like; or the ground colour is +browner, and sometimes blackish. These blackish examples approach var. +_assimilis_, Doubleday (Fig. 3), from Perthshire, where it was first met +with, at Rannoch, by Weaver, over sixty years ago. _Exulis_ (The Exile) was +discovered by Mr. H. McArthur in the Shetlands in 1883. In 1896 Mr. P. M. +Bright captured a specimen in the Shetlands which Barrett considered +referable to _maillardi_, Hübn. (Geyer, Fig. 833.) "Its ground colour is +drab-brown, abundantly marked with umberous and dusted with black, and its +only conspicuous marking is the reniform stigma, which is distinctly edged +with white in such a manner as to give it a singular resemblance to +_Mamestra_ [_Barathra_] _brassicæ_." Staudinger, it may be added, adopts +_maillardi_ as the earlier name for this species, and it may have to be +generally accepted. The caterpillar is ochreous whitish, shaded with grey, +and with yellowish plates on the first and last rings; spiracles black, +head reddish brown. It feeds on grasses from August to May, but is +sometimes two, or even three, years in completing its {263} growth. When +young, and also later, it eats the lower part of the stem and partly into +the root of the grass. The moth is out in July and August. Very few +examples of the _assimilis_ form have been obtained, and these only in +Perthshire, Aberdeenshire, Inverness, and the Isle of Arran. Mr. W. M. +Christy captured one specimen in Ross-shire in August, 1902. The +geographical range of this species extends from the Alps and Pyrenees +through Norway and Lapland to Iceland, Greenland, and Labrador. + +THE MINOR SHOULDER-KNOT (_Bombycia viminalis_). + +Figs. 5 and 6 on Plate 125 represent the typical form of this species. Fig. +8 shows the blackish var. _obscura_, Staud., and Fig. 7 an intermediate +form. The pale form is most frequent in southern England, and dark forms +are commoner in the north. Both forms occur in Scotland, but in some parts +the pale form only is found. The caterpillar is green with three whitish +lines on the back; the raised spots are also whitish; the line along the +black spiracles is yellowish. It feeds from April to June on sallow and +willow; at first on the terminal shoots, the leaves of which are spun +together with silk. Later on the caterpillar folds down or rolls a leaf so +as to form a shelter. The moth is on the wing in June and July, sometimes +later, and is pretty widely distributed throughout the British Isles, but +is rather local in Scotland, northern England, and Ireland. The dark form, +it may be mentioned, does not seem to be found abroad. The range of the +species extends to Amurland. + +THE DUSKY SALLOW (_Eremobia ochroleuca_). + +This brownish tinged ochreous moth (Plate 126, Figs. 3, 4) has the fore +wings crossed by whitish lines, the first and second of which approach or +unite below the middle, dividing into two blotches the dark central +band-like shade. {264} + +The caterpillar, which feeds on the seeds of cock's-foot (_Dactylis_) and +other kinds of grass from May to early July, is whitish green and glossy; +three whitish stripes on the back, the central one broadest; a stripe below +the black spiracles is whitish, edged above with green. Mullein +(_Verbascum_) has also been mentioned as eaten by this caterpillar. The +moth is out in July and in August, and may often be seen resting on the +flowers of knapweed (_Centaurea_) in the daytime. It flies at night, and +has been taken at the flowers of centaurea, ragwort, etc., and at light. In +some districts it is said to visit the sugar patch, but not to do so in +other localities. Occurs in the chalk districts of most southern English +counties, and especially those of Kent and Sussex; also, but only rarely, +in Warwickshire and Yorkshire. One specimen has been recorded from +Pembrokeshire in Wales. + +THE ORACHE MOTH (_Trachea atriplicis_). + +In the past this greenish-mottled brownish moth (Plate 126, Fig. 5) appears +to have been commoner, and more widely distributed in England than it now +is. Wilkes, in 1773, referring to it as "The Wild Arrach," states that it +was taken occasionally near London. At the present time the species seems +to occur only in the eastern counties, and chiefly in Cambridgeshire. In +June, 1904 and 1905, specimens (three in all) were obtained at sugar in +Huntingdonshire. The caterpillar is ochreous or reddish brown, dotted with +white; three dark lines on the back, the central one only distinct. A +yellowish stripe along the black-edged white spiracles; head light reddish +brown, glossy. It feeds in July and August on orach (_Atriplex_), +persicaria, knot-grass, and will also eat dock. The range abroad extends to +Amurland, Corea, and Japan. + +NOTE.--It may be mentioned here that _Prodenia littoralis_, Boisd., an +inhabitant of tropical and sub-tropical regions, has {265} been +occasionally reared in this country from caterpillars found in imported +tomatoes. + +THE SAXON (_Lithomoea_ (_Hyppa_) _rectilinea_). + +The brownish clouding, and reddish-brown central band, of this species +(Plate 126, Figs. 6, 7) varies in tone; sometimes the band is olive grey +and the clouding rather grey than brown. The caterpillar, according to +Buckler, varies from dark brown to chestnut, ochreous, and orange browns; +the spiracular stripe pale ochreous or cream colour, shading off in the +middle to grey brown. It feeds from July to September, or later, on sallow, +bramble, bearberry (_Arctostaphylos uva-ursi_), and will eat knot-grass. It +hibernates when full grown, and pupates in the following spring. The moth +is out in May, June, or July, and is taken at sugar, chiefly in woods. At +one time it was found in Yorkshire, but Cumberland seems to be the only +English county in which it now occurs. In Scotland it has been taken in the +south. Renton states that near Hawick, Roxburghshire, he finds a few at +raspberry blossom every year. It is more plentiful, however, from +Perthshire to Sutherland. Kane notes it from Torc Wood, Killarney, near +Galway, and Clonbrock; and that the form is identical with that from +Aberdeen named _semivirgata_, Tutt. The range abroad extends to Siberia and +Amurland; and the North American, _xylinoides_, Guen, seems to be a form of +the present species. + +THE FIGURE OF EIGHT MOTH (_Diloba cæruleocephala_). + +The greyish-centred white marks are the chief features on the brownish fore +wings of this moth (Plate 127, Figs. 1, 2). The first one, or both when +quite apart, is very like the figure 8; sometimes these marks are united, +and form an irregular blotch. Rarely the area between the black lines is +dark and the marks {266} obscured or absent. The caterpillar (Plate 133, +Fig. 1) is bluish grey, with a number of bristle-bearing black spots and +minute black dots; a stripe along the back is yellow and interrupted; a +yellow stripe low down along the sides. It feeds, from April to June, on +hawthorn, sloe, and wild crab; also on the leaves of apple, plum, and other +fruit trees. Sometimes these caterpillars are to be seen on the hedges in +numbers, and usually seem to prefer the outer extremities of the longer +shoots. The pale purplish brown chrysalis is enclosed in a strong somewhat +oval cocoon, which is covered with fragments of litter, and often attached +to some object, such as a bit of stick, leaves, etc., on the ground. The +moth is out in October and November, but is rarely seen, except +occasionally at gas lamps, etc. Generally common in the south and east of +England, and widely distributed throughout the rest of the country to +Cumberland. It has occurred in a few Clydesdale localities, and has been +recorded by Renton as sometimes common in Roxburghshire. Widely distributed +in Ireland, but not often plentiful. + +THE GREEN BRINDLED DOT (_Valeria oleagina_). + +Nearly eighty years ago Stephens summed up all that was known of this +species in Britain. As there is nothing to add in the way of later records, +his remarks may be quoted. "Very rare; specimens have been found in +Richmond Park, and one was taken in the pupa state by Mr. Plastead some +twenty or thirty years ago in Battersea Fields; others have occurred near +Bristol, and Mr. Donovan, I believe, captured one in South Wales; it has +also been taken in Scotland. My specimens were from the former locality, +and I have been fortunate enough to have had nearly a dozen examples at +various periods." Most of the later authors mention only the Welsh +specimen, taken at Fishguard in Pembrokeshire, July, 1800. A continental +specimen is shown on Plate 127, Fig. 5. {267} + +THE BEAUTIFUL GOTHIC (_Heliophobus hispidus_). + +This species (Plate 127, Figs. 6, 7) varies in the brown colour of the fore +wings, which is sometimes of a greyish tint; not infrequently the pale +cross lines are tinged with brownish, or they may be rather broad, and, the +submarginal especially, white and very distinct; the reniform and orbicular +marks are sometimes tinged with pink. The caterpillar (Plate 133, Fig. 3) +is pale rusty brown, with blackish markings, and three pale lines on the +back; head glossy and rather paler than the body, and marked with two +blackish lines. It feeds on grasses from September to March. The specimen +figured (slightly enlarged) was received from Mr. Walker of Torquay on +January 11, 1907. The chrysalis (Fig. 3A) is dull reddish, ring divisions +and wing-cases paler and brighter; two hooks on last ring. The moth is out +from the latter part of August to early October, and in its haunts, which +are cliffs by the sea, it may be found at night sitting on grass stems. It +is not known to visit flowers or the sugar patch, but has been taken at +light. Although previously taken in the Isle of Portland, the earliest +published record was that in the _Zoologist_ for 1849 of a specimen taken +on the sandhills at Exmouth, late in September. It still occurs at Portland +and at Swanage in Dorset; also in the Isle of Wight and along the Devon +coast to Cornwall. The range abroad is restricted, the species only being +noted from Southern France, North-east and Southern Spain, Sicily, +Palestine, and North-west Africa. + +THE FLOUNCED RUSTIC (_Luperina testacea_). + +Portraits of this moth will be found on Plate 128, Figs. 5, 6. The ground +colour of the fore wings ranges from very pale brown through greyish brown +to blackish. In some specimens the markings are very faint, and, excepting +the whitish submarginal line, are hardly visible. Usually there is a black +or {268} dark brown bar connecting the first and second cross lines; not +infrequently there is a black mark on the inner margin below the bar, and a +black mark or two in the cell above. These marks are sometimes supplemented +by others, and so form a more or less complete black central band. The +reniform and orbicular stigmata are often only outlined in paler brown, but +they may be whitish and very distinct. Var. _guenéei_, Doubleday, is pale +ochreous brown, with the first line pale, interrupted, and terminating in a +black dot on inner margin; and the second line made up of white-edged black +crescents; the reniform distinctly edged with white, and there is a slender +black line above the inner margin between the first line and the base of +the wing. Hind wings pure white, with black marginal lunules. + +The caterpillar is pinkish ochreous; usual dots not in evidence; skin much +wrinkled and glossy; spiracles pink margined with black; head and plate on +first ring pale brownish yellow. Robson (Cat. Lep. of Durham, etc.) states +that the caterpillar feeds on grass roots, and adds, "I have known it +abound in the grass tufts at the foot of palings around a large mill." The +moth is out in August and September. At night it flies freely to light, but +is not known to visit any of the usual floral attractions or the +collector's sugar. Generally distributed and often common. + +DUMERIL'S LUPERINA (_Luperina dumerilii_). + +Fore wings ochreous grey or brown, two brownish streaks represent the basal +line; the space between the first and second cross lines darker, and there +is a darker band on the outer margin; the stigmata are pale inclining to +yellowish, and the veins below them are white. Hind wings whitish tinged +with darker on outer margin. Ab. _desyllesi_, Boisd., has almost +unicolorous fore wings, and this form, according to Staudinger, has been +found in Northern France and England. I have only seen a continental +specimen of this species, which is very local and somewhat rare abroad. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 132. + 1, 2. RUSTIC SHOULDER-KNOT. + 3, 4. SMALL CLOUDED BRINDLE. + 5. DOUBLE-LOBED MOTH. + 6-11. COMMON RUSTIC. + 12. UNION RUSTIC. + 13. FLAME MOTH. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 133. + 1. FIGURE OF EIGHT: _caterpillar_. + 2. FEATHERED RANUNCULUS: _caterpillar_. + 3, 3a. BEAUTIFUL GOTHIC: _caterpillar and chrysalis_. + +{269} In his _Manual_, vol. i. (1857), Stainton states, "one specimen has +occurred in the Isle of Arran." Reference is made in 1885 (_Entom._ xviii. +73) to two specimens taken in the Isle of Portland in 1858, and three +others in 1859. Then, in the _Entomologist_ for 1902, Mr. Stockwell +records, from Dover, the capture of "a fine female of this rare Noctua, on +a gas lamp in this town, during the latter part of September." + +THE STRAW UNDERWING (_Cerigo matura_). + +This moth, both sexes of which are shown on Plate 128, Figs. 2, 3, is +readily recognized by the yellowish hind wings. The caterpillar is ochreous +or dull reddish brown; series of greyish brown marks along the middle of +the back, and a brown edged line on each side; a pale ochreous line edged +above with brown low down along the sides; head pale brown, with darker +streaks. It feeds from September to April, sometimes later, on grasses, +chiefly in dry situations. The moth is out in July and August. Generally +distributed throughout the British Isles, but in Scotland not recorded +north of Moray. In suitable localities it is common, and sometimes is the +only visitor to the sugar patch. + +HAWORTH'S MINOR (_Celæna haworthii_). + +In this reddish brown moth (Plate 128, Fig. 7) the reniform and orbicular +stigmata are white or broadly outlined in white, and the vein below as well +as the branches also white. The wings of the female are smaller than those +of the male, and the body is distinctly stouter. The white markings +referred to are sometimes obscured or absent, and such specimens are +referable {270} to var. _hibernica_, Haworth. The caterpillar is purplish +brown, with the usual raised dots darker brown; three pale lines along the +back, the central one least distinct; head and plates on first and last +rings reddish brown; spiracles black. From April to July on cotton grass +(_Eriophorum vaginatum_), feeding in the stems down towards the root. The +moth flies in August and September. It was first noted as British in 1819, +and Stephens in 1829 mentions it as common in Whittlesea Mere. Although +still occurring in the fens, the species is far more common on the moors +and mosses of Northern England, Scotland to the Shetlands, and in Ireland. + +THE CRESCENT STRIPED (_Hama oblonga_ (_abjecta_)). + +In its most frequent form this species (Plate 131, Figs. 5, 6) has the fore +wings greyish brown and somewhat shining; the markings, especially the +cross lines, indistinctly paler; the reniform is outwardly dotted with +white. Sometimes the ground colour is paler grey with black markings +arranged very similar to such marks in _A. gemina_, var. _remissa_ (Fig. +8). + +The caterpillar is greenish grey, with the raised dots rather greyer; a +pinkish line along the back; head and plate on first and last rings shining +reddish brown. It feeds on grasses growing in salt marshes, edges of tidal +rivers, and ditches of brackish water: in the spring and until June; +perhaps from September. The moth is out from June to August, and may be +obtained at the flowers of marram grass as well as at sugar. The species is +found in most of the eastern and southern seaboard counties of England; at +Sandown and Freshwater in the Isle of Wight; in the fens of Huntingdon and +Cambridge; also occasionally in Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, Lancs, +Yorks, and Durham. In Scotland it has been obtained in Moray and in the +Shetlands. Local in Ireland. The range abroad extends to Amurland. {271} + +THE LARGE NUTMEG (_Hama sordida_). + +The fore wings of this moth (Plate 131, Figs. 1, 2) are pale ochreous +brown, much marbled with darker brown, and sometimes slightly tinged with +reddish; the pale stigmata and submarginal line are the most distinct of +the usual markings. The caterpillar is said to be very like that of _Apamea +basilinea_. The moth flies in June, and is not uncommon in most parts of +Southern England. It occurs in Lancashire and Cheshire, but is more +frequent in Yorkshire and Durham; also found in South Wales, and although +it has been obtained in the Shetlands, it seems to be very local and +infrequent in Scotland. Only twice recorded from Ireland, one specimen on +the Dublin coast, 1860, and one at Howth (Kane). + +THE CONFUSED (_Hama furva_). + +This darker mottled greyish brown moth (Plate 131, Figs. 3, 4) is very +similar to the typical form of _A. gemina_ (Fig. 7); the fore wings, +however, are distinctly broader at the base, the W-like angles of the +submarginal line are less noticeable, and this line is comparatively +straighter. The reddish tinge so usual in _A. gemina_ is absent in the +present species. + +The caterpillar is ochreous tinged with pinkish, except on the first three +rings and the under surface; central line dusky; usual dots reddish brown, +as also are the head and plates on first and last rings. On grasses, +September to June, feeding chiefly on the shoots near the roots (condensed +from Buckler). The moth occurs from July to September, and may be obtained +at flowers of ragwort, scabious, etc., and freely at sugar, in rocky places +from Lancashire northwards through Scotland to the Shetlands. It also +occurs in Wales, and suitable places in Gloucester, Somerset, Devon, +Cornwall, and has also been recorded from Sussex. In Ireland found on +several parts of {272} the coast, but not plentiful. Abroad the range +extends to Amurland. + +THE DUSKY BROCADE (_Apamea obscura_ (_gemina_)). + +In its ordinary form the moth shown on Plate 131 is purplish brown, as in +Fig. 7, sometimes mottled with greyish or pale ochreous. A more ornamented +form is known as var. _remissa_ (Fig. 8), and the ground colour of this is +not infrequently pale ochreous brown, or almost whitish, with the black +marking very conspicuous. The caterpillar is brownish grey, finely striated +with darker; a yellowish white line along the middle of the back, and a +brownish ochreous stripe on each side of it; stripe along the black edged +spiracles greyish ochreous. It feeds from autumn till March on grasses in +moist situations. The moth is perhaps most abundant in the south, but it +occurs, in June and July, pretty well all over the British Isles; and +abroad its range extends to Amurland and Japan. + +THE RUSTIC SHOULDER KNOT (_Apamea basilinea_). + +The species shown on Plate 132, Figs. 1[male], 2[female], is found almost +everywhere in the British Isles, is generally common, and in many parts +abundant. Usually the pale brown fore wings are clouded or suffused with +reddish, but this tint may be absent, or the wings may be tinged with +greyish: the single black dash from middle of the base is the "Shoulder +Knot." The caterpillar, according to Barrett, is pale olive brown varying +to grey brown; a greyish white line along the middle of the back edged with +short undulating black lines; spiracular line a row of blackish dashes, +clouded with olive brown, or edged with greyish white and looped with grey +brown; head black, plate on first ring black and white striped. It feeds +from August to March on grasses, etc. The moth flies in May and June. {273} + +THE SMALL CLOUDED BRINDLE (_Apamea unanimis_). + +The fore wings are generally reddish brown mottled with darker, but the +reddish tinge may be almost absent; the reniform is more or less outlined +in white and there are two black streaks from the base. (Plate 132, Figs. +3[male], 4[female].) The caterpillar is pale ochreous brown, sometimes +tinged with greenish; three dark edged pale lines on the back; spiracular +line pale edged above with darker; head, and plate on first ring, brown and +glossy. On grasses that occur in damp places, such as water meads, marshes +and fens from July to April. The moth flies in June and July. It is widely +distributed, and sometimes common in most moist localities throughout +England. More local in Scotland but occurring in Aberdeenshire, and on the +western side ranging to the Orkneys. Not frequent in Ireland, but has been +obtained in several parts. The distribution abroad extends to Amurland. + +THE UNION RUSTIC (_Apamea pabulatricula_). + +The very distinctly marked, and sometimes brownish tinged, greyish white +moth shown on Plate 132, Fig. 12, is very local in the British Isles, and +apart from its reported occurrence in the Clyde and Tay districts of +Scotland, seems to be found only in some of the woods of South Yorkshire, +as near Rotherham, Sheffield (Wharncliffe Woods), and Barnsley. It has been +obtained in Cumberland; and Barrett states that formerly it occurred in +Norfolk. The caterpillar, which is little known, is said to feed on grasses +in May. The moth flies in August and early September. It is also known as +_connexa_, Bork. {274} + +THE COMMON RUSTIC (_Apamea secalis_). + +Following Guenée, British entomologists at one time knew this species as +_oculea_; afterwards it became the habit to label it _didyma_, a name given +to it by Esper in 1788. Just now the authorities insist on _secalis_, +Linnæus, being adopted. The species is an exceedingly variable one, and six +examples of it are shown on Plate 132, Figs. 6 to 11. The form with +blackish fore wings and a white reniform mark is var. _leucostigma_, Esp. +_Nictitans_, Esp., has brownish fore wings and a white reniform. _I-niger_, +Haw., is greyish or grey brown with darker central band, and the cross +lines united by a black bar. Ochreous or reddish ochreous specimens with +the front marginal area broadly and irregularly reddish brown, and the +outer margin bordered with reddish brown, are referable to var. _furca_, +Haw. Many other forms have been named. The caterpillar is green with three +reddish lines on the back; head and plate on the first ring pale brown, +also plate on last ring. In stems of grasses such as _Festuca_, _Dactylis_, +etc., also on wood-rush. From Autumn to April or May. The moth flies in +July and August, and is common everywhere in the British Isles; its range +abroad extends to Western China. + +THE DOUBLE LOBED (_Apamea ophiogramma_). + +This species (Plate 132, Fig. 5) is usually found in marshy localities, or +in gardens, over the eastern counties, and from Northamptonshire through +Bucks, and Hertfordshire, to Kent, and Surrey. The caterpillar feeds from +September on the shoots of _Phalaris arundinacea_ and the cultivated form +of that plant grown in gardens, and known as ribbon grass. Also said to +feed on _Poa aquatica_. When the grass dies down in the late autumn the +caterpillar enters the ground to hibernate, and {275} emerges in the spring +ready to attack the young grass shoots as soon as they appear. Where the +new growth of ribbon grass assumes a brown and withered appearance this +larva will probably be found at the bottom of the trouble. When nearly full +grown it eats down the interior of the thicker stems to the base. In colour +it is ochreous with a pinkish tinge; a pale brownish plate on first and +last rings, each edged with blackish and that on the first ring traversed +by a white line; head pale brown, glossy. The moth flies in July and +August, sometimes in June. + +THE MARBLED MINOR (_Miana strigilis_). + +Half a dozen specimens are shown on Plate 134, and these will serve to give +some idea of the range of aberration in this species. The most typical of +the species are those represented by Figs. 1 and 4; the farthest removed +from the type is var. _æthiops_, Haworth (Fig. 16). In the reddish var. +_latruncula_, Hübn., as figured by him, the most conspicuous character is +the white lower curve of the second cross line, as in Fig. 7. + +The caterpillar is purplish brown above, and ochreous below; striped on the +back with pale yellow, and less distinctly on the sides; spiracles black +and very distinct; head and plates on the first and last rings of the body +ochreous brown and shining. Found in March and April, after hibernation, +feeding on the stems of various grasses. The moth is out in June and July, +and may frequently be seen at rest on palings, etc., but at night it often +abounds at sugar or honey dew. Generally distributed in the British Isles, +except perhaps in the islands of Scotland. + +THE MIDDLE-BARRED MINOR (_Miana fasciuncula_). + +In its typical form this species (Plate 134, Fig. 3) has the fore wings +reddish ochreous, with a darker central band, and {276} the cross lines, +especially the second, distinctly white towards the inner margin. +Sometimes, chiefly in Scotland, the ground colour is much paler, +occasionally almost whitish, and the band reddish (var. _cana_, Staud., +Figs. 5, 8). There is a good deal of variation, both in the ground colour +and in that of the band; the latter is often smoky brown in pale specimens +of both sexes. + +The caterpillar is of a pale flesh tint, rather inclining to greyish +ochreous, the dorsal stripe of a darker tint of the same colour well +defined on each side by the pale ground colour; next a very broad stripe of +pinkish brown, followed by a narrow stripe of the ground colour, faintly +edged below with pinkish brown; above the black spiracles is a stripe of +pinkish brown freckles; head and plates on first and last rings of the body +light brown, shining (Buckler). In the shoots of grasses such as _Aira +cespitosa_, in April and early May, probably after hibernation. The moth is +out in May and June, and its haunts are moist woods and marshy grounds, +generally. The species is widely distributed, and often common, throughout +the British Isles. Abroad it seems to have a very limited range. + +THE ROSY MINOR (_Miana literosa_). + +The ground colour is pale, or dark, violet grey, more or less clouded +inwards from the submarginal line, and on the basal area, with purplish; a +central reddish or reddish brown band is limited inwardly by the, +sometimes, whitish edged black first line, and outwardly by an almost +straight black line passing between the stigmata to the inner margin. +(Plate 134, Figs. 11, 14.) + +The caterpillar is dingy ochreous yellow, with a dark purplish stripe, +enclosing a central line of the ground colour, on the back; spiracles +black; head dark brown, plates pale brown (Porritt). From September to +June, in stems of _Carex glauca_, _Dactylis glomerata_, and other grasses. +The moth flies in July and August, and although rare inland is pretty +generally distributed around the coasts of the British Isles; apparently, +from the Clyde area, confined to the east coast of Scotland, and not +extending north of Moray. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 134. + 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16. MARBLED MINOR MOTH. + 2, 5, 8. MIDDLE-BARRED MINOR. + 11, 14. ROSY MINOR. + 3, 6, 9, 12, 15. CLOAKED MINOR. + 17, 18. LEAST MINOR. + 19-21. SMALL DOTTED BUFF. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 135. + 1, 2. CLOUDED-BORDERED BRINDLE. + 3. LIGHT ARCHES. + 4, 5. CLOUDED BRINDLE. + 6. REDDISH LIGHT ARCHES. + 7, 8. SLENDER BRINDLE. + +{277} THE CLOAKED MINOR (_Miana bicoloria_). + +This is another variable species of the genus, and five specimens of it are +shown on Plate 134. The typical form (Fig. 3) has the fore wings more or +less brownish on the basal area, and whitish bordered with brownish on the +outer area. Very frequently these wings are pale, or dark, brown marbled +with darker brown, and with the stigmata and cross lines distinct, faint, +or absent. Fig. 15 represents a form from Ireland, which is uniformly pale +ochreous brown, sometimes reddish tinged. The caterpillar is yellowish +ochreous, tinged with pink; three dull reddish interrupted bands, each +intersected by a line of the ground colour; head reddish brown; plates on +first and last rings of the body pale reddish brown (Buckler). In stems of +grasses, such as _Festuca_ and _Aira_--April and May; probably after +hibernation. The moth flies in August and September, sometimes earlier. At +dusk it is often common in rough fields and grassy places near the sea. +Although found in some inland localities, it is more especially a coast +species, and as such is widely distributed over the British Isles to the +Orkneys. + +THE LEAST MINOR (_Phothedes captiuncula_). + +The pretty little moth shown on Plate 134, Figs. 17, 18, has the fore wings +brownish ochreous, tinged with reddish brown, and with a darker central +band and hind margin. Sometimes the whole basal area up to the white second +line {278} is reddish brown; and in a form from Ireland named _tincta_, +Kane, the coloration is somewhat similar to that of _M. literosa_. This +species was first discovered in Britain by Messrs. Law and Sang, in a +locality near Darlington, Durham, in 1854. It is now obtained in several +places in that county, and in Northumberland. Also found in North +Lancashire, Westmoreland, and once in Yorkshire. It occurs commonly in Co. +Galway and Clare, Ireland, and has once been taken in Killarney. There is +also a record from Perthshire in Scotland. + +The caterpillar is dull ochreous, with a reddish tinge inclining to +purplish on rings two to seven; head reddish brown; plates on first and +last rings yellow brown, the former edged in front with darker brown; +spiracles black, three yellow spots on sides of rings two and three +(Buckler). On _Carex glauca_ and other sedges, eating down the stems close +to the roots. Will also eat ribbon grass--August to June. The moth flies, +often in the early afternoon, from late June to August. It seems partial to +rough fields, and hillsides, chiefly on the coast. + +THE CLOUDED-BORDERED BRINDLE (_Xylophasia rurea_). + +Of this common, generally distributed, and often abundant species, +portraits of the typical form (Fig. 1), and of var. _alopecurus_, Esp. +(Fig. 2), will be found on Plate 135. The ground colour varies from the +normal greyish white to a silvery white (var. _argentea_, Tutt), and +through yellowish shades to a reddish ochreous; the markings in all these +colour aberrations are more or less typical. In the var. _alopecurus_, +Esp., there are also gradations; thus _combusta_, Haworth, is dark greyish +brown; and a blackish brown, red tinged form is _nigro-rubidea_, Tutt. The +caterpillar (Plate 130, Fig. 4) is variable in colour, one form is ochreous +grey with three lines on the back, the central one white shaded on each +side with grey; usual dots and spiracles are black; head blackish and +shining. From {279} August to May on grasses. The range abroad extends to +Amurland. + +THE LIGHT ARCHES (_Xylophasia lithoxylea_). + +In this whitish ochreous species (Plate 135, Fig. 3) there is little +variation except that the darker clouding is more pronounced in some +specimens than in others. The caterpillar is brownish grey, tinged with +ochreous or with greenish; usual dots blackish, as also are the head and +the plates on first and last rings of the body. October to May, feeding on +stems of grasses, near the roots. The moth is out in June and July, and is +often seen on fences, etc., in the daytime. Generally distributed, and +common in most places throughout the British Isles. In Scotland, however, +it does not range north of Moray, and only on the eastern side. + +THE REDDISH LIGHT ARCHES (_Xylophasia sublustris_). + +Except that the fore wings are somewhat reddish tinged, and not so long, +this species (Plate 135, Fig. 6) is very similar to the last. The +caterpillar is also very like that of the Light Arches, but has more red in +its coloration. The moth is out in June and July, and affects limestone and +chalk localities, and these chiefly on the coast. In Berkshire and +adjoining counties it occurs in beech woods. Specimens have been recorded +from Kendal in Westmoreland, but Yorkshire has been considered the northern +limit of the species in England. It has been recorded occasionally from the +fens. Paisley and Bonhill are given as Scottish localities in the _Fauna of +the Clyde Area_ (1901). Widely distributed in Ireland but most abundant in +the province of Connaught. + +_Xylophasia zollikoferi._ The home of this species would seem to be in +parts of Hungary, Russia and Western Asia, whence it very occasionally +finds its way across the continent {280} to England. Its British history is +as follows:--a specimen taken at Deal, by Mr. Harding, October, 1867; one +at Inverurie in Scotland, by Mr. Tait, September, 1871; and one at sugar by +Mr. T. A. Lofthouse at Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, September 26, 1903. Also +recorded from Norwich, September, 1905, and from Methley, Yorks, August, +1910. (Plate 153, Fig. 6.) + +THE DARK ARCHES (_Xylophasia monoglypha_). + +The five portraits of this moth on Plate 136 will give some idea of the +various forms it assumes. The blackish specimen is referable to var. +_infuscata_, White, and an extreme aberration of this form has been named +_æthiops_, Tutt. The caterpillar is greyish, inclining to brownish or +reddish; usual dots blackish; head and plate on first ring of body dark +brownish, and shining. August to September, feeding on grasses and +devouring the stems near the base. The moth is out from June to August, +sometimes in October and November. It occurs in all parts of the British +Isles and is often abundant. + +THE CLOUDED BRINDLE (_Xylophasia hepatica_). + +The most frequent form of this species (Plate 135) has the fore wings pale +brown, with well-defined black markings, but without distinct cross lines. +When the wings are more clouded and suffused with reddish or purplish brown +the paler ground colour shows up as cross lines, and these are more or less +edged with blackish (var. _characterea_, Hübner). The caterpillar (Plate +130, Fig. 2) is dingy brown with shining black dots; three pale ochreous +lines along the back, the central one most distinct; head black and +shining; plate on first ring of the body black crossed by white lines, +another on the last ring is blackish. Feeds from August to April on +grasses, but will also eat various low plants. The chrysalis (Fig. 2A) +which {281} is enclosed in a tender earthen cocoon, is reddish, blackish +between the rings, and the last ring, which is blunt at apex, is furnished +with four hooks. The moth is out in June and July. A common species in the +eastern and southern counties of England, but less frequent or rare in the +Midlands and northwards to Roxburgh in Scotland. Local and not numerous in +Ireland. Range abroad extends to Amurland. + +THE SLENDER BRINDLE (_Xylophasia scolopacina_). + +This is another species with reddish brown clouded, pale ochreous brown +fore wings. The ground colour may be whiter or redder than in the specimens +shown on Plate 135, Figs. 7, 8. The caterpillar (Plate 130, Fig. 1) is +dusky green above and whitish green beneath, the green shading into +blackish along the sides; a fine whitish line along the middle of the back; +usual dots black; head honey-brown and glossy, the jaws and a spot on each +cheek black. It feeds on the juicy lower part of the stems of grasses, such +as _Triticum_, but will also eat the leaves. In the spring, and till June, +probably after hibernation. The moth is out in July and August, and as an +uncommon event may be seen at rest on a tree trunk or paling. Stephens +(1829) refers to its occurrence in the London district, and it still +appears in woods around Highgate. It seems to be most plentiful in the +woods of South Yorkshire, and in the Sherwood district of Nottinghamshire; +but it has been found more or less frequently in several of the southern +counties of England, and also in some northern ones. Its range abroad +extends to Amurland and Japan. + +THE BIRD'S WING (_Dipterygia scabriuscula_). + +The curious wing-like marks on the blackish fore wings of this moth (Plate +137, Figs. 1[male], 2[female]) are its chief features. The {282} stigmata +are outlined in black, but are rarely paler than the ground colour. The +caterpillar is reddish brown with yellow and black dots; three lines along +the back, the central one white with a black edging, and the others +blackish; head brown and glossy, marked with black; a blackish plate on +first ring is also glossy, and is followed by a black mark on the next +ring, both streaked with white. It feeds on dock, sorrel, and plants of the +genus _Polygonum_, in July and August. The moth flies in late May and June, +sometimes as a second generation in August or September. It occurs more or +less commonly in most southern and eastern counties from Oxfordshire. In +other parts of England, and in Scotland, it seems to be local or absent. + +THE PURPLE CLOUD (_Cloantha polyodon_). + +This moth is figured on Plate 137, Fig. 7. The first recorded British +specimen was taken at Yarmouth, in June, 1839. In 1855 a specimen, found in +a spider's web at Ashford, Hampshire, was exhibited at a meeting, held in +May, of the Entomological Society of London. Two specimens were taken in +1892; one at Folkestone, Kent, at sugar, and the other outside Norwich, in +Norfolk, at a gas lamp. In the _Entomologist_ for 1894, there is a record +of a specimen captured at sugar, July, 1891, at Clonbrock, Co. Galway, +Ireland. The species has a wide range abroad, extending eastward to +Amurland and Japan. + +THE DEEP-BROWN DART (_Aporophyla lutulenta_). + +In the south of England the species (Plate 137, Figs. 9, 10) is generally +of a dark brown coloration on the fore wings, and the markings are often +indistinct; but blackish forms also occur, although the latter are more +frequent northwards, and in Scotland and Ireland are the prevailing form of +the species. In black or blackish specimens, usually referred to +_luneburgensis_, {283} Freyer, the hind wings in the male, have the veins +more or less blackish and dotted with black beyond the middle; var. _sedi_, +Guenée, has the fore wings pale greyish with the markings distinct, and the +central area blackish. + +The caterpillar is green, sometimes tinged with pink on the first three +rings; three brownish broken lines along the back, and a violet edged white +line along the spiracles. It feeds on grasses, yarrow, groundsel, dock, +plantain, gromwell (_Lithospermum_), and other low herbage; also on buds of +hawthorn and sloe in the spring. October to April. The moth is out in +August and September, sometimes later. It is found most frequently on the +coast, perhaps, but occurs in Cambridgeshire, Hunts, Oxfordshire, +Gloucestershire, Berks, Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hants, and Isle of Wight; +from Somerset to Cornwall; North and South Wales, Cheshire, Lancashire, and +Yorkshire, and apparently in all counties northward except Westmoreland. +Widely distributed in Scotland from the border to the Hebrides and Orkneys. +It is found only on the coast in Ireland, and chiefly in the north-west. + +THE BLACK RUSTIC (_Aporophyla nigra_). + +This black or brownish black moth (Plate 137, Fig. 8) has the outer edge of +the reniform stigma ochreous, and the cross lines are sometimes dotted with +the same colour. The caterpillar is green, yellowish-brown, or dull +purplish; first three rings often tinged with reddish; three darker, often +broken, lines along the back; line along the black-edged white spiracles +yellowish. It feeds on bedstraw (_Galium mollugo_), dock, plantain, +grasses, etc. October to May. (The egg is figured on Plate 139, Fig. 3.) +The moth is out in September and October. Chiefly a northern species, but +it occurs in some of the southern counties. It is, however, most frequent +in Northampton, Huntingdon, and Cambridgeshire; in Gloucestershire, {284} +and Wales, and in the Isle of Man, Cumberland, and Westmoreland. In +Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, and Lancashire it seems to be local or rare. It is +found up to Moray in Scotland, and is sometimes plentiful in Aberdeenshire, +Inverness, and Moray. Very local in Ireland, but Kane says that it is found +in the extreme north, south, east, and west. + +THE FEATHERED BRINDLE (_Aporophyla australis_). + +The fore wings are pale grey, sometimes darker clouded, chiefly on the +costa; the black cross lines, slender, wavy, but not always distinct; a +short black bar from middle of the base and one below it on the inner +margin; often two other bars, pretty much in a line with the basal ones, on +the central area; a row of black wedges on the outer area, near margin. +Hind wings white in the male, pale brownish grey in the female. Most of our +specimens, perhaps all, are referable to var. _pascuea_, Curtis. The +caterpillar is yellowish green tinged with reddish above; a pale reddish +line along the middle of the back has black V-shaped marks upon it, and +there is a series of black marks on each side; the line along the spiracles +yellowish; head green, brown freckled. Feeds, from October to April, on +grasses, catchfly (_Silene maritima_), etc. The moth, which is figured on +Plate 137, Figs. 3, 4, is out from late August to October. + +This is a local species in England and occurs on the south coast; in Kent, +on the sand hills at Deal; in Sussex, on the downs at Brighton and Lewes; +also on downs on the Isle of Wight. Farther west it is found at Portland in +Dorset, and Torquay in Devon; thence along the Devon and Cornish coasts. In +Ireland it is obtained, according to Kane, on the coast of Wicklow and +Waterford, and is not scarce on the sand hills of Wexford Harbour. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 136. + DARK ARCHES MOTH. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 137. + 1, 2. BIRD'S WING MOTH. + 3, 4. FEATHERED BRINDLE. + 5, 6. FEATHERED RANUNCULUS. + 7. PURPLE CLOUD. + 8. BLACK RUSTIC. + 9, 10. DEEP-BROWN DART. + +{285} + +THE FEATHERED RANUNCULUS (_Epunda lichenea_). + +This is a maritime species and is chiefly found in the Isle of Wight, the +Isle of Portland, and along the coasts of Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, +Gloucester, and on the opposite Welsh coast. It is locally common in +Cheshire and Lancashire, and occurs on the coast of North Wales, in Flint +and Carnarvon. In Yorkshire it is not uncommon at Scarborough. Has been +recorded from the Lincolnshire coast and from Eastbourne. There are two +records from Scotland--Renfrew and Ayr. In Ireland it is common at Howth, +and abundant at Rossbeigh, Co. Kerry. This species, and the last two, have +a rather limited range abroad. On Plate 137 are portraits of two local +forms, Fig. 5 is from Portland, and Fig. 6 from Plymouth. It will be noted +that the former is greyish in tone whilst the latter is greenish and rather +larger. Similar local variation occurs throughout the range of the species. + +The caterpillar (Plate 133, Fig. 2) is olive green inclining to brownish +above; along the back are darker markings forming a central stripe and a +paler interrupted stripe on each side; a pale stripe along the spiracles. +It feeds from autumn to May on various low plants. The moth flies from late +August to early October. The first British specimen is said to have been +taken in the New Forest in 1847; but in 1850 about a hundred were captured +at New Brighton in Cheshire. + +THE BRINDLED OCHRE (_Dasypolia templi_). + +The dull ochreous-brown moth shown on Plate 138, Fig. 1, has hardly any +well-defined markings, but the cross lines are generally darker, and the +reniform and orbicular paler. The caterpillar, which feeds in the stems of +cow-parsnip (_Heracleum sphondylium_) from April to August, is pinkish +ochreous with a rather darker stripe on the back; raised spots brown; head +{286} reddish brown. The moth flies in the autumn, and, after hibernation, +in the spring. It frequents rocky places on the coast and on hills. Its +range in England is pretty much as in the last species, but it does not +seem to occur on the south-east coast. In Scotland it is widely spread over +the country to the Orkneys, and has been found in the most northern isle of +the Shetlands, but it is generally uncommon. It has been taken near Dublin +in Ireland, and less frequently in Antrim and Donegal. + +THE LARGE RANUNCULUS (_Polia flavicincta_). + +The fore wings of this moth (Plate 138, Figs. 6 and 7), are pale grey, +clouded, and marked with darker; yellowish freckles at the base, and on the +central area and the submarginal line are usually, but not always, present. +Sometimes, chiefly in northern specimens, these wings are much suffused +with darker grey, approaching blackish. The caterpillar is green with a +yellowish or bluish tinge; a dusky line along the back, and a dark green +line along the black-edged white spiracles. It feeds on dock, groundsel, +plantain, and many other plants from April to July. The moth flies in +September and October, and, except in Kent, and perhaps Sussex, is rather +uncommon in the southern counties of England. It occurs, however, not +infrequently in the eastern counties, and through Oxford, Berks, +Gloucester, Somerset to Cornwall, and northward through Hereford and parts +of the Midlands to Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Durham. + +THE GREY CHI (_Polia chi_). + +Four specimens are depicted on Plate 138. Figs. 2 and 3 represent the sexes +of the type form, and Figs. 4 and 5, the greenish-grey var. _olivacea_, +Stephens. Both forms may be paler or darker, but the green tinge is apt to +fade out. Var. _suffusa_, Tutt, is a dark greyish suffused form. {287} + +The caterpillar is green, inclining to bluish green above; the lines on the +back are whitish, edged with dark green; that along the black-margined +white spiracles is white, shaded above with dark green. It feeds on dock, +dandelion, groundsel, etc.; also on sallow and hawthorn, from April to +June. The moth is out in August and September. It prefers the open country +to woodlands, and is often seen resting on rocks, stone, or other walls, +and buildings. Except that it occurs in Devon and Dorset, the species seems +to be absent in the south of England, but its area of distribution extends +in the British Isles from the Midlands of England to Moray and Ross in +Scotland, and to Ireland. + +THE BLACK-BANDED (_Polia xanthomista_). + +The form of this species occurring in Britain is var. _nigrocincta_, Tr. +(Plate 140, Figs. 2, 3), which is pale grey, spotted with white, and +clouded on the central area with black. The typical yellow flecking and +dotting is in this form usually sparse, but occasionally it is prominent. A +specimen reared from a caterpillar taken in the Isle of Man was suffused on +the fore wings with bright orange. + +The caterpillar is ochreous brown, varying in tint, above and pale green +below the brown spiracles; the head is rather yellowish and very glossy. It +feeds on sea thrift (flowers), and plantain in its haunts, which are the +rocky coasts of Cornwall, North Devon, and the Isle of Man. In confinement +it will eat groundsel, dock, dandelion, lettuce, etc. Usually the +caterpillars do not hatch out until the spring, and then feed until June or +July; but they have been known to hatch in the autumn, and then to +hibernate. The moth flies in August and September, but, although it has +been taken at sugar and light, is more frequently reared from caterpillars, +which are readily found at night by those who may undertake the sometimes +{288} hazardous business of collecting them. The earliest known British +specimen was taken at a lighthouse near Padstow in Cornwall, and five years +later the moth was bred from a caterpillar found in the Isle of Man. In +1880 a specimen was taken at sugar in the middle of a small wood in South +Pembrokeshire. According to Hampson this, and the other two species usually +included in _Polia_, are referable to _Antitype_, Hübn. On the same +authority _nigrocincta_, Treit., is the earlier name for the present +species, as the figure of _xanthomista_, Hübn., was not published until +1827. + +THE SPRAWLER (_Brachionycha_ (_Asteroscopus_) _sphinx_). + +The black streaked and dotted, pale brownish grey moth (Plate 138, Fig. 8) +occurs, more or less locally, in most of the English counties from Norfolk, +Huntingdon, and Oxford, southwards; and from Gloucester northwards through +Hereford and Worcester, to Cheshire, Lancashire, Yorkshire, to Darlington +in Durham, and Cumberland. It is, however, rare in the northern counties. +The caterpillar is yellowish green; three whitish lines on the back, the +central one broadly edged with green on both sides, and the others inwardly +by a dark line; the front ring is edged with whitish, and the head is +greenish. It feeds on the foliage of various trees, including oak, beech, +elm, ash, sallow, lime in May and June. The moth flies in November and +December. + +THE RANNOCH SPRAWLER (_Brachionycha_ (_Asteroscopus_) _nubeculosa_). + +The first British specimen was taken at Rannoch in the spring of 1854, and +in that Perthshire locality the species is still to be found, sitting on +the trunks of the birch trees in late March and in April. It has frequently +been reared from the egg, but the caterpillars must be sleeved out on +growing birch, or the mortality among them may be high. Even if they attain +the chrysalis stage, the moth may not appear the following spring, as it +has a habit of remaining in its shell for two winters, and sometimes more. +(Plate 140, Figs. 1[male], 4[female].) + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 138. + 1. BRINDLED OCHRE MOTH. + 2, 3. GREY CHI MOTH. + 4, 5. GREY CHI MOTH, _var. olivaceæ._ + 6, 7. LARGE RANUNCULUS. + 8. SPRAWLER. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 139. + 1, 1a. BLACK-BANDED MOTH: _eggs, natural size and enlarged._ + 2, 2a. GOTHIC MOTH: _caterpillar and chrysalis._ + 3, 3a. BLACK RUSTIC: _eggs, natural size and enlarged._ + +{289} The caterpillar is yellowish green, whiter on the back; the third +ring is obliquely marked with yellow on each side; the eleventh ring is +slightly raised and marked yellow, and there is an oblique yellow mark +above the claspers; spiracles white edged with black, and the usual dots +are pale yellow. It feeds on birch. May and June. + +THE GREEN-BRINDLED CRESCENT (_Miselia oxyacanthæ_). + +This moth, which in its typical form was known to the ancient fathers of +entomology as "Ealing's Glory," is shown on Plate 141, Fig. 2. The var. +_capucina_, Mill (Fig. 3), a purely British production by the way, has the +fore wings dark sooty brown, inclining to blackish. The caterpillar, which +has a white-marked and divided hump on ring eleven, is reddish or greyish +brown, with dark grey and greenish mottling; the back has three darker +lines along it, and there is a sort of diamond pattern in greyish between +the outer ones; rings three and ten striped with black; head reddish brown. +It feeds in April and May on hawthorn, sloe, crab, and apple. Widely +distributed throughout the British Isles, but apparently not found north of +Moray in Scotland. + +THE DOUBLE-SPOT BROCADE (_Miselia bimaculosa_). + +Stephens, referring to this species in 1829, states that he had only seen +one British specimen. This was in the British Museum, "to which it was +presented by Dr. Leach; it was captured near Bristol, I believe, in July, +1815." Barrett notes {290} a specimen, said to have been taken by Peter +Bouchard, in the collection of the late Dr. Mason. This is all that there +seems to be known concerning this species in Britain. The specimen figured +on Plate 141, Fig. 4, is continental. + +THE MERVEILLE DU JOUR (_Agriopis aprilina_). + +The pretty green moth, with white-edged black markings, shown on Plate 141, +Fig. 1, is widely distributed over the greater part of the British Isles. +It occurs in oak woods, or in localities where oak trees are plentiful. The +caterpillar is of an obscure greenish-grey coloration, sometimes inclining +to brownish; a white line along the back, and a dark one low down on the +sides; over the back spreads a series of blackish marks showing a more or +less diamond pattern. It feeds in the spring and until June on oak leaves, +and often rests by day on the trunks, in the chinks of the bark. The moth +flies in September and October, rather earlier in Scotland. + +FLAME BROCADE (_Rhizotype_ (_Trigonophora_) _flammea_). + +The earliest record of this species (Plate 141, Fig. 6) in England dates +back to 1855, when five specimens were obtained at sugar in a locality near +Brighton, in Sussex. The next year, and subsequently, it was found, not +only in the original place, but also in the Lewes and Shoreham districts. +Later it was met with in other localities in the county, and for several +years captures were made in most of its known haunts. For some years past, +however, it seems to have disappeared from Sussex, and is not known to +occur in any other part of the British Isles. + +The caterpillar is ochreous brown, tinged with reddish; a dull brownish +diamond pattern, and three lines along the back, the central line paler +than the others; the spiracles and usual dots are white, ringed with +brownish. Another form is green, as also are both forms in the younger +stages. It feeds from December to April on pilewort (_Ranunculus ficaria_), +_R. repens_, and other kinds of buttercup. When full grown it is said to +prefer ash or privet. The moth flies in late September and October. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 140. + 1, 4. RANNOCH SPRAWLER. + 2, 3. BLACK-BANDED MOTH. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 141. + 1. MERVEILLE-DU-JOUR MOTH. + 2, 3. GREEN-BRINDLED CRESCENT. + 4. DOUBLE-SPOT BROCADE. + 5. SMALL ANGLE SHADES. + 6. FLAME BROCADE. + 7. ANGLE SHADES. + +{291} THE SMALL ANGLE SHADES (_Euplexia lucipara_). + +The pale reniform mark on the outer edge of the blackish central area is +the prominent feature of this pinkish- or purplish-brown moth. (Plate 141, +Fig. 5.) The caterpillar is green, or pinkish-brown, and velvety in +appearance; three indistinct lines and some dusky V-shaped marks on the +back; a white line along the sides; usual dots white, and the spiracles +black. It feeds in August and September on most low plants, birch, sallow, +bracken, etc. It is often destructive to ferns in the garden or +conservatory; usually selecting the choicer kinds, and as its depredations +are carried on only at night, the culprit escapes detection. The moth flies +in June and July, and a few specimens sometimes appear in the autumn. +Generally distributed and often common in the South. The range abroad +extends to Amurland, Japan, and North America. + +THE ANGLE SHADES (_Phlogophora meticulosa_). + +The moth shown on Plate 141, Fig. 7, is, when newly emerged from the +chrysalis, an exceedingly pretty creature. After death the pinky-brown +colour remains, but the olive green of the triangular central band, and +border of outer margin, fades and distinctly mars the pleasing effect of +the general colour scheme. Sometimes the central band and outer border are +red, and in such specimens the ground colour is more rosy. The caterpillar +is green or brown, minutely dotted with white; a pale central line and +dusky V-shaped marks on each side of it; the outer arm of the V more +distinct than the inner; the line along the dark {292} ringed spiracles +whitish; head green or brown freckled with darker. It feeds on groundsel, +dock, bracken, and almost anything in the way of an herbaceous plant; often +attacks geraniums in the greenhouse as well as outdoors. Has been found in +almost every month of the year, but perhaps most common in July, August, +and September. The moth also occurs at all seasons of the year, but seems +to be most frequent in May and June, and sometimes in September and +October. It is found throughout the British Isles. Both this species and +the last mentioned, when resting on herbage, paling, or tree stem, chiefly +the former, sit with the wings folded in to the body, but each fore wing is +broadly wrinkled or folded throughout its length. In this position the moth +is very like a crumpled decaying leaf, and for such may be readily +mistaken. + +THE OLD LADY (_Mania_ (_Mormo_) _maura_). + +From its habit of creeping behind curtains, shutters, etc., and otherwise +disposing itself in dwelling-houses during the day, as well as in summer +houses and other buildings, this moth (Plate 142, Figs. 1[male], 3[female]) +must often come under observation. The caterpillar is ochreous brown with a +darker diamond pattern on the back; the central line is ochreous, but much +broken, and on each side of it there is a series of pale oblique streaks; +the spiracles are reddish ochreous, edged with black, and the line along +them is ochreous; head pale brown, glossy. The general colour varies to +greyish or purplish brown. It feeds on various low herbage in the autumn, +and on the young shoots and leaves of sallow, hawthorn, birch, etc., in the +spring after hibernation. The moth flies in July and August, and is +generally common in the south of England. Sometimes it abounds even in the +London suburbs, and in 1904 it was seen pretty frequently during August +flying, in the evening, low down along the roads and in gardens all over +the southern district. The species is also {293} found more or less +frequently throughout England northwards, and well into Scotland, as least +as far as Clydesdale. Renton records it as common at sugar in +Roxburghshire, and White gives the Forth and Tay districts. Widely +distributed in Ireland, common in some parts. + +THE GOTHIC (_Nænia typica_). + +This moth (Plate 142, Fig. 2) is common in gardens, as well as along the +weedy wayside and hedgerow in all parts of England and Wales, Scotland to +Sutherland, and in Ireland. The caterpillar (Plate 139, Fig. 2) varies in +colour from brownish-grey to pale ochreous brown, or greenish grey, +freckled with darker; three pale lines on the first ring, and partly on the +second; some pale oblique streaks on the sides, and blackish marks on rings +ten and eleven, the latter more or less united behind; head of the body +colour darker marked. It feeds on all kinds of herbage, also on the leaves +of sallow, sloe, apple, etc. When young in large companies on the underside +of leaves. August to May. The moth flies in June and July. + +THE CRESCENT (_Helotropha leucostigma_). + +Of this purplish-brown species the typical form (Fig. 1), and the pale +banded form, var. _fibrosa_, Hübn., are shown on Plate 143. The +caterpillar, according to Buckler, is slaty brown, inclining to olive drab +above; three paler lines on the back; the spiracles are black and the usual +dots black-brown; head warm brown, very glossy; plate on first ring glossy +black, that on the last ring blackish brown. It feeds in the stems of +_Cladium mariscus_, sedge (_Carex paludosa_), and yellow flag (_Iris +pseudacorus_). May to July. The moth is out in late June, July, and August. +It inhabits fens and marshy ground, and seems to be found in such +localities throughout the British Isles, including the {294} Hebrides and +Shetlands. Abroad the range extends to Amurland, China, Japan, also North +America. + +THE EAR MOTH (_Hydroecia_ (_Gortyna_) _nictitans_). + +On Plate 143 are shown a more or less typical specimen of this species +(Fig. 3); the reddish spotted var. _erythrostigma_, Haw. (Fig. 4); and two +examples of the marsh or saltern form, _paludis_, Tutt (Figs. 5, 6), for +which specific rank has been claimed. Specimens found in marshes, +especially those by the sea, are usually somewhat larger than normal, but I +cannot see that they otherwise differ from forms of _nictitans_. The +caterpillar is greenish pink with pinkish grey stripes on the back and +sides; spiracles black, and usual dots dark brownish; head pinkish +ochreous, plate on ring one of the body yellowish brown. It feeds from May +to August on grasses, chiefly the lower part of the stems. The moth flies +in August and September, and is sometimes seen in the daytime on the +flowers of thistle and ragwort, etc., but far more frequently at night, +when it also visits sugar more or less freely. Usually common in marshy +places throughout our islands. The range abroad extends to Amurland, Corea, +Japan, and North America. + +THE ROSY RUSTIC (_Hydroecia_ (_Gortyna_) _micacea_). + +This moth (Plate 143, Figs. 8, 9) is also widely spread over the British +Isles, occurring most freely on the coast, but not uncommonly inland. It +appears in the autumn, and is frequently seen at light, and although not +very partial to sugar it occasionally visits that attraction as well as +ragwort blossom, etc. The caterpillar is dull smoky pink, with a faintly +darker central stripe; the usual dots dark brown, and the spiracles black; +head, and plates on first and last rings of the body ochreous brown. May to +August on dock, plantain, feeding in the stems and down into the roots. +Sometimes it attacks the potato, eating down the stalk into the tuber. The +range abroad extends to Amurland. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 142. + 1, 3. OLD LADY MOTH. + 2. GOTHIC MOTH. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 143. + 1, 2. THE CRESCENT. + 3, 4. EAR MOTH. + 5, 6. EAR MOTH, _saltern form_. + 7. BUTTERBUR MOTH. + 8, 9. ROSY RUSTIC. + +{295} THE BUTTERBUR (_Hydroecia_ (_Gortyna_) _petasitis_). + +This is a larger species than the last, and more dingy in coloration. Its +chief haunts, among the butterbur (_Petasites_), are in the northern +counties from Cheshire to Durham. It was first met with by Stainton in 1846 +at Falkirk in Scotland, and Doubleday named and described it in 1847. An +account of its caterpillar feeding in the roots of the butterbur was +published by N. Cooke in 1850, and by 1855 the northern collectors had +reared and distributed large numbers of the moths among their confrères in +other parts of the country. The species is still common in the north of +England, but continues scarce and very local in Scotland. Odd specimens +have been reported from the eastern counties and once from Somerset. The +caterpillar is greyish white with black dots; head, and plate on first ring +of the body brown. July and August. The moth occurs among its food plant in +August and September. (Plate 143, Fig. 7.) + +THE FROSTED ORANGE (_Ochria ochracea_). + +Except that it sometimes visits a strong light, and may then be captured, +this moth (Plate 144, Figs. 1[male], 2[female]) is most easily obtained in +its early stages. The caterpillar is pale ochreous white with conspicuous +black dots; head ochreous brown, the plate on first ring of the body is +blackish with white lines upon it. It feeds in the stems of thistles, +burdock, hemp-agrimony, etc. April to July, or later. The brownish +chrysalis may be found in stems of the plants, generally low down near the +ground. The moth, also known as _flavago_, Schiff., occurs from August to +October in most places, especially marshy ground, where {296} thistles +flourish, throughout England and Wales. It is found in Scotland up to +Perthshire and Aberdeen. Only recorded from Wicklow, Galway, Sligo, and +Clare, in Ireland. + +REED WAINSCOT (_Nonagria algæ_ (_cannæ_)). + +This moth (Plate 144, Fig. 4) varies in size and also in the colour of the +fore wings, which range from a pale ochreous, through reddish shades, to +sooty brown. The cross lines are indicated by black dots. The black dotted +greenish caterpillar has a brown head and a whitish green plate on first +ring of the body. It feeds from May to July in the stems of reed-mace +(_Typha latifolia_), often called the bulrush or catstail; also in the true +bulrush (_Scirpus lacustris_). Fig. 5, Plate 148, shows the chrysalis in +its characteristic position when in the stem, that is with the head +upwards. The moth flies, in August and September, at dusk, over and among +the reeds; the males especially freely responding to the attraction of +light. Its chief localities are in the fens of Norfolk and Suffolk, but it +has also occurred in Mid-Sussex. + +WEBB'S WAINSCOT (_Nonagria sparganii_). + +This moth also varies in the colour of the fore wings, from almost whitish +through various shades of ochreous and red. The main veins are shaded with +grey, and the median one has black dots upon it, chiefly at the end of the +cell; the outer margin with a row of large or small black dots. (Plate 144, +Fig. 3.) The caterpillar is yellowish green with darker lines; head and +plate on first ring of the body pale brown. It feeds in July and August in +stems of bur-reed (_Sparganium_), reed-mace, and yellow flag. Fig. 6, Plate +148, shows the chrysalis in its natural position in the stem. The hole in +the stem from which the moth escapes is also clearly in evidence above the +chrysalis. {297} The moth flies among reeds, etc., in August and September. +Its chief localities in England are in East and South-east Kent, in which +county the first British specimens were obtained by Mr. Sydney Webb in +1879. In 1899 a specimen reared from a caterpillar found in a stem of +_Typha_, was recorded from Suffolk (Woodbridge district); and in 1901 the +species was recorded from South Devon. It is also not uncommon "between Old +Head of Kinsale and Glandore," Co. Cork, Ireland. + +THE BULRUSH WAINSCOT (_Nonagria typhæ_). + +The fore wings of this species (Plate 144, Fig. 5), usually of a pale +whity-brown colour, in some specimens are reddish tinged; or they may be +almost uniformly reddish brown or blackish (var. _fraterna_, Treit.). The +row of black spots on the outer area are wedge-shaped and are placed just +before the margin. The caterpillar is pale ochreous more or less tinged +with pink; a paler line along the spiracles; head and plate on first ring +of the body red-brown. July to August, in stems of _Typha_. The moth flies +in August and September, and although it may be netted when on the wing at +dusk, or at light, it is obtained in better condition by rearing it from +the chrysalis, which may be found in the stems (Plate 148, Fig. 3), those +of the previous year for choice, of reed mace. Generally distributed in +England up to Yorkshire; it has been recorded also from Northumberland and +the Scottish border. It is common in southern Ireland, and found northwards +up to Sligo, Tyrone, and Armagh. + +THE TWIN-SPOTTED (_Nonagria geminipuncta_). + +This species, shown on Plate 144, Figs. 6, 7, varies in colour from pale +brown, more or less suffused with grey, through darker, or reddish brown to +blackish (var. _nigricans_, Staud.). {298} In the brown typical form the +reniform mark is represented by two dark-edged white dots, the upper one +often tiny or absent (var. _unipuncta_, Tutt), or both may be absent (var. +_obsoleta_, Tutt). The caterpillar in pale ochreous, pink-tinged, a pale +line along the spiracles; head dark brown. May and June, in stems of reeds +(_Phragmites_). The chrysalis lies in the reed stem with the head towards +the oval hole above it from which the moth escapes. In August the moth may +be found in its haunts in the south and east of England. These are marshes, +often near the sea, in Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Essex, the Thames valley, +Sussex, Hants, and the Isle of Wight, Wiltshire and Somerset. + +THE BROWN-VEINED WAINSCOT (_Nonagria dissoluta_). + +The popular name applies more especially to the ordinary form of this +species known as _arundineta_, Schmidt. (Plate 144, Fig. 8.) The dark brown +or black typical form (_dissoluta_, Treit. = _hessii_, Boisd.) is local and +uncommon; in fact until 1900 it had not been noted in England for a number +of years, and specimens were only known from Yaxley. In the year just +mentioned however, several examples of it were recorded from Suffolk, taken +in the Needham Market district; and in 1905 specimens were reported from +the East Kent marshes. Var. _arundineta_, the _neurica_ of some authors, +occurs in the fens of Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridge, and Lincolnshire; also +in marshes in Essex and Kent; and is said to have been taken in Middlesex +and Lancashire. The caterpillar is dirty white, light reddish on the back; +raised dots black inclining to brown on front three rings; spiracles white +edged with black; head dark brown; plate on first and last rings of the +body brownish grey. It feeds in June in the stems of reed and turns to a +chrysalis in the lower part of the stem, head downwards in the direction of +the exit hole below it. (Plate 148, Fig. 1.) The moth flies in July and +August. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 144. + 1, 2. FROSTED ORANGE MOTH. + 3. WEBB'S WAINSCOT. + 4. REED WAINSCOT. + 5. BULRUSH MOTH. + 6, 7. TWIN-SPOTTED WAINSCOT. + 8. BROWN-VEINED WAINSCOT. + 9. FENN'S WAINSCOT, 10. _aberration sinelinea._ + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 145. + 1, 2. LARGE WAINSCOT. + 3, 4. FEN WAINSCOT. + 5, 6. FLAME WAINSCOT. + 7, 8. SILKY WAINSCOT. + 9, 10, 11. SMALL RUFOUS MOTH. + 12, 13, 14. SMALL WAINSCOT. + +{299} + +THE SMALL RUFOUS (_Coenobia rufa_). + +Varies from pale ochreous white, through reddish shades, to a greyish +brown. (Plate 145, Figs. 9 to 11.) The caterpillar is described by Hofmann, +as pale reddish above and whitish below, with minute dark dots on the back +and a fine blackish line along the sides; head and plate on first ring of +the body brown and glossy. May and June, in stems of the jointed rush +(_Juncus lamprocarpus_). The moth flies in July and August, and occurs in +fens and marshes. At one time it was not uncommon in marshy localities +around London, and it is still to be obtained in Richmond Park, Surrey. In +some years it abounds in the Norfolk and Cambridge fens, and in others is +hardly seen. It is also to be found more or less frequently but always +local in Suffolk, Essex, Berks, Kent, Sussex, Isle of Wight, Dorset (Isle +of Purbeck), Devon, Somerset, Gloucester, North and South Wales, Cheshire, +and Yorkshire; Argyllshire in Scotland; Ireland. + +THE SILKY WAINSCOT (_Senta maritima_). + +In its typical form (Fig. 7) the moth shown on Plate 145 is whity-brown, +clouded with grey and sometimes tinged with brownish on the disc. The +orbicular and reniform stigmata are round and faintly outlined in whitish. +In var. _bipunctata_, Haworth, the stigmata are black and conspicuous: var. +_wismariensis_, Schmidt, has a blackish central streak from the base +broadening out towards the outer margin (Fig. 8): var. _nigristriata_, +Staud., has the fore-wings finely streaked with black; and var. +_nigrocostata_, Staud., has the front margin broadly black. The caterpillar +is ochreous grey with three fine interrupted, whitish lines on the back; +spiracles black with darker lines along their area; head dark brown and +shining. September to May, hiding by day in stems of reed (_Phragmites_) +and at night {300} feeding on the caterpillars and chrysalids of other reed +insects (Hofmann). The moth flies from late June to early August. It occurs +in the fens of Norfolk and Cambridge, but in the former county it has been +taken at Merton and King's Lynn. Dr. Wheeler states that it is usually +found in the thicker reed beds where stems of the previous year's growth +still remain. Specimens were obtained among reeds in the Harwich district, +Essex, in 1902, and the species has also been recorded from Tring, +Hertfordshire, Surrey, Sussex, and the Isle of Wight. + +THE FLAME WAINSCOT (_Meliana flammea_). + +The original British specimen, which Curtis in 1829 named, described, and +figured, was stated to have been taken "near Lewisham, towards Lee, in +July." Now it is only known to occur in Huntingdon, Norfolk, and +Cambridgeshire, chiefly in the fens; in Wicken fen in the latter county it +is most plentiful. (Plate 145, Figs. 5, 6.) The caterpillar is greyish +ochreous brown, rather paler beneath, with paler lines along the back and +sides, the central one edged on each side with darker; spiracles whitish, +outlined with black, and a greyish drab spiracular stripe with paler edges; +head shining, and faintly netted with darker grey. (Condensed from +Buckler.) Hides by day in the old stems of reed (_Phragmites_), and feeds +at night on the leaves, August to October. + +THE SMALL WAINSCOT (_Tapinostola fulva_). + +The fore wings vary in colour from almost whitish through various shades of +grey brown and reddish brown (Plate 145, Figs. 12 to 14). The caterpillar, +pale shining pinkish ochreous; central stripe pale, bordered on each side +with greyish brown. Head pale brown, marked with darker, shining. June and +July in stems of sedges (_Carex_). The moth flies in August and {301} +September, and is found in fens and marshy ground pretty well all over the +British Isles, including the Hebrides. + +THE CONCOLOROUS (_Tapinostola extrema_). + +This species (Plate 146, Fig. 3) was at one time subsequent to 1844, when +it was first discovered in Yaxley Fen, not at all scarce in that locality +and in other fens in Huntingdonshire and Cambridgeshire. It then +disappeared from all its old haunts, some of which were destroyed; but a +few years since it was met with again in Hunts, and apparently not +uncommonly. + +BOND'S WAINSCOT (_Tapinostola bondii_). + +The whitish moth shown on Plate 146, Fig. 4, was first taken at Folkestone, +Kent, by Dr. Knaggs, in 1859, and named and described by him in 1861. It +still occurs in that locality and also on the Devon and Dorsetshire coast, +the known localities being Charmouth, Lyme Regis, and Sidmouth. + +The caterpillar is dirty white in colour inclining to brownish at each end; +a whitish line along the middle of the back; head brown. Feeds from August +to June in stems of _Festuca arundinacea_. The moth flies in June and July. + +THE MERE WAINSCOT (_Tapinostola hellmanni_). + +Present localities for this reddish species (Plate 146, Figs. 1, 2) are +Wicken and Chippenham fens, Chatteris and Whittlesford, in Cambridgeshire; +Monk's Wood in Hunts. Formerly Yaxley, where it was first taken in 1847, +used to be a noted locality, but the insect disappeared when the fen was +drained. It has been reported from Norfolk (Yarmouth), Lincolnshire, +Devonshire (Dartmoor), and Hertfordshire (Hitchin), chiefly in odd +specimens. The caterpillar has been described by Hofmann as +yellowish-white, or reddish above and paler beneath; plate {302} on first +ring of the body rather glossy, head glossy yellow brown. It lives from +autumn to June of the next year in stems of the wood smallreed +(_Calamagrostis epigeios_). The moth flies in July and August. + +THE LYME GRASS (_Tapinostola elymi_). + +The more or less brownish-tinged, whitish-ochreous species shown on Plate +146, Figs. 5, 6, was not recorded as a British insect until 1861. It is now +known to occur in England in many localities, but all on the east coast +from Norfolk to Durham. In the _Entomologist_ for 1894, it is recorded as +occurring at Montrose on the Forfarshire coast in Scotland. The caterpillar +is described by Buckler as pale flesh colour, with a rather darker stripe +along the back; spiracles black; head reddish-brown, shining; shining +yellowish-brown plates on the first and last rings of the body. It feeds on +the stems of lyme-grass (_Elymus arenarius_) in May and June. The moth +flies at early dusk over and among its food plants, and later on it settles +on the stems, from which it may be easily boxed. + +THE BRIGHTON WAINSCOT (_Oria_ (_Synia_) _musculosa_). + +This yellowish-clouded, whitish insect is a native of Southern Europe, Asia +Minor, Syria, and North-west Africa. Occasionally it has occurred in +England, and in the time of Haworth and Stephens one or two specimens seem +to have been recorded as British. In 1855 an example was captured at +Brighton, and others occurred in the same locality, and at Bexhill, Kent +(Jenner), between that year and 1860. A specimen was recorded from Brighton +in 1883, and one from South Devon in 1899. Reported from Wiltshire in 1910. +(Plate 146, Fig. 7.) + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 146. + 1, 2. MERE WAINSCOT. + 3. THE CONCOLOROUS. + 4. BOND'S WAINSCOT. + 5, 6. LYME GRASS MOTH. + 7. BRIGHTON WAINSCOT. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 147. + 1, 2. COMMON WAINSCOT. + 3, 4. SMOKY WAINSCOT. + 5. SOUTHERN WAINSCOT. + 6. STRIPED WAINSCOT. + 7, 8. OBSCURE WAINSCOT. + 9. DEVONSHIRE WAINSCOT. + 10. SHOULDER-STRIPED WAINSCOT. + +{303} + +THE LARGE WAINSCOT (_Calamia lutosa_). + +This species, shown on Plate 145, Figs. 1, 2, varies somewhat in the colour +of the fore wings, which is usually pale ochreous brown, but may be more or +less reddish tinged, or clouded with dusky; there is a row of black dots +beyond the middle of the wing, but these are sometimes faint or absent. The +range in size is considerable, some specimens are about the size of _L. +straminea_ whilst others will equal that of a large _N. typhæ_. + +The caterpillar is whitish tinged with pink above, and with a dusky line +along the back; head reddish brown and glossy; plates on first and last +rings of the body shining pale brown. It feeds from April to June in the +stems of reed (_Phragmites_), causing the leaves of the affected stems to +whiten. The moth flies in August, September, and October, sometimes later, +and occurs in marshes, and on the banks of streams and ditches, in most of +the southern and eastern counties of England, and from Derbyshire to +Durham; in Scotland it has been recorded from Roxburghshire (near Kelso, +rare), Perthshire, Aberdeen, and Shetland. The species is widely spread in +Ireland. + +THE FEN WAINSCOT (_Calamia phragmitidis_). + +In the typical form this species (Plate 145, Figs. 3, 4) the fore wings are +whitish on the basal half, and incline to reddish on the outer half; var. +_rufescens_, Tutt, has these wings reddish all over, but somewhat darker on +the outer margin. The caterpillar is ochreous white with a slightly paler +stripe along the back, edged on each side with purplish; the spots are +black, as also are the spiracles; head and plates on the first and last +rings of the body black or blackish brown, glossy. It feeds from August to +June in stems of reed (_Phragmites_), and is said {304} to hatch from the +egg in the autumn. The moth flies in July and August, and is fond of the +flowers of grasses growing in its marshy haunts. It is common in the +Norfolk and Cambridge fens, and is found in suitable locations in +Huntingdon, Northampton, Lincoln, Yorkshire, Cheshire, and South +Lancashire, also in Berkshire, Suffolk, Essex, Kent, and Sussex. + +THE COMMON WAINSCOT (_Leucania pallens_). + +This common, often abundant species (Plate 147, Figs. 1, 2) is pretty +generally distributed over the British Isles. The typical coloration is +pale ochreous; ab. _arcuata_, Stephens, is pale brownish ochreous; ab. +_ectypa_, Hübn. = _rufescens_, Haworth, is reddish; and ab. _suffusa_, +Stephens, is also reddish, but powdered with blackish scales between the +veins, and chiefly so under the median nervure. The hind wings in all forms +are white in both sexes; but sometimes slightly tinged with greyish on the +outer margin in the female. The caterpillar (Plate 152, Fig. 1) which feeds +on grasses from August to May, is pale whity-brown freckled above with +pinkish brown; three whitish lines along the back, the central one narrowly +edged on each side, and the others on the inner side only, with blackish; a +greyish stripe along the sides with two pinkish brown lines above it; dots, +minute, black; head freckled with dark brown. Distribution abroad extends +to Amurland. + +MATHEW'S WAINSCOT (_Leucania favicolor_). + +This species (Plate 149, Figs. 1, 2) has been mainly found on the coasts of +North-east Essex and South-east Suffolk, but it has also been taken at +Hemley in Suffolk, and has been recorded from near Southend in Essex, and +Rochester in Kent. In 1906 six specimens were captured in the Isle of +Sheppey. So far as is known at present this is its range in England, and it +does not seem to occur anywhere abroad. It was first discovered by +Paymaster-in-Chief G. F. Mathew, in 1895, and was described by the late Mr. +C. G. Barrett in 1896. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 148. + 1, 1a. BROWN-VEINED WAINSCOT: _egg and chrysalis_. + 2. TWIN-SPOTTED WAINSCOT: _egg, enlarged_. + 3. BULRUSH MOTH: _chrysalis_. + 4, 4a. FENN'S WAINSCOT: _caterpillar and chrysalis_. + 5. REED WAINSCOT: _chrysalis_. + 6. WEBB'S WAINSCOT: _chrysalis_. + 7. DEVONSHIRE WAINSCOT: _caterpillar_. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 149. + 1, 2. MATHEW'S WAINSCOT. + 3. THE DELICATE. + 4. THE WHITE SPECK. + 5. THE WHITE POINT. + 6. THE COSMOPOLITAN. + +{305} In the typical form the fore wings are of a smooth soft honey colour, +or colour of the honeycomb, having the nervures faintly perceptible, but +not paler; a black discal dot, and two more dots with some faint blackish +dashes indicate the usual second line. Tutt has named several forms, the +most important being ab. _lutea_, bright yellow buff with discal dot and +two dots beyond; and ab. _rufa_, deep reddish with discal dot and two +others beyond. Besides these there are ab. _ænea_, Mathew, deep orange, +with only one dot representing second line; and ab. _obscura_, Mathew, +cinnamon-brown, with smoky shading between some of the nervures. The hind +wings vary from whitish with darker nervures, to smoky grey; but the +fringes always remain whitish. + +The caterpillar is a warm putty colour, or pinkish brown, mottled and +shaded with darker shades; three pale whitish brown lines on the back, the +central one bordered on each side by a darker shade, and the outer ones +shaded inwardly with darker and edged below by a darker line; a brown or +pinkish stripe above the spiracles, and a pinkish yellow stripe below them; +head yellowish-brown, shining, and dotted with darker colour. It feeds on +grasses from July to April (adapted from Mathew). The moth flies in June +and July, and frequents the flowers of the large grasses growing on salt +marshes. Sometimes specimens of a second brood appear in August or +September. + +THE SMOKY WAINSCOT (_Leucania impura_). + +The range of this common species (Plate 147, Figs. 3[male], 4[female]), in +the British Isles is almost the same as that of _L. pallens_, but it does +not extend further north than Moray in Scotland. The hind wings are greyish +or blackish grey. A form with reddish {306} fore wings is var. _punctina_, +Haw., which sometimes has a row of black dots on the outer margin. The +caterpillar is greyish ochreous above, greenish tinged beneath; a brown +stripe along the middle of the back is intersected by a very fine white +line; above the reddish black-edged spiracles is a brownish stripe; usual +dots black; head pale brown, shining, netted with brown and lined with +blackish. It feeds on grasses from August to May. The moth is out in July +and August; rather later in the north. Distribution abroad extends to +Amurland and Japan. + +THE SOUTHERN WAINSCOT (_Leucania straminea_). + +In its more usual form this species (Plate 147, Fig. 5) has pale +whity-brown or pale straw-coloured fore wings, and the black dots forming +the second line not infrequently absent, at least as regards some of them. +Var. _rufolinea_, Tutt, has the fore wings reddish ochreous, the rays +whitish, and the shade under the median nervure reddish. Var. +_nigrostriata_, Tutt, has the ground colour of the fore wings obscured by a +thick powdering of black scales. The hind wings in all forms are whitish, +sometimes greyish tinged. Generally there is a central black dot, and a +more or less complete series of black dots beyond it; but some, or all, of +these dots may be absent. The caterpillar, which feeds on the leaves of +reeds, _Phalaris_, and other coarse grasses from October to May, is +ochreous with an orange tinge, and dusted with grey; three white lines on +the back are broadly shaded with bluish grey; on the sides are two grey +shaded white lines; head shining brownish ochreous (Fenn). The moth flies +in July and August, sometimes earlier. + +Hammersmith Marshes, a once noted locality for this, the Obscure Wainscot, +and other good species, have long since been built over; but the present +insect, and perhaps some of the other ancient inhabitants of the said +marshes, possibly still occur along the banks of the Thames. Anyhow, it +does lower {307} down in the Kentish marshes. It is found in most of the +eastern counties from Essex to Huntington and Lincoln, and also, but less +frequent, in Sussex, Devon, and Cornwall. Kane gives Dromoland, Co. Clare, +and Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, Ireland. + +THE STRIPED WAINSCOT (_Leucania impudens_). + +This is a rather larger insect than either of the last four species. The +fore wings are whitish ochreous, powdered with blackish scales, and often +tinged with pinkish. The black shading along the median nervure is +sometimes very conspicuous. The caterpillar is ochreous brown, with three +blackish-edged whitish lines on the back and dark stripes along the sides; +head pale brown marked with darker. It feeds on the leaves of the reed +(_Phragmites_) in June. The moth flies in July and August in fens, boggy +heaths, and marshy ground, and is found in such places in most of the +eastern counties, in Yorkshire, and from Berkshire and Kent to Devon, also +in South Wales and in Galway, Cork, and Kerry, Ireland. Abroad the range +extends to Siberia and Amurland. (Plate 147, Fig. 6.) + +THE OBSCURE WAINSCOT (_Leucania obsoleta_). + +This species (Plate 147, Figs. 7[male], 8[female]) will be recognized by +the fine blackish lines on the fore wings, the white dot at lower end of +the cell, and the row of black dots representing the second cross line. It +is a very local species, chiefly found among reeds in Norfolk and +Cambridgeshire, and may also occur in marshy places along the banks of the +Thames from Bucks to Kent. The caterpillar is greyish ochreous above and +paler beneath; three white lines on the back, the central one edged with +greenish on each side, and the others edged with brownish; the line along +the black-edged spiracles is greyish; head pale {308} brown striped with +darker. It feeds from August to October on the leaves of the reed +(_Phragmites_), hiding by day in the stems. It also hibernates in the reeds +when full grown, but does not change to the chrysalis state until the +spring. The moth flies in June and July. + +THE SHORE WAINSCOT (_Leucania littoralis_). + +The white line running through the pale ochreous brown fore wings is the +chief character of this species. (Plate 150, Figs. 4, 5.) The caterpillar +(Plate 152, Fig. 2) is whity-brown with three lines on the back, the +central one is whitish, shaded with dusky on each side, the others brown +edged with whitish; the spiracles are whitish, outlined in blackish; head, +and plate on first ring of the body, bone colour, shining. It feeds from +August to May on marram grass (_Psamma arenaria_), but will eat meadow +grass (_Poa_) and other kinds in confinement. The moth is out in June and +July, sometimes earlier or later. It is a coast species, occurring only on +sandhills where the marram grass flourishes, and in such localities is +found all round England and Wales; on the east coast of Scotland to +Forfarshire, and on the west to Clydesdale and Arran; and in Ireland on the +north, south, and east coasts. + +FENN'S WAINSCOT (_Leucania brevilinea_). + +On Plate 144, Fig. 9 represents the type of this specimen, and Fig. 10 ab. +_sinelinea_, Farn. This form, which has also been referred to as +"_alinea_," is without the typical black streak at the base of the fore +wings. The caterpillar is pale pinkish grey; dorsal line pale yellow or +bone colour; subdorsal stripes of the same colour, edged on each side by a +grey line, and each divided down the middle by a slender pale brown line; +spiracular stripe of a dull opaque yellowish white edged above with grey; +head, and plate on the first ring of the body, pale brown, the latter +striped with pale yellow (Barrett). It feeds in the upper part of reed +stems until nearly full grown, and then upon the leaves. April to July. +Barrett states that it prefers the reeds near small trees or bushes to +those growing in masses. The moth is out in July and August, and may be +netted as it flies at dusk along the edges of the reed beds, etc.; later on +it resorts to the honeydew-covered leaves of sallow and alder, and also +visits light. This species was first taken in 1864 at Ranworth in Norfolk; +it is now obtained in Barton Broad and several other localities in the +Norfolk fens, but not in any other part of the British Isles. It does not +appear to occur abroad. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 150. + 1, 2. BROWN-LINE BRIGHT-EYE MOTH. + 3, 6. DOUBLE-LINE MOTH. + 4, 5. SHORE WAINSCOT. + 7, 8. CLAY MOTH. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 151. + 1, 2, 3. TREBLE LINES MOTH. + 4. ANOMALOUS MOTH. + 5. MOTTLED RUSTIC. + 6. UNCERTAIN MOTH. + 7. RUSTIC MOTH. + 8. VINE'S RUSTIC. + 9, 10. PALE MOTTLED WILLOW. + 11. SMALL-MOTTLED WILLOW. + +{309} THE SHOULDER-STRIPED WAINSCOT (_Leucania_ (_Cirphis_) _comma_). + +The striking features of this moth (Plate 147, Fig. 10) are the white +median nervure, and the black streak below it, of the fore wings; there are +also black marks on the veins before the outer margin. The caterpillar is +very like that of _L. impura_, but there is a dark line on the back between +the central and outer whitish lines. It feeds on cocksfoot and other +grasses from June to August. The moth flies in June and July, and is not +uncommon in meadows and grassy places, even by the roadside. Except that it +does not, apparently, extend beyond Perthshire in Scotland, it seems to be +widely, or even generally, distributed over the British Isles. Abroad it +ranges to Siberia and Amurland. + +_Leucania l-album._--Barrett, "Lepidoptera of the British Islands," vol. +ix. p. 450 (1904), remarks: "This species now seems to have made its way to +this country, though it is still doubtful whether it has established +itself. Mr. Eustace R. Bankes has captured a female specimen in South +Devon, and he mentions the occurrence of one or two other specimens. It is +a very pretty species, and widely distributed abroad." {310} + +THE DEVONSHIRE WAINSCOT (_Leucania_ (_Cirphis_) _putrescens_). + +So far as the British distribution of this species (Plate 147, Fig. 9) is +known, it seems to be confined to the coasts of South Devon and South +Wales. It was first noted at Torquay in the year 1859, and about twelve +years later was detected in Carmarthenshire. Abroad it occurs somewhat +locally in France, Italy, Dalmatia, and in North-west Africa. + +The caterpillar is pale brown with three whitish lines on the back, the +central one edged on each side with blackish, the others shaded above with +blackish with black dots in the shading, and edged below by a blackish +line; all these lines become faint on the last three rings of the body; the +usual dots are black; head rather paler, somewhat shiny, the lobes +conspicuously edged with black, and the jaws marked with blackish. It feeds +on grasses from September to January. The figure on Plate 148, Fig. 7, is +from one of a few caterpillars kindly sent by Mr. J. Walker, of Torquay. He +writes: "They are full fed by the beginning of January as a rule, and +although they go down, they do not turn until the beginning of June." Mine +unfortunately died in the cocoon. The moth flies in July and August, and +favours particular coves and banks by the sea. It visits sugar, and also +the flowers of wild sage. + +THE WHITE-SPECK OR AMERICAN WAINSCOT (_Leucania_ (_Cirphis_) _unipuncta_). + +This moth (Plate 149, Fig. 4) is known in America, where it is exceedingly +abundant and destructive, as the "Army Worm." It ranges through India, +China, and Japan, and occurs in many other parts of the world, including +Madeira and the Canary Isles. It is rare in Europe, and appears to have +been noted in parts of Spain, Portugal, and France. Since Haworth described +and {311} named it _unipuncta_ in 1803 it has been renamed many times, and +was long known in England as _extranea_, Guenée. About a score have been +recorded as taken in the British Isles altogether, and of these two only in +Ireland; the others were captured in England and Wales, and nearly all on +the south or south-west coast, chiefly in the month of September. The most +recent being one in the New Forest, Hampshire, 1896, one in Devon, 1903, +one in 1907, and one in 1911. Also in Isle of Wight, 1912. + +THE COSMOPOLITAN (_Leucania_ (_Cirphis_) _loreyi_). + +Barrett accepted this species as British, chiefly on the strength of two +specimens captured at sugar by a sedgy ditch, nearer to Worthing than to +Brighton in Sussex; the date was 1862. More recent records are one specimen +at Torquay on September 27, 1900, and another, also in South Devon, +September 6, 1903. The former taken at sugar, and the latter netted when +"flying wildly over rough herbage at dusk." Ireland in 1908. + +The species has a wide range through Southern and Eastern Asia, etc., but +in Europe it is only found in the south and along the Mediterranean. The +specimen shown on Plate 149, Fig. 6, is from India. + +THE DELICATE (_Leucania_ (_Sideridis_) _vitellina_). + +The first recorded British specimen of this species (Plate 149, Fig. 3) was +captured at Brighton, Sussex, some fifty odd years ago. The species has +occurred in and around that locality several times since, but seems to have +been found more frequently at Torquay and other places on the Devonshire +coast. It has also been recorded from the Scilly Isles, Cornwall, the Isle +of Wight, the New Forest, and Chichester; Kent, on the coast, and inland at +Canterbury, Sussex. In 1902, a year in which several specimens were +obtained on the south coast, {312} one example was taken at Navestock, in +Essex. August and September are the months during which it is seen in this +country, but abroad it occurs also in June and July. The caterpillar, which +feeds on grasses in the spring, is described by Hofmann as pinkish ochreous +with three white lines on the back and black dots between them, two on each +ring; below the black spiracles is a yellowish stripe; head brown with +black dots. + +THE WHITE-POINT (_Leucania_ (_Sideridis_) _albipuncta_). + +This species (Plate 149, Fig. 5) appears to have been confused with the +following one. It may be distinguished by its generally smaller size and +the pure white spot on the fore wings. The colour of the fore wings is +brownish red, rather than rusty tinged as in some reddish forms of _L. +lithargyria_; the second cross line is more distinct, and the series of +black marks beyond less so. The hind wings are paler than those of the next +species. The caterpillar is yellowish wainscot brown above, inclining to +flesh-colour on the sides and beneath; three white lines on the back, the +central one edged on each side by a wavy blackish line, the outer ones +edged above by a blackish line and below by a brownish line; a pale stripe +low down along the sides; head ochreous, shining, and lined on the face +with greyish. It feeds from autumn to spring on grasses. The moth is out +from August to October. It occurs more or less frequently, and chiefly on +the coast, in Kent (first taken at Folkestone, in 1868), Sussex, Hants, +Isle of Wight, South Devon, and Essex (Shoeburyness). + +THE CLAY (_Leucania_ (_Sideridis_) _lithargyria_). + +Two specimens of this species are shown on Plate 150, Figs. 7 [male], 8 +[female]. The colour of the fore wings varies from pale ochreous brown, +often with a pink tinge, to a deep rusty red; the reniform stigma is +generally represented by a pale crescent with a white or whitish dot at its +lower end; the cross lines are rarely distinct, but a series of black dots +before the outer margin are usually well in evidence. The caterpillar is +pale brown tinged with pinkish or yellowish; central line white edged with +dark brown, and on each side of this is an interrupted broad blackish line +edged below with white; a whitish line below the blackish spiracles; head +and plate on the first ring of the body, pale brown, rather shining, the +former freckled with blackish. It is found in April and May on grasses, +probably after hibernation, The moth is out from late June to early August +and is common in woods, and woody places throughout the greater part of the +British Isles. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 152. + 1. COMMON WAINSCOT: _caterpillar_. + 2. SHORE WAINSCOT: _caterpillar_. + 3. CLAY MOTH: _caterpillar_. + 4. BROWN RUSTIC: _caterpillar_. + 5, 5a. DOUBLE LINE: _caterpillar and chrysalis_. + 6. THE ANOMALOUS MOTH: _caterpillar_. + 7, 7a, 7b. SMALL MOTTLED WILLOW: _eggs and caterpillars_. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 153. + 1, 3. REDDISH BUFF MOTH. + 2. MARSH MOTH. + 4, 5. BROWN RUSTIC. + 6. _XYLOPHASIA ZOLLIKOFERI._ + +{313} THE BROWN-LINE BRIGHT-EYE (_Leucania_ (_Chabuata_) _conigera_). + +This species (Plate 150, Figs. 1 [male], 2 [female]) ranges in the colour +of fore wings from pale ochreous brown to a dusky tawny hue; the cross +lines are sometimes very faint, but otherwise the markings are constant. +Var. _suffusa_, Tutt, is described as rusty red suffused with darker +scales, markings typical, but deeper in colour and more distinct. The +caterpillar is ochreous or greyish brown; three yellow lines on the back +are black edged; a yellow line along the sides is often edged with black, +and the line below the black spiracles is blackish; head pale brown marked +with black. It feeds on grasses, and may be found in April and May. The +moth appears in June and July and is pretty generally distributed. It is +regarded as a common species in South England, but in the north seems to be +rather local and most frequently found on the coast. In Scotland it does +not appear to have been noted north of Ross or in the isles. Abroad the +range extends through Northern and Central Asia to India and Japan. {314} + +THE DOUBLE LINE (_Leucania_ (_Eriopyga_) _turca_). + +The sexes of this species are shown on Plate 150, Figs. 3 [male], 6 +[female]. The general colour of the fore wings may be paler or darker than +in the specimens shown. Sometimes the central area enclosed by the black +cross lines is darker than the other parts of the fore wings; var. +_obscura_, Tutt, has the fore wings obscure smoky grey, with a dull coppery +tinge, much suffused with dark scales; markings indistinct. + +The caterpillar is pale brown freckled with darker; a whitish line along +the middle of the back is edged on both sides with blackish merging into +black at the ring divisions; a rather wavy, but less distinct, whitish line +on each side of the central one edged above with blackish; spiracles black +ringed with pale brown and set in a broad dark brown line below which the +colour is pinkish; head shining pale brown, freckled with darker on the +cheeks. It feeds on cocksfoot and various other grasses occurring in +woodlands. August to May. The moth, which inhabits woods and well-timbered +parks, is out in June and July. It is, perhaps, most frequent in the New +Forest, Hampshire, thence it is found more or less sparingly to Cornwall. +Sometimes not uncommon in Savernake Forest, Wiltshire, and occurs in +Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex (Epping Forest, etc.), Surrey (Richmond +Park). Recorded from Cheshire and from South Wales. In Scotland it is said +to have been taken at Newfield, Ayrshire. The only records from Ireland are +Clonbrock (1), and Merlin Park, Galway (2). Abroad it ranges to Amurland, +China, Corea and Japan. + +TREBLE LINES (_Meristis_ (_Grammesia_) _trigrammica_). + +The fore wings range in colour from whitish or greyish brown to ochreous +brown; the cross lines are usually distinct, {315} and the central one is +often broad. (Plate 151, Fig. 1.) In var. _approximans_, Haw., the cross +lines fall nearer together on the inner margin; and in var. _semi-fuscans_, +Haw., the basal half is greyish or reddish grey, and the outer half is +suffused with brownish (Fig. 2). Then there is a somewhat rarer form, with +dark grey, brown, or blackish brown fore wings, with the cross lines more +or less distinct, as in Fig. 3; or with the central one absent (var. +_bilinea_, Hübn.); or all the lines may be obscured by the dark colour. +Kane states that var. _obscura_, Tutt (= _bilinea_, Haw.), is pretty common +at Howth and other places in Ireland, and, according to Barrett, it is not +infrequent in Wales. The caterpillar is greyish or dingy reddish brown; +three pale lines on the back, the central one partly edged with black, and +the outer ones are broken and inwardly edged with blackish marks; the +stripe along the black spiracles is ochreous brown; head brownish. From +July to April on plantain and other low plants. The moth is out in June and +July. In Scotland it is local and rare, but has been recorded from +Clydesdale, Arran, and once from Perthshire. Local but widely distributed +in Ireland. + +THE ANOMALOUS (_Stilbia anomala_). + +A local species, but sometimes not uncommon on heaths, or in rocky places +by the sea. It is found from Surrey westward to Cornwall; and from +Staffordshire, in which county it has been seen in abundance on Cannock +Chase, it ranges into Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Cheshire, Wales (North +and South), Lancashire, Yorkshire (commonly at Saltaire), Durham (once), +and Cumberland. Generally distributed in Scotland, including the Orkneys. +It occurs in the Isle of Man, and seems to be pretty widely spread in +Ireland, but found chiefly on the coast. Abroad it seems to be only found +in France and in Central and Western Germany. In Southern Spain it is {316} +represented by var. _andalusiaca_, Staud., and in Syria by var. _syriaca_, +Staud. A typical male is shown on Plate 151, Fig. 4. + +The caterpillar is green, inclining to yellowish between the rings of the +body; three lines on the back are whitish, edged with dark green; a stripe +low down on the sides is whitish, shaded above with dark green merging into +the ground colour; head shining bright green, obscurely mottled with +darker. In other forms the general colour is reddish or pinkish brown, with +the lines edged and shaded with darker brown; the head is ochreous brown, +mottled with darker brown. The green form is figured on Plate 152, Fig. 6, +but the browner forms are more frequent. It feeds on grasses from the +autumn until about March. + +THE MOTTLED RUSTIC (_Caradrina morpheus_). + +A specimen of this species is shown on Plate 151, Fig. 5. There is some +variation in the darker mottling and suffusion of the ochreous or pale +brown fore wings. The dark brown or blackish stigmata are generally +distinct. Hind wings whitish, tinged with smoky on the veins, and in the +female on the outer marginal area. The caterpillar is brownish or greyish +brown, inclining to ochreous on the back; central line whitish, with a +broken edging of brown; on each side of the central line there is a series +of blackish arrow heads; spiracles blackish; head dark brown, and very +glossy. It feeds from August and through the autumn on various low plants, +including goose-foot, knot-grass, dandelion, etc. The moth flies from June +to August, and occasionally there is a second flight in October. The +species is generally distributed and often common over the greater part of +England, but is less frequent in the more northern counties, and in Wales, +Ireland, and Scotland. Abroad the range extends to Amurland and Corea. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 154. + 1, 2, 3. COPPER UNDERWING MOTH. + 4, 5. MOUSE MOTH. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 155. + 1, 2, 3. PINE BEAUTY MOTH. + 4. WHITE-MARKED MOTH. + 5, 6. RED CHESTNUT MOTH. + 7, 8. HEBREW CHARACTER MOTH. + 9, 10. HEBREW CHARACTER MOTH, _var. gothicina_. + +{317} + +THE UNCERTAIN (_Caradrina alsines_). + +This species (Plate 151, Fig. 6) and the next one--The Rustic--are often +confused, but the present one may be recognized by the more ochreous tinge +of its fore wings, the more distinct markings, and the general rougher +appearance of all the wings. The hind wings are more smoky, or sometimes +brownish tinged. + +The caterpillar is ochreous brown, frequently with a reddish tinge; three +whitish lines on the back, edged with black, the edging of the central one +interrupted at the ring divisions; a dusky area along the sides is edged +above and below by a black line; head ochreous brown. It feeds from +September to March on dock, chickweed, primrose, and various other low +plants. The moth flies in July and August, and, like most of its congeners, +is partial to the blossoms of privet. The species is widely distributed +over England, but seems to occur more commonly in the south and east. It is +also found in Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. + +NOTE.--_C. superstes_, an inhabitant of Central and Southern Germany, +Hungary, Southern Europe, and Asia Minor, has been mentioned as British, +but the record needs confirmation. + +THE RUSTIC (_Caradrina taraxaci_). + +Compared with the last species, the one now considered (Plate 151, Fig. 7) +has browner fore wings, inclining to brownish or blackish, smoother and +glossy; and the markings are usually rather obscure. The hind wings are +silky, and whiter in the male. + +The caterpillar is greyish brown, with an olive tinge; central line dark +brown, expanding on each ring; on either side of this is a brown-edged +white line; a light brown line along the spiracles; head ochreous brown. It +feeds from September to April on low plants, such as dock, chickweed, +plantain, etc. {318} The moth flies from late June to early August, and its +range in the British Isles is pretty much as in the last species, but more +generally distributed than _alsines_ in Ireland. + +VINE'S RUSTIC (_Caradrina ambigua_). + +The fore wings of this species (Plate 151, Fig. 8) are rather greyer than +those of the last, and the hind wings are shining white, tinged with +greyish brown in the female, especially on the veins. + +Barrett describes the caterpillar as follows: "Plump, cylindrical; head +round, the lobes dark brown, but the face paler; dorsal region between the +subdorsal lines broadly yellowish brown, with slender, delicate, oblique +lines on each segment; dorsal line a row of black dots, one on each +segment; lateral space from the subdorsal lines to the spiracles darker +brown or umberous, containing a row of ovate, oblique, yellowish spots, +each rather raised into a knob by the wrinkling of the skin; spiracles +black; under surface, legs, and prolegs pale rosy brown, except the anal +prolegs, which are brown." It feeds from October to May on dandelion, +plantain, chickweed, and other low plants; also on lettuce and grass. The +moth flies in August and September. Sometimes the caterpillars will feed up +and attain the moth state the same year in November or December. The +species was not known to occur in England until some specimens were taken +by Mr. Vine at sugar, near Shoreham, Sussex, in 1879. Since that year it +has been taken more or less freely at several places on the south and +south-west coast, from Deal, in Kent, to Truro, in Cornwall. + +THE PALE MOTTLED WILLOW (_Caradrina quadripunctata_). + +The black spots on the front margin of the fore wings of this species +(Plate 151, Figs. 9, 10) are pretty constant characters, {319} and are +usually present even when most or all the other markings are absent. The +caterpillar is greyish brown, often tinged with green above; the lines are +faintly paler, and edged with darker; head blackish. It feeds from +September to May on grasses, seeds of plantain; also on peas and corn; +often common in stacks of wheat and other grain. + +The moth flies chiefly in July and August, but it is sometimes seen as +early as May and as late as October. Generally distributed, and often very +common. Except that it does not occur in America the range abroad is almost +as extensive as that of the next species. + +SMALL MOTTLED WILLOW (_Laphygma_ (_Caradrina_) _exigua_). + +This species (Plate 151, Fig. 11) practically ranges over the globe. It is +the "Beet Army-worm" of American economic entomologists; whilst in South +Africa it is known in the early stage as "The Pigweed Caterpillar." In +Asia, and especially in India, where it is destructive to the indigo +plants, maize, etc., it is a familiar pest, but does not seem to bear a +common name. As regards our own country, it was apparently unnoticed until +somewhere about the middle of the last century, when a specimen was +captured in the Isle of Wight. Its occurrence here is always considered a +noteworthy event, but the records are very scanty except for the years +1896, 1897, 1900-03, and 1906. In the latter year there seems to have been +an invasion on quite a large scale, and captures in some localities on the +south and south-west coasts must have been in hundreds, whilst the species +was also taken in fewer numbers in Essex, Surrey, Wiltshire, Somerset, +Devon, and South Wales. A specimen occurred at Crosby, Lancs., in 1884. In +1903 one example was taken at Chester, Cheshire. At Keighley, Yorks, eight +were secured, which, added to three taken in other years, gives a total of +eleven specimens for the county. In Ireland one example was {320} obtained +at honeydew, September, 1899, at Timologue, Co. Cork. + +The eggs (Plate 152, Fig. 7a) are laid in batches on a leaf, and more or +less covered with whitish hairs. Some deposited on Sept. 8, 1906, hatched +on the 20th of that month. When just hatched the caterpillar is greenish, +paler on the last rings; head and plate on first ring shining black; when a +week old a black plate appears on the last ring also. Later on the colour +varies from green to olive green, brownish, and dark greyish. Green +examples are figured on Plate 152, Fig. 7. The central line is ochreous, +and there are series of black bars and blackish marks on the back; along +the black-edged white spiracles is a pinkish brown band, edged above by an +interrupted black line; the pinkish brown colour runs up the front part of +each ring four to eleven; head blackish. The caterpillars were fed upon +plantain, dandelion, and groundsel, but they would eat the foliage of any +weed that was put in their cage. They formed fairly tough earthen cocoons +on, or just below, the surface; but, although they pupated, the moths +failed to emerge, probably because they were kept too dry. The ochreous or +pinkish brown colour of the orbicular stigma, and sometimes of the +reniform, distinguishes this moth; the hind wings are white with a very +distinct pearly gloss. + +THE SMALL DOTTED BUFF (_Petilampa arcuosa_). + +This pale whity-brown insect (Plate 134, Figs. 19 to 21) is often without +markings, and where these are present on the fore wings they comprise two +series of dusky dots representing two cross lines, and sometimes there is a +dot at the end of the cell. These wings may be shaded with brown, and +occasionally there is a dark band-like shade between the series of dots, in +the male as well as in the smaller and narrower-winged female. Var. +_morrisii_, Dale, seems to be a whiter form of this species. {321} The +caterpillar, which may be found in May and June in the flower stems of +_Aira cæspitosa_, is of a pale pinkish ochreous with three darker bars on +each ring, and a brown, glossy head. The moth flies in July and part of +August, and may be found, often in abundance, in most English and Welsh +counties, in Scotland to Aberdeenshire; and widely spread in Ireland. + +THE REDDISH BUFF (_Acosmetia caliginosa_). + +Both sexes of this reddish tinged grey-brown species are shown on Plate +153, Figs. 1 [male], 3 [female]. As will be noted, the female is much +smaller than the male. Except that it has been recorded from the Isle of +Wight and from Bloxworth, Dorset, in the past, this species is restricted +to certain portions of the New Forest, Hampshire. Even in these favoured +haunts its numbers have become far less than formerly. The moth is out in +July. Apparently it has no taste for sugar, neither does it seem to visit +blossoms of any kind. It may be disturbed from its retreat among the grass +by day, or netted as it flies at dusk. The caterpillar is stated by Hofmann +to live on saw-wort (_Serratula tinctoria_); it is sap-green, yellow at the +ring divisions, and marked with fine white lines. + +THE MARSH MOTH (_Hydrilla palustris_). + +The fore wings of the male of this species (Plate 153, Fig. 2) are greyish +brown in colour, and more or less tinged with violet; the cross lines are +dusky, and the reniform and orbicular stigmata are represented by black +dots, the former the larger; hind wings whitish with a smoky tinge. The +female is much smaller, darker, and the cross lines heavier; hind wings +blackish grey. + +Stainton ("Manual," 1857) refers to a specimen taken at Compton's Wood, +near York, and this, no doubt, is the same as {322} that stated by Barrett +to have been captured in a moist place at Stockton-in-the-Forest, about +four miles from York, certainly before the year 1855. Then there is a +record of a specimen from Quy Fen, Cambridgeshire, in May, 1862. Seven +years later the late Mr. C. G. Barrett took a specimen as it fluttered +about a gas-lamp outside Norwich. In 1877 and 1878 the use of bright +collecting lanterns in Wicken Fen may have led to the capture of nearly +twenty Marsh Moths, anyway it seems to have been a record for the time. + +Very few specimens were taken in the fens between the year last mentioned +and 1898, when the total secured by several collectors visiting the fens in +June of that year amounted to something like fifty examples, all males. Two +female specimens were captured in the Carlisle district, one in 1896, and +the other in 1897. No male was noted in that locality until 1899, when a +specimen was netted as it flew along a hedgeside at night, on May 20. Two +other males have since been taken there, in much the same way. The life +history of the species is little known. Hofmann describes the caterpillar +as reddish brown with white dots, and a white line along the middle of the +back; spiracles and head black. It feeds in the summer on low-growing +plants in meadows, and hides in the daytime on the underside of a leaf. + +The range of the species abroad extends to Siberia and Amurland. + +THE BROWN RUSTIC (_Rusina tenebrosa_). + +Here, again, the female is smaller than the male, as will be seen on Plate +153, Figs. 4 [male], 5 [female]. Sometimes the general colour of the fore +wings is of a blacker tint, and in such specimens the fine black cross +lines are obscured. + +The caterpillar is dark cinnamon brown; three whitish lines on the back, +the central one, most distinct on the front rings, is edged on each side +with dark brown, and the shading of the outer lines is interrupted by +oblique pale dashes; head, shining dark brown, almost blackish. It feeds on +grasses, and many low-growing plants from August to May. (Plate 152, Fig. +4.) The moth flies in June and July, sometimes earlier. The species is +generally distributed over nearly the whole of England, but more local in +the north than in the south. It is found in North and South Wales. In +Scotland it is locally abundant and widely distributed up to Ross, and +occurs in the Hebrides. It is also widely spread in Ireland, and common in +some parts. + +_Umbratica_, Goeze, is said to be an earlier name for this species, and +will probably have to be adopted. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 156. + 1, 1a, 1b. HEBREW CHARACTER: _eggs, caterpillars and chrysalis_. + 2, 2a. CLOUDED DRAB: _caterpillars and chrysalis_. + 3. MOUSE MOTH: _caterpillar_. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 157. + 1-6. CLOUDED DRAB MOTH. + 7, 8. LEAD-COLOURED DRAB MOTH. + 9, 10. NORTHERN DRAB. + +{323} THE COPPER UNDERWING (_Amphipyra pyramidea_). + +The striking species shown on Plate 154, Figs. 1 to 3, varies somewhat in +the tint of its brown-coloured fore wings, and in the greater or lesser +amount of blackish shading on the central area; the latter is sometimes +quite absent, and not infrequently the outer marginal area is pale ochreous +brown. The hind wings, normally of a coppery colour, are occasionally +paler, and sometimes of a reddish hue. + +The caterpillar is green with three interrupted whitish stripes on the +back; the dots are yellowish; and the stripe along the black-edged white +spiracles is whitish; the back of ring eleven is raised, forming a cone, +the apex of which is hornlike and slightly curved backwards; the head is +green. It feeds from April, or in forward seasons from March, to June, on +the foliage of oak, birch, sallow, plum, rose, and other trees and shrubs. +The moth flies from late July to September, and sometimes later. Although +somewhat local in Southern England, it is often common enough in the New +Forest, and most of the larger woods from Essex to Devonshire. Northwards +from Oxfordshire it becomes more local, less frequent, and even rare, {324} +except, perhaps, in Worcestershire (Malvern district, common) and +Herefordshire. Apparently not recorded from Scotland. In Ireland it is +sometimes plentiful in the south, but does not seem to occur north of Sligo +on the west, and Howth on the east. + +THE MOUSE (_Amphipyra tragopogonis_). + +The English name of this generally distributed, and usually common, +greyish-brown moth (Plate 154, Figs. 4, 5) applies more especially to the +mouse-like way it scuttles off when discovered in its retreat by the +collector. In colour, however, it is sometimes not unlike the familiar +little rodent. The caterpillar (Plate 156, Fig. 3) is green with white +lines and stripes along the back and sides; spiracles white, margined with +black; head yellowish-green. In another form the ground colour is pale +reddish brown. It feeds from April to June on sallow, hawthorn, and many +other plants. Barrett states that it is partial to the blossoms, +particularly yellow ones, of garden as well as wild plants. The moth flies +in July and August, sometimes later. + +The range abroad extends to Central Asia and to the Atlantic States of +America. + +NOTE.--Some recent authors refer this and the preceding species to +_Pyrophila_, Hübn. + +THE PINE BEAUTY (_Panolis griseo-variegata_ = _piniperda_). + +The general colour of the fore wings of this species (Plate 155, Figs. 1, 3 +[male], 2 [female]) is ochreous brown, more or less reddish tinged; +sometimes greenish grey. The cross markings are bright or dull reddish +brown; the orbicular and reniform stigmata are white, or outlined in white, +sometimes connected by a white line along the median nervure; occasionally +these marks are united, forming a blotch. {325} + +The caterpillar is green with three broad white lines along the back, the +outer ones edged above with black; a yellow, inclining to reddish orange, +stripe along the black spiracles; head reddish brown. It greatly resembles +the needles of the Scotch fir (_Pinus sylvestris_), upon which it feeds +from May to July. The moth is out in the spring and continues on the wing +until early May, and is often common at sallow bloom, where this occurs in +the immediate vicinity of pine woods; it also comes to the sugar patch not +infrequently, and may occasionally be seen on the trunks of fir trees, or +beaten from the boughs. The species seems to occur wherever there are fir +woods or plantations throughout England, Wales, and Scotland to Ross, and +is found locally in Ireland. + +THE WHITE-MARKED (_Pachnobia leucographa_). + +A portrait of this moth will be found on Plate 155, Fig. 4. The fore wings +are reddish brown, sometimes tinged with purplish, or clouded with +blackish. The reniform and orbicular stigmata are usually yellowish grey, +often only outlined, but not infrequently indistinct, and sometimes absent. +The cross lines are rarely well defined, although the second line may be +indicated by blackish dots flanked by whitish ones on the veins. + +The caterpillar is green freckled with whitish; three whitish lines along +the back are edged with dark green, the outer ones with oblique dark-green +dashes spreading to the central line; head paler green. In another form the +general colour is pale reddish brown, lines yellowish, and dashes darker +reddish brown. It feeds on sallow, bilberry, dock, plantain, and other low +plants. May and June. The moth flies in March and April, and may be found +at sallow bloom around woods. The species is obtained more or less +frequently in Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Somerset, and Devon; also in +Buckinghamshire and in Suffolk. In Herefordshire it is local but not {326} +uncommon, and I have taken it in the Malvern district. British specimens +were first obtained near York. Porritt ("List of Yorks. Lep.," 1904) states +that it is still abundant in Bishop's Wood, and is found in other Yorkshire +localities; also occurs from Lancashire to Durham. In Ireland it has been +reported from Clonbrock, Galway. + +THE RED CHESTNUT (_Pachnobia rubricosa_). + +The fore wings of this moth (Plate 155, Figs. 5, 6) are purplish red and +more or less suffused with greyish. Sometimes these wings are more +distinctly reddish and without the greyish suffusion (var. _rufa_, Haw.). +The egg is pale straw colour, with a reddish-brown girdled dot. The +caterpillar (Plate 159, Fig. 3) is pinkish brown with three yellowish lines +along the back, the central one rather obscure; a yellowish stripe along +the sides; usual dots yellowish or whitish margined with blackish; head +yellowish brown, lined with darker brown. It feeds from April to June on +dock, dandelion, groundsel, and other low plants. The moth is out in March +and April, and is often not uncommon at sallow and plum blossom. It seems +to be pretty generally distributed throughout the British Isles, including +the Orkneys. + +THE HEBREW CHARACTER (_Tæniocampa gothica_). + +This species (Plate 155) varies in the general colour of the fore wings +from pale purplish grey to dark reddish brown. Figs. 7[male] and 8[female] +represent the more usual form. The black markings, often very conspicuous, +are in the somewhat smaller var. _gothicina_, reddish (Fig. 9). Sometimes +in Scotch specimens they are very indistinct or absent (Fig. 10). + +The early stages are figured on Plate 156. The eggs (Fig. 1a) are laid in a +batch, two deep towards the centre of the {327} heap. In colour they are +whitish with a dark grey ring and dot. When five days old the young +caterpillars were pale whitish green with black dots; head and plates on +first and last rings of the body black. The nearly full-grown caterpillar +(Fig. 1) is green above and yellowish green below; three whitish lines on +the back and a yellowish stripe along the sides; usual dots black, ringed +with whitish; head shining yellowish, dotted with black. Feeding on dock, +dandelion, etc., it will also eat sallow and hawthorn, and the foliage of +other trees and bushes, in April, May, and June. The moth is common at +sallow bloom all over the British Isles. The range of the species abroad +extends to Amurland. + +THE BLOSSOM UNDERWING (_Tæniocampa miniosa_). + +A portrait of this species will be found on Plate 158, Fig. 8. The fore +wings are pinkish, or reddish grey, and the redder central area is often +tinged with orange; the hind wings are whitish, faintly shaded or tinged +with pink. + +The full-grown caterpillar is bluish, inclining to black on the sides; +three yellow lines on the back, the central one broad; and a white blotched +yellow stripe along the sides; head shining black. (Adapted from Fenn.) The +eggs are laid in batches on the twigs of oak, usually just below a bud. +When the caterpillars hatch out they spin a web of silk under which they +live in company for a time; later on they separate, and then either +continue to feed on the oak or betake themselves to birch, hawthorn, +bramble, or some low-growing herbaceous plant. The "nests" of young +caterpillars are found chiefly on oak bushes rather than trees. + +The moth flies in March and April, and generally occurs only in oak woods. +It is most frequently met with in the South of England--from Middlesex and +Essex to Hampshire; but it occurs in most of the southern counties, and +also northwards {328} up to Yorkshire. It has been found in Wales (Pembroke +and Dolgelly), and appears to be rare in Ireland, except at Glenmalure, Co. +Wicklow. + +THE SMALL QUAKER (_Tæniocampa pulverulenta_). + +Most specimens of this species (Plate 158, Figs. 9[male], 10[female]) have +the fore wings pale greyish ochreous, more or less mottled or dusted with +reddish brown. Occasionally these wings are pale grey (var. _nana_, +Haworth); or dark grey brown and more rarely blackish. The dingy brownish +dots representing the first and second cross lines are sometimes distinct +and not infrequently absent. + +The egg is whitish with brown girdled dot. + +The caterpillar is greenish grey and rather greener between the rings; +there are five yellow or whitish lines, that along the centre of the back +being the broadest, usual dots black and glossy; head greenish, much marked +with black: plates on first and last rings of the body black. It feeds from +April to June on oak, hawthorn, sallow, rose, etc. (Plate 159, Fig. 2.) The +moth flies in March and April, and is a constant visitor to the sallow +catkins, also to the blossoms of plum, damson, and sloe. It appears to be +common throughout England and Wales; more or less frequent in Scotland to +Moray; and is not uncommon in some districts of Wicklow and Galway, but +local and rather scarce in other parts of Ireland. + +THE COMMON QUAKER (_Tæniocampa stabilis_). + +The ground colour of the fore wings of this species (Plate 158, Figs. 1, 2) +ranges from whitish or pale grey brown through tints of reddish brown to +dark brown; the stigmata are outlined in pale ochreous, the centres often +darker than the general colour of the wings; the orbicular is of large size +and frequently {329} touches the reniform; the ochreous submarginal line is +usually inwardly edged with, and sometimes obscured by, blackish; very +often the submarginal line and the dusky central shade are the only +distinct cross markings. + +The caterpillar is green, minutely dotted with yellow; three lines on the +back, and a stripe on the sides, yellow, the latter most distinct, edged +above with black, and united by a yellow bar on the last ring. It feeds on +oak, birch, sallow, beech, elm, etc., from April to June. The moth flies in +March and April, and is generally common throughout the British Isles, +except, perhaps, the islands of Scotland. + +THE LEAD-COLOURED DRAB (_Tæniocampa populeti_). + +The ground colour of the species shown on Plate 157, Figs. 7, 8, is usually +some shade of purplish grey, ranging from very pale to dark; the cross +lines are often indistinct, but occasionally they show up clearly; the +central shade, usually in evidence, is sometimes almost blackish and +broadened out to the second line; the orbicular and reniform have pale +margins but the centres are frequently no darker than the general colour. + +The egg is greyish white with dark grey girdled dot. + +When full grown the caterpillar is whitish or yellowish green, but always +whitish on the back: three white lines on the back, the central one rather +broad; head ochreous brown with a blackish spot on each side. It feeds from +April to June on aspen chiefly, but also on other kinds of poplar, hiding +by day between two leaves. The moth is out in March and April, and may be +found on the sallow catkins. It seems to be more or less rare in the South +of England, but it is locally not uncommon in many parts of the country +from Middlesex northwards to Yorkshire. Farther north it is again +infrequent, and this is also the case in Scotland and in Ireland. {330} + +THE CLOUDED DRAB (_Tæniocampa incerta_). + +Six specimens of this most variable species are shown on Plate 157, Figs. 1 +to 6. To refer in detail to all the forms, named or otherwise, would occupy +much space, so that it can only be stated here that the general colour of +the fore wings ranges from pale greyish brown, through various shades of +reddish brown, to deep brown or purplish brown; the darker greys range +through slaty grey to purplish black. In all the lighter shades the wings +are usually much variegated, but they may be nearly or quite plain. + +The egg is yellowish white with brown girdled dot. + +The caterpillar is green, minutely freckled with whitish; three white lines +on the back, the central one broadest; a white stripe, edged above with +black, along the sides; usual dots black, minute, ringed with whitish; head +yellowish green with a few black dots. It feeds on sallow, oak, hawthorn, +also on apple, elm, etc. (Plate 156, Fig. 2.) The moth is generally to be +found at sallow-bloom in almost every part of the British Isles. + +THE TWIN-SPOTTED QUAKER (_Tæniocampa munda_). + +The fore wings range in ground colour from very pale ochreous (typical) or +pale greyish (var. _pallida_, Tutt), through reddish shades to a dingy +brown. The black or brownish twin spots on the middle of the submarginal +line are sometimes accompanied by others above and below them (var. +_geminatus_). In var. _immaculata_, Staud., the "twin spots," and also the +others, are absent. (Plate 158, Figs. 11, 12.) + +The caterpillar (Plate 159, Fig. 1) is pale brown minutely freckled with +darker; a whitish line along the centre of the back finely edged with +black; a broad velvety black stripe along the sides, edged with whitish; +head reddish brown, freckled with darker. It feeds from April to June on +elm, oak, sallow, plum, etc. The moth is out in March and April, but a +specimen has been taken at "ivy bloom" in the autumn. Plum blossoms, as +well as the sallow catkins, are an attraction to this moth, and it will +also visit the sugar patch. The species probably occurs in most woodland +districts throughout the greater part of England and Wales. It seems to be +found in South Scotland, but is local and infrequent; in Ireland it is +widely spread in the north, but uncommon in the south. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 158. + 1, 2. COMMON QUAKER MOTH. + 3-7. POWDERED QUAKER. + 8. BLOSSOM UNDERWING. + 9, 10. SMALL QUAKER. + 11, 12. TWIN-SPOTTED QUAKER. + +[Illustration] + + Pl. 159. + 1. TWIN-SPOTTED QUAKER: _caterpillar_. + 2. SMALL QUAKER: _caterpillar_. + 3, 3a. RED CHESTNUT: _caterpillar and chrysalis_. + +{331} THE NORTHERN DRAB (_Tæniocampa opima_). + +The dark form (var. _brunnea_, Tutt) (Plate 157, Fig. 10 [male]) has the +outlines of the orbicular and reniform stigmata, and the submarginal line +pale and distinct; sometimes the general colour is much blacker than in the +specimen shown. In the more typical greyish form (Fig. 9 [female]) the +central area is blackish or dark reddish brown. The caterpillar is olive +green above, inclining to yellowish beneath; three pale lines on the back, +and a yellow stripe along the black-edged white spiracles; head olive +green. It feeds from April to June on sallow, willow, birch, rose, etc. The +moth flies in March and April. + +As suggested by the English name, this moth was supposed to be confined to +the northern counties from Cheshire to Cumberland and Northumberland, but +it occurs more locally in Herefordshire, Worcestershire (Wyre Forest), +Somerset, Gloucester, and Wales; also in Essex, Surrey, and Sussex. Renton +records it from Roxburghshire in Scotland, and Kane states that it is local +in Ireland. + +THE POWDERED QUAKER (_Tæniocampa gracilis_). + +In the ordinary English form of this species (Plate 158, Figs. 3 [male], 4 +[female]) the fore wings are pale whity brown, more or {332} less tinged +with grey; the submarginal line, and the stigmata, are usually distinct, +but the other cross lines are only indicated by blackish dots on the veins. +In Ireland the specimens are creamy white and very often tinged with pink +(Fig. 5), but in the New Forest, Hants (Fig. 7), and in the marshes of +North Kent (Fig. 6), deep purplish grey, purplish brown, and reddish (var. +_rufescens_, Cockerel) forms occur. + +The caterpillar is green, sometimes tinged with yellowish or with bluish; +usual spots whitish; three whitish or yellowish lines along the back and +one along the sides, the latter shaded above with dark green or blackish; +head ochreous brown. It feeds from May to July on meadow-sweet (_Spiræa_), +fleabane (_Inula_), purple loosestrife (_Lythrum salicaria_), yellow +loosestrife (_Lysimachia vulgaris_), sweet-gale, sallow, bramble, etc. The +moth is out in April and May, and is often plentiful at damson and plum +blossom, as well as sallow catkins. The species is widely distributed +throughout the greater part of the British Isles, but is perhaps more +generally common in the southern and eastern counties of England. The range +abroad extends to Japan. + +PEUCEPHILA ESSONI, Hampson. + +_Trans. Ent. Soc., Lond._, 1909, Part IV., Pp. 461-463, Pl. xvi., Fig. 1, +Dec. _Entom._, 1909, p. 258. See Appendix. {333} + +APPENDIX. + +Page 28. HERSE CONVOLVULI.--Reported from several English counties, August +and September, 1911, and again in 1915. In 1917 the species seems to have +been more widely spread over our islands, specimens being recorded from +Ireland and Shetland. + +Page 41. PHRYXUS LIVORNICA.--Further records are: In July, 1909, a dead +male specimen was found under an electric light standard at Exeter, and one +was noted on a bowling green at Blackpool in October. Specimens were +recorded from Surrey, Sussex, Hants, Devon, and Cornwall in 1911. On +January 19, 1912, a male was taken from a shrub in a garden at Tavistock. +Thirty-five were captured in South Cornwall between May 9 and 23 of the +same year, and single specimens were reported from North Wales, Norfolk, +Dorset, also in May. + +Page 47. DAPHNIS NERII.--Further records: Ilfracombe, September 22, 1909; +Sydenham, September 24, 1910; Eastbourne (August 15), Ashford, 1911; +Folkestone, August 30, 1916, on trunk of poplar tree; Littleover, +Derbyshire, in a conservatory, August 18, 1917; Dovercourt, Essex, +September, 1919. {334} + +Page 141. NOLA CONFUSALIS.--A grey form of this species, ab. _columbina_, +Image, has been recorded from Epping Forest. + +Page 146. SARROTHRIPA REVAYANA.--A number of forms of this species are +named and described by Mr. Sheldon in the _Entomologist_ for 1919. + +Page 268. LUPERINA GUENEEI.--Over thirty years ago the late Mr. Baxter, of +St. Anne's, Lancashire, sent me a specimen of _Luperina_ that he had +captured in his district. This I considered to be a form connecting +_gueneei_ with _nickerlii_, and that both were forms of _L. testacea_. +Since that time _gueneei_ has been found in some numbers on the Lancs. +coast, and has been recognized as a distinct species, and its identity with +_nickerlii_ established. + +The earlier published history of this species in Britain may here be +quoted: "The late Mr. J. B. Hodgkinson, in a note on _Luperina gueneei_, +published in the _Entomologist_ for 1885, vol. 54, wrote:--'In 1860 or +1861, T. Porter (still living) brought me two fine specimens of a moth I +did not know. They were of both sexes. I purchased them from him, and sent +them on to the Rev. H. Burney, who forwarded them to Henry Doubleday. From +him they went to Guenée, and he returned them with the remark that he had a +specimen in his collection marked as a variety of _L. testacea_, but he was +quite satisfied they represented a good species when he saw both sexes. H. +Doubleday then named them after Guenée, as the latter was evidently the +original captor. I saw Porter again, and he told me another man, by name H. +Stephenson, had one. They took three in all near the ferry at Rhyl, North +Wales. I sent Porter again, and went myself, but we failed to find more +afterwards. I bought the specimen from Stephenson, and sent it to Miss +Sulivan, of Fulham, where, I suppose, it remains. I think it was a +female.'" {335} + +According to Barrett (_British Lepidoptera_, IV., p. 335), the three North +Wales specimens "were raked from overhanging edges of sandhills." + +Page 294. HYDROECIA CRINANENSIS. + + "HYDROECIA CRINANENSIS, Burrows. Larger than _H. nictitans_. F.-w. + slightly pointed at the apex, bright red-brown, longitudinal and + transverse lines very distinct, fringes concolorous. Orbicular stigma, + lighter than the ground colour. Reniform stigma orange, full, fairly + straight edged inwardly, lower lobe projecting outwardly, interior + lines faint. H.-w. red-brown, darker towards the outer margin; fringes + yellow, the yellow colour intruding in dots upon the darker margin. + + "Type specimen taken by Mr. A. W. Bacot at Crinan Canal, September, + 1899." + +The above is extracted from an instructive paper by the Rev. C. R. N. +Burrows, entitled, "On the _nictitans_ group of the genus _Hydroecia_, +Gn.," published in the _Transactions of the Entomological Society_, 1911, +pp. 738-749, plates li.-lviii. In this paper specific rank is also claimed +for _lucens_, Frr., and _paludis_, Tutt, both of which have been considered +as merely forms of _H. nictitans_, L. + +_H. crinanensis_ has been recorded from Inveran, Crinan Canal, Aberfeldy, +and Liddelbank, in Scotland; from Lough Foyle and Enniskillen, in Ireland; +and from Bolton and Burnley, in England. + +Page 298. NONAGRIA NEURICA.--In 1907, when the first edition of this volume +was published, the fact of _N. neurica_ being a British species was not +truly ascertained. In the following year, however, some specimens of +_Nonagria_, which were not identical with _N. dissoluta_, Treit. = +_arundineata_, Schmidt, were named _edelsteni_, Tutt. {336} + +Quite a number of _N. edelsteni_ were obtained by Messrs. Wightman and +Sharp in the Cuckmere Valley of Sussex, July, 1908. + +At a meeting of the Entomological Society of London, held on November 4, +1908, a series of bred _edelsteni_ from Sussex was exhibited by Mr. +Edelsten. + +By a consensus of opinion among entomologists, Sussex specimens are now +considered to be true British representatives of _neurica_, Hubn., Fig. +381. + +Page 332. PEUCEPHILA ESSONI, Hamps.--On July 12, 1909, Mr. Esson, of +Aberdeen, captured a specimen of a noctuid moth at sugar on a fir tree. +This he sent to me for identification. As the insect was a novelty to me, +it was submitted to Sir George F. Hampson, who, finding that the moth was +not only a species new to science, but not even congeneric with any other +noctuid, described and figured it as indicated on page 332 of this volume. + +Although keenly searched for, no other example of the species had been +detected up to the end of 1919. + +INDEX. + + _Acherontia Atropos_, 24. _Plates 8, 9, 11_ + _Acosmetia caliginosa_, 321 + _Acronyctinæ_, 189 + _Acronycta aceris_, 192, _Plates 100, 102_; + _alni_, 193, _Plate 100_; + _auricoma_, 196, _Plates 102, 103_; + _euphorbiæ_, 197, _Plate 103_; + _leporina_, 161, _Plate 100_; + _megacephala_, 193, _Plates 100, 101_; + _menyanthidis_, 196, _Plate 103_; + _myricæ_, 197, _Plate 103_; + _psi_, 195, _Plates 100, 101_; + _rumicis_, 198, _Plates 102, 103_; + _strigosa_, 194, _Plate 100_; + _tridens_, 195, _Plates 100, 101_ + _Agriopis aprilina_, 290. _Plate 141_ + _Agrotis agathina_, 214, _Plate 107_; + _ashworthii_, 216, _Plate 110_; + _cinerea_, 204, _Plate 105_; + _comes_, 230, _Plates 115, 118_ + _Agrotis corticea_, 203, _Plates 105, 109_; + _crassa_, 217; + _cursoria_, 206, _Plate 106_; + _exclamationis_, 208, _Plate 105_; + _fennica_, 217; + _hyperborea_, 215, _Plate 108_; + _lucernea_, 213, _Plate 107_; + _lunigera_, 205, _Plate 105_; + _nigricans_, 207, _Plate 106_; + _obelisca_, 208, _Plate 106_; + _obscura_, 215, _Plate 107_; + _orbona_, 230, 231, _Plates 115, 118_; + _præcox_, 211, _Plate 107_; + _pronuba_, 232, _Plates 115, 118_; + _puta_, 204, _Plate 104_; + _ripæ_, 210, _Plate 106_; + _saucia_, 212, _Plate 104_; + _segetum_, 201, _Plate 104_; + _simulans_, 214, _Plate 107_; + _spinifera_, 217 + _Agrotis strigula_, 210, _Plates 107, 109_; + _subsequa_, 231, _Plate 115_; + _tritici_, 207, _Plate 106_; + _vestigialis_, 202, _Plate 104_; + _ypsilon_, 209, _Plate 104_ + Alder Kitten, 58. _Plate 22_ + Alder Moth, 193. _Plate 100_ + _Amorpha populi_, 20. _Plates 4, 5_ + _Amphipyra pyramidea_, 323, _Plate 154_; + _tragopogonis_, 324, _Plates 154, 156_ + Angle Shades, 291. _Plate 141_ + Anomalous, 315. _Plates 151, 152_ + _Antennæ_, 1, 3 + Antler Moth, 256. _Plate 127_ + _Apamea basilinea_, 272, _Plate 132_; + _gemina_, 272, _Plate 131_; + _ophiogramma_, 274, _Plate 132_; + _pabulatricula_, 273, _Plate 132_; + _secalis_, 274, _Plate 132_; + _unanimis_, 273, _Plate 132_ + _Aplecta advena_, 237, _Plate 117_; + _nebulosa_, 238, _Plate 119_; + _tincta_, 237, _Plate 117_ + _Aporophyla australis_, 284. _Plate 137_ + _Aporophyla lutulenta_, 289, _Plate 137_; + _nigra_, 283, _Plates 137, 139_ + Archer's Dart, 202. _Plate 104_ + _Arctiidæ_, 7, 148 + _Arctia caia_, 100, _Plates 82, 84, 85_; + _villica_, 162, _Plates 86, 87_ + _Arctiinæ_, 148 + Areas of Wings, 5 + _Arsilonche albovenosa_, 199. _Plate 130_ + _Ascometia caliginosa_, 321. _Plate 153_ + Ashworth's Rustic, 216. _Plate 110_ + _Asphalia diluta_, 91. _Plate 39_ + _Asteroscopus nubeculosa,_ 288, _Plate 140_; + _sphinx_, 288, _Plate 138_ + _Atolmis rubricollis_, 173. _Plates 92, 93_ + Autumnal Rustic, 218. _Plate 119_ + _Axylia putris_, 219. _Plate 132_ + + _Barathra brassicæ_, 239. _Plate 120_ + Barred Chestnut, 225. _Plate 114_ + Barred Hook-tip, 135. _Plates 70, 71_ + Barrett's Marbled Coronet, 247. _Plate 123_ + "Beating," 14 + Beautiful Arches, 260. _Plate 121_ + Beautiful Brocade, 243. _Plate 121_ + Beautiful Gothic, 267. _Plates 127, 133_ + Bedstraw Hawk, 38. _Plates 14, 15_ + Bird's Wing, 281. _Plate 137_ + Black Arches, 105, _Plates 46, 47_ + Black-banded, 287. _Plates 139, 140_ + Black Collar, 221 + Black Rustic, 283. _Plates 137, 139_ + Blossom Underwing, 327. _Plate 158_ + _Bombycia viminalis_, 263. _Plate 125_ + Bond's Wainscot, 301. _Plate 146_ + Bordered Gothic, 254. _Plate 126_ + _Brachionycha nubeculosa_, 288, _Plate 140_; + _sphinx_, 288, _Plate 138_ + Bright-Line Brown Eye, 241. _Plates 120, 129_ + Brighton Wainscot, 302. _Plate 146_ + Brindled Green, 261. _Plates 122, 129_ + Brindled Ochre, 285. _Plate 138_ + Bristle and Catch, 4 + Broad-barred White, 254. _Plate 125_ + Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-Moth, 53. _Plates 20, 21_ + Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, 10, 233. _Plates 116, 118_ + Broom Moth, 244. _Plates 122, 129_ + Brown-Line Bright Eye, 313. _Plate 150_ + Brown Rustic, 323. _Plates 152, 153_ + Brown-tail, 99. _Plates 42, 43, 44_ + Brown-veined Wainscot, 298. _Plates 144, 148_ + _Bryophila algæ_, 201; + _glandifera_, 200, _Plate 103_; + _perla_, 200, _Plate 103_ + Buff Arches, 85. _Plate 36_ + Buff Ermine, 151. _Plates 76, 77_ + Buff Footman, 180. _Plates 96, 97_ + Buff-tip, 81. _Plates 35, 37_ + Bulrush Wainscot, 297. _Plates 144, 148_ + Burnets, 6 + Butterbur, 295. _Plate 143_ + + Cabbage Moth, 239. _Plate 120_ + _Calamia lutosa_, 303, _Plate 145_; + _phragmitidis_, 303, _Plate 145_ + _Callimorpha dominula_, 166, _Plates 88, 89_; + _quadripunctaria_, 164, _Plates 88, 89_ + Campion, 251. _Plate 124_ + _Caradrina alsines_, 317, _Plate 151_; + _ambigua_, 318, _Plate 151_; + _exigua_, 319, _Plates 151, 152_; + _morpheus_, 310, _Plate 151_; + _quadripunctata_, 318, _Plate 151_; + _superstes_, 317; + _taraxaci_, 317, _Plate 151_ + Catch and Bristle, 4 + Caterpillar, 1 + _Celerio galii_, 38. _Plates 14, 15_ + _Celæna haworthii_, 269. _Plate 128_ + _Cerigo matura_, 269. _Plate 128_ + _Cerura bicuspis_, 58, _Plate 22_; + _bifida_, 59, _Plates_ 22, 23; + _furcula_, 61, _Plates_ 22, 23 + _Chabuata conigera_, 313 + _Charæas graminis_, 256. _Plate 127_ + Chinese Character, 138. _Plate 71_ + _Chloephoridæ_, 143 + Chocolate-tip, 82. _Plates 34, 35_ + _Chærocampa celerio_, 43, _Plates 1, 16_; + _elpenor_, 49, _Plates 17, 19_; + _nerii_, 45, _Plates 1, 16;_ + _porcellus_, 48, _Plates 18, 19_ + Chrysalis, 1 + _Cilix glaucata_, 138. _Plate 71_ + Cinnabar, 171. _Plates 92, 93_ + _Cirphis comma_, 309, _Plate 147_; + _loreyi_, 311, _Plate 149_; + _putrescens_, 310, _Plates 147, 148_; + _unipuncta_, 310, _Plate 149_ + Classification, 6 + Clay, 312. _Plates 150, 152_ + Clearwings, 6 + Cloaked Minor, 277. _Plate 134_ + _Cloantha polyodon_, 282 + Clouded-Bordered Brindle, 278. _Plates 130, 135_ + Clouded Brindle, 280. _Plates 130, 135_ + Clouded Buff, 158. _Plates 82, 83_ + Clouded Drab, 330. _Plate 157_ + Coast Dart, 206. _Plate 106_ + _Cochliopodidæ_, 6 + _Coenobia rufa_, 299. _Plate 145_ + _Coenophila subrosea_, 217. _Plate 108_ + _Comacla senex_, 175. _Plate 95_ + Common Footman, 182. _Plates 96, 97_ + Common Quaker, 328. _Plate 158_ + Common Rustic, 270. _Plate 132_ + Common Wainscot, 304. _Plates 147, 152_ + Concolorous, 301. _Plate 146_ + Confused, 271. _Plate 131_ + Convolvulus Hawk-Moth, 2, 28. _Plates 9, 10, 11_ + Copper Underwing, 323. _Plate 154_ + Coronet, 198. _Plate 103_ + _Coscinia cribrum_, 168, _Plates 90, 91_; + _striata_, 167, _Plate 90_ + Cosmopolitan, 311. _Plate 149_ + _Cosmotriche potatoria_, 123. _Plates 60, 61_ + _Cossidæ_, 6 + _Cossus ligniperda_, 6 + Costa, 5 + Cousin German, 227. _Plate 114_ + Coxcomb Moth, 11 + Coxcomb Prominent, 77. _Plates 32, 33_ + _Craniophora ligustri_, 198. _Plate_ 103 + Cream-Bordered Green Pea, 144. _Plate 73_ + Cream-spot Tiger, 162. _Plates 86, 87_ + Crescent, 293. _Plate 143_ + Crescent Dart, 205. _Plate 105_ + Crescent Striped, 270. _Plate 131_ + Crimson Speckled Footman, 169. _Plates 92, 94_ + _Crymodes exulis_, 262. _Plate 123_ + _Cybosia mesomella_, 178. _Plate 95_ + _Cymbidæ_, 7 + + _Daphnis nerii_, 45. _Plates 1, 16_ + Dark Arches, 280. _Plate 136_ + Dark Brocade, 260. _Plate 121_ + Dark Dagger, 195. _Plates 100, 101_ + Dark Sword Grass, 209. _Plate 104_ + Dark Tussock, 97. _Plates 40, 41, 42_ + _Dasychira fascelina_, 97, _Plates 40, 41, 42_; + _pudibunda_, 98, _Plates 40, 41_ + _Dasypolia templi_, 285. _Plate 138_ + Death's-Head Hawk Moth, 24. _Plates 8, 9, 11_ + December Moth, 113. _Plates 50, 53_ + Deep-brown Dart, 282. _Plate 137_ + _Deilephila euphorbiæ_, 36, _Plates 1, 14, 15_; + _galii_, 38, _Plates 14, 15_; + _livornica_, 41, _Plate 15_ + _Deiopeia pulchella_, 169. _Plates 92, 94_ + Delicate, 311. _Plate 149_ + _Demas coryli_, 190. _Plates 100, 101_ + _Dendrolimus pini_, 106 + Devonshire Wainscot, 310. _Plates 147, 148_ + Dew Moth, 177. _Plate 95_ + _Diacrisia sanio_, 158. _Plates 82, 83_ + _Dianthoecia albimacula_, 249, _Plate 124_; + _barrettii_, 247, _Plate 123_; + _capsophila_, 251, _Plate 124_; + _capsincola_, 250, _Plates 124, 130_; + _carpophaga_, 251, _Plate 124_; + _cæsia_, 248, _Plate 123_; + _compta_, 250, _Plate 124_; + _conspersa_, 248, _Plate 123_; + _cucubali_, 251, _Plate 124_; + _irregularis_, 252, _Plate 125_; + _luteago_, 247, _Plate 123_ + _Diaphora mendica_, 153. _Plates 75, 78, 79_ + _Dicranura vinula_, 62. _Plates 24, 25_ + _Dilina tiliæ_, 17. _Plates 2, 3_ + Dingy Footman, 181. _Plates 97, 98_ + Disc, 5 + _Diloba cæruleocephala_, 265. _Plates 127, 133_ + _Diphtera orion_, 189. _Plates 100, 101_ + _Dipterygia scabriuscula_, 281. _Plate 137_ + Dog's Tooth, 242. _Plate 121_ + Dorsum, 5 + Dot, 239. _Plates 120, 129_ + Dotted Clay, 220. _Plate 114_ + Dotted Footman, 187. _Plates 98, 99_ + Dotted Rustic, 214. _Plate 107_ + Double Dart, 218. _Plates 110, 111_ + Double Line, 314. _Plates 150, 152_ + Double Lobed, 274. _Plate 132_ + Double-spot Brocade, 289. _Plate 141_ + Double Square-spot, 223. _Plate 113_ + _Drepana binaria_, 135. _Plates 70, 71_; + _cultraria_, 135, _Plates 70, 71_; + _falcataria_, 133, _Plates 68, 69_; + _harpagula_, 134, _Plates 68, 69_; + _lacertinaria_, 136, _Plates, 69, 71_ + _Drepanidæ_, 132 + Drinker, 8, 123. _Plates 60, 61_ + _Drymonia chaonia_, 68, _Plates 28, 29_; + _trimacula_, 67, _Plate 28_ + Dumeril's Luperina, 268 + Dusky Brocade, 272. _Plate 131_ + Dusky Marbled Brown, 66. _Plate 28_ + Dusky Sallow, 263. _Plate 126_ + + Ear Moth, 294. _Plate 143_ + _Earias chlorana_, 144. _Plate 73_ + Egg, 1 + Elephant, 49. _Plates 17, 19_ + Emperor Moth, 131. _Plates 66, 67_ + _Endromididæ_, 129 + _Endromis versicolor_, 129. _Plates 64, 65_ + _Endrosa irrorella_, 177. _Plate 95_ + _Epia irregularis_, 252 + _Epicnaptera ilicifolia_, 125. _Plates 62, 63_ + _Epineuronia popularis_, 255. _Plate 127_ + _Epipsilia ashworthii_, 216, _Plate 110_; + _hyperborea_, 215, _Plate 108_ + _Epunda lichenea_, 285. _Plates 133, 137_ + _Eremobia ochroleuca_, 263. _Plate 126_ + _Eriogaster lanestris_, 114. _Plates 50, 53_ + _Eriopyga turca_, 314. _Plates 150, 152_ + _Eumichtis adusta_, 260, _Plate 121_; + _protea_, 261, _Plate 122_; + _satura_, 260, _Plate 121_ + _Eumorpha elpenor_, 49. _Plates 17, 19_ + _Euplexia lucipara_, 291. _Plate 141_ + _Euproctis chrysorrhoea_, 99. _Plates 42, 43_ + _Euretagrotis agathina_, 214. _Plate 107_ + _Eurois occulta_, 236, _Plate 117_; + _prasina_, 235, _Plate 117_ + _Euxoa cinerea_, 204, _Plate 105_; + _corticea_, 203, _Plates 105, 109_; + _cursoria_, 206, _Plate 106_; + _lunigera_, 205, _Plate 105_; + _nigricans_, 207, _Plate 106_; + _obelisca_, 208, _Plate 106_; + _puta_, 204, _Plate 104_; + _segetum_, 201, _Plate 104_; + _tritici_, 207, _Plate 106_; + _vestigialis_, 202, _Plate 104_ + Eyed Hawk-moth, 14, 22. _Plates 6, 7_ + _Exarnis augur_, 218. _Plates 110, 111_ + + Feathered Brindle, 284. _Plate 137_ + Feathered Ear, 257. _Plate 128_ + Feathered Footman, 167. _Plate 90_ + Feathered Gothic, 255. _Plate 127_ + Feathered Ranunculus, 285. _Plates 133, 137_ + _Feltia exclamationis_, 208. _Plate 104_ + Fen Wainscot, 303. _Plate 145_ + Fenn's Wainscot, 308. _Plates 144, 148_ + Field Work, 8 + Figure of Eight Moth, 265. _Plates 127, 133_ + Figure of Eighty, 88. _Plate 36_ + Flame, 229. _Plate 132_ + Flame Brocade, 290. _Plate 141_ + Flame Shoulder, 228. _Plates 110, 111_ + Flame Wainscot, 300. _Plate 145_ + Flounced Rustic, 267. _Plate 128_ + Footman Moths, 173. _Plates 90-99_ + Four-dotted Footman, 178. _Plate 95_ + Four-spotted Footman, 179. _Plates 94, 95_ + Fox Moth, 121. _Plates 58, 59_ + Frenulum, 4 + Frosted Green, 93. _Plates 38, 39_ + Frosted Orange, 295. _Plate 144_ + + Garden Dart, 207. _Plate 106_ + Garden Tiger, 160. _Plates 82, 84, 85_ + _Gastropacha quercifolia_, 126. _Plates 62, 63_ + _Geometridæ_, 7 + Gipsy, 103. _Plate 46_ + Glaucous Shears, 245. _Plate 122_ + _Gluphisia crenata_, 66. _Plate 28_ + Goat-moth, 6 + _Gortyna micacea_, 294, _Plate 143_; + _nictitans_, 294, _Plate 143_; + _petasitis_, 295, _Plate 143_ + Gothic, 293. _Plates 139, 142_ + _Grammesia trigrammica_, 314. _Plate 151_ + Grass Eggar, 119. _Plates 56, 57_ + Great Brocade, 236. _Plate 117_ + Great Prominent, 74. _Plates 30, 31_ + Green Arches, 235. _Plate 117_ + Green-brindled Crescent, 289. _Plate 141_ + Green Brindled Dot, 266. _Plate 127_ + Green Silver Lines, 145. _Plates 72, 73_ + Grey, 248. _Plate 123_ + Grey Arches, 238. _Plate 119_ + Grey Chi, 286. _Plate 138_ + Grey Dagger, 192. _Plates 100, 101_ + Ground Lackey, 109. _Plates 48, 49_ + + _Habrosyne derasa_, 85. _Plate 36_ + _Hadena adusta_, 260; + _protea_, 261, _Plate 122_; + _satura_, 260 + _Hama abjecta_, 270, _Plate 131_; + _furva_, 271, _Plate 131_; + _sordida_, 271, _Plate 131_ + _Hapalia præcox_, 211. _Plate 107_ + Hawk-Moths, 6, 17. _Plates 1-21_ + Haworth's Minor, 269. _Plate 128_ + Heart and Club, 203. _Plates 105, 109_ + Heart and Dart, 208. _Plate 105_ + Heath Rustic, 214. _Plates 107, 109_ + Hebrew Character, 326. _Plates 155, 156_ + _Hecatera chrysozona_, 253, _Plate 125_; + _serena_, 254, _Plate 125_ + Hedge Rustic, 256. _Plate 128_ + _Heliophobus hispidus_, 267. _Plates 127, 133_ + _Helotropha leucostigma_, 293. _Plate 143_ + _Hemaris fuciformis_, 53, _Plates 20, 21_; + _tityus_, 55, _Plates 20, 21_ + _Hepialidæ_, 7 + _Heterogenea limacodes_, 6 + _Heterocera_, 1 + _Hippotion celerio_, 43. _Plates 1, 16_ + _Hipocrita jacobææ_, 171. _Plates 92, 93_ + Hoary Footman, 185. _Plates 98, 99_ + Hook-tips, 132 + Humming-bird Hawk-moth, 51. _Plate 21_ + _Hydrilla palustris_, 321. _Plate 153_ + _Hydroecia micacea_, 294, _Plate 143_; + _nictitans_, 294, _Plate 143_; + _petasitis_, 295, _Plate 143_ + _Hyles euphorbiæ_, 36. _Plates 1, 14, 15_ + _Hyloicus pinastri_, 34. _Plates 11, 12_ + _Hylophila bicolorana_, 146, _Plates 72, 73_; + _prasinana_, 145, _Plates 72, 73_ + _Hyppa rectilinea_, 265. _Plate 126_ + + Imago, 1 + Ingrailed Clay, 224. _Plates 112, 113_ + Iron Prominent, 72. _Plates 30, 31_ + + Jersey Tiger, 164. _Plates 88, 89_ + Jugum, 4 + + Kent Black Arches, 141. _Plate 73_ + Kentish Glory, 129. _Plates 64, 65_ + Knot Grass, 198. _Plates 102, 103_ + + Lackey, 167. _Plates 48, 49_ + _Lælia coenosa_, 101. _Plates 44, 45_ + Lappet, 126. _Plates 62, 63_ + Large Dark Prominent, 73. _Plate 31_ + Large Marbled Tortrix, 146. _Plate 72_ + Large Nutmeg, 271. _Plate 131_ + Large Ranunculus, 286. _Plate 138_ + Large Wainscot, 303. _Plate 145_ + Large Yellow Underwing, 232. _Plates 115, 118_ + _Lasiocampa quercus_, 115, _Plates 52, 54, 55_; + _trifolii_, 119, _Plates 56, 57_ + _Lasiocampidæ_, 106 + Lead-coloured Drab, 326. _Plate 157_ + Least Black Arches, 141. _Plate 73_ + Least Minor, 277. _Plate 134_ + Least Yellow Underwing, 234. _Plate 116_ + Lesser Broad-border, 234. _Plates 116, 118_ + Lesser Lutestring, 91. _Plate 39_ + Lesser Satin Moth, 89. _Plate 39_ + Lesser Swallow Prominent, 70. _Plates 28, 29_ + Lesser Yellow Underwing, 230. _Plates 115, 118_ + _Leucania albipuncta_, 312, _Plate 149_; + _brevilinea_, 308, _Plates 144, 148_; + _comma_, 309, _Plate 147_; + _conigera_, 313, _Plate 150_; + _favicolor_, 304, _Plate 149_; + _impudens_, 307, _Plate 147_; + _impura_, 305, _Plate 147_; + _lithargyria_, 312, _Plates 150, 152_; + _littoralis_, 308, _Plates 150, 152_; + _loreyi_, 311, _Plate 149_; + _obsoleta_, 307, _Plate 147_; + _pallens_, 304, _Plates 147, 152_; + _putrescens_, 310, _Plates 147, 148_; + _turca_, 314, _Plates 150, 152_; + _straminea_, 306, _Plate 147_; + _unipuncta_, 310, _Plate 149_; + _vitellina_, 311. _Plate 149_ + _Leucodonta bicoloria_, 75. _Plates 32, 33_ + _Leucoma v-nigrum_, 94 + Light Arches, 279. _Plate 135_ + Light Brocade, 241. _Plate 121_ + Light Feathered Rustic, 204. _Plate 105_ + Light Knot Grass, 196. _Plate 103_ + Lime Hawk-moth, 17. _Plates 2, 3_ + Lines of Wings, 5 + _Lithosia caniola_, 185, _Plates 98, 99_; + _complana_, 183, _Plates 96, 97_; + _deplana_, 180, _Plates 96, 97_; + _griseola_, 181, _Plates 97, 98_; + _lurideola_, 182, _Plates 96, 97_; + _lutarella_, 184, _Plate 99_; + _sericea_, 184, _Plate 97_; + _sororcula_, 187, _Plate 99_ + _Lithosiinæ_, 173 + Lobster, 64. _Plates 26, 27_ + _Lophopteryx camelina_, 77, _Plates 32, 33_; + _cuculla_, 76, _Plates 32, 33_ + Lunar Marbled Brown, 68. _Plates 28, 29_ + Lunar Yellow Underwing, 231. _Plate 115_ + _Luperina dumerilii_, 268; + _testacea_, 267, _Plate 128_ + Lychnis, 250. _Plates 124, 130_ + _Lycophotia ripæ_, 210. _Plate 106_; + _strigula_, 210. _Plates 107, 109_ + _Lymantria dispar_, 103, _Plate 46_; + _monacha_, 105, _Plates 46, 47_ + _Lymantriidæ_, 94 + Lyme Grass, 302. _Plate 146_ + + _Macrogaster castaneæ_, 6 + Macro-lepidoptera, 6 + _Macroglossa stellatarum_, 52. _Plate 21_ + _Macrothylacia rubi_, 121. _Plates 58, 59_ + _Malacosoma neustria_, 107, _Plates 48, 49_; + _castrensis_, 109, _Plates 48, 49_ + _Mamestra advena_, 237, _Plate 117_; + _albicolon_, 240, _Plate 120_; + _contigua_, 243, _Plate 121_; + _dentina_, 246, _Plate 122_; + _dissimilis_, 242, _Plate 121_; + _genistæ_, 241, _Plate 121_; + _glauca_, 245, _Plate 122_; + _nebulosa_, 238, _Plate 119_; + _oleracea_, 241, _Plates 120, 129_; + _peregrina_, 246, _Plate 122_; + _persicariæ_, 239, _Plates 120, 129_; + _pisi_, 244, _Plates 122, 129_; + _thalassina_, 243, _Plate 121_; + _tincta_, 237, _Plate 117_; + _trifolii_, 245, _Plate 122_ + _Manduca atropos_, 24. _Plates 8, 9, 11_ + Maple Prominent, 76. _Plates 32, 33_ + Marbled Beauty, 200. _Plate 103_ + Marbled Brown, 67. _Plate 28_ + Marbled Coronet, 248. _Plate 123_ + Marbled Green, 200. _Plate 103_ + Marbled Minor, 275. _Plate 134_ + Marsh Dagger, 194. _Plate 100_ + Marsh Moth, 321. _Plate 153_ + Mathew's Wainscot, 304. _Plate 149_ + _Meliana flammea_, 300. _Plate 145_ + Mere Wainscot, 301. _Plate 146_ + Merveille du jour, 290. _Plate 141_ + _Metopsilus porcellus_, 48. _Plates 18, 19_ + _Miana bicoloria_, 277, _Plate 134_; + _fasciuncula_, 275, _Plate 134_; + _literosa_, 276, _Plate 134_; + _strigilis_, 275, _Plate 134_ + Micro-lepidoptera, 6 + _Micropterygidæ_, 7 + Middle-barred Minor, 275. _Plate 134_ + Miller, 191. _Plate 100_ + _Miltochrista miniata_, 176. _Plate 95_ + _Mimas tiliæ_, 17. _Plates 2, 3_ + Minor Shoulder-knot, 263. _Plate 125_ + _Miselia bimaculosa_, 289, _Plate 141_; + _oxyacanthæ_, 289, _Plate 141_ + _Mormo maura_, 292. _Plate 142_ + Mottled Rustic, 316. _Plate 151_ + Mouse, 324. _Plates 154, 156_ + Muslin, 153. _Plates 75, 78, 79_ + Muslin Footman, 174. _Plates 94, 95_ + + _Nænia typica_, 293. _Plates 139, 142_ + Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth, 55. _Plates 20, 21_ + Neglected or Grey Rustic, 219. _Plates 109, 110_ + _Neuria reticulata_, 254. _Plate 126_ + _Noctuidæ_, 7, 189. _Plates 100-159_ + _Noctua augur_, 218, _Plates 110, 111_; + _baja_, 220; + _brunnea_, 224, _Plates 112, 113_; + _castanea_, 219, _Plates 109, 110_; + _c-nigrum_, 221, _Plate 110_; + _dahlii_, 225, _Plate 114_; + _depuncta_, 220, _Plate 110_; + _ditrapezium_, 222, _Plates 110, 111_; + _flammatra_, 221; + _glareosa_, 218, _Plate 110_; + _plecta_, 228, _Plates 110, 111_; + _primulæ_, 224, _Plates 112, 113_; + _rubi_, 226, _Plate 114_; + _sobrina_, 227, _Plate 114_; + _stigmatica_, 223, _Plate 113_; + _subrosea_, 217, _Plate 108_; + _triangulum_, 223, _Plate 113_; + _umbrosa_, 227, _Plate 114_; + _xanthographa_, 228, _Plates 112, 114_ + _Nolidæ_, 139. _Plates 72, 73_ + _Nola albula_, 141, _Plate 73_; + _centonalis_, 142, _Plate 73_; + _confusalis_, 141, _Plate 73_; + _cucullatella_, 139, _Plates 72, 73_; + _strigula_, 140, _Plate 73_ + _Nonagria cannæ_, 296, _Plates 144, 148_; + _dissoluta_, 298, _Plates 144, 148_; + _geminipuncta_, 297, _Plates 144, 148_; + _sparganii_, 296, _Plates 144, 148_; + _typhæ_, 297, _Plates 144, 148_ + _Notodonta dromedarius_, 72, _Plates 30, 31_; + _phoebe_, 72, _Plate 31_; + _torva_, 73, _Plate 31_; + _trepida_, 74, _Plates 30, 31_; + _tritophus_, 72, 73, _Plate 31_; + _ziczac_, 70, _Plates 30, 31_ + Northern Arches, 262. _Plate 123_ + Northern Dart, 215. _Plate 108_ + Northern Drab, 331. _Plate 157_ + Northern Eggar, 116. _Plate 54_ + Northern Footman, 184. _Plate 97_ + Northern Rustic, 213. _Plate 107_ + _Notodontidæ_, 56 + _Nudaria mundana_, 174, _Plates 94, 95_ + Nutmeg, 245. _Plate 122_ + Nut-tree Tussock, 190. _Plates 100, 101_ + + Oak Eggar, 115. _Plates 52, 55_ + Oak Hook-tip, 135. _Plates 70, 71_ + Obscure Wainscot, 307. _Plate 147_ + _Ochria ochracea_, 295. _Plate 144_ + _Ochropleura plecta_, 228. _Plates 110, 111_ + _Odontosia carmelita_, 78. _Plates 32, 33_ + _Oeonestis quadra_, 179. _Plates 94, 95_ + _Ogygia obscura_, 215, _Plate 107_ + Old Lady, 292. _Plate 142_ + Oleander Hawk-moth, 45. _Plates 1, 16_ + Orache Moth, 264. _Plate 126_ + Orange Footman, 187. _Plate 99_ + _Orgyia antiqua_, 96, _Plates 40, 41_; + _gonostigma_, 94, _Plates 40, 41_ + + _Pachetra leucophæa_, 257. _Plate 128_ + _Pachnobia Leucographa_, 325, _Plate 155_; + _rubricosa_, 326, _Plates 155, 159_ + Palæarctic Fauna, 7 + Pale Footman, 181. _Plate 97_ + Pale Mottled Willow, 318. _Plate 151_ + Pale Oak Eggar, 111. _Plates 50, 51_ + Pale Prominent, 80. _Plates 32, 33_ + Pale-shouldered Brocade, 243. _Plate 121_ + Pale Shining Brown, 237. _Plate 117_ + Pale Tussock, 7, 98. _Plates 40, 41_ + _Palimpsestis duplaris_, 89, _Plate 39_; + _fluctuosa_, 90, _Plate 39_; + _octogessima_, 88, _Plate 36_; + _or_, 88, _Plate 36_ + _Panolis griseo-variegata_, 324. _Plate 155_; + _piniperda_, 324. _Plate 155_ + _Parasemia plantaginis_, 157. _Plates 80, 81_ + Peach Blossom, 86. _Plates 36, 37_ + Pearly Underwing, 212. _Plate 104_ + Pebble Hook-tip 133. _Plates 68, 69_ + Pebble Prominent, 70. _Plates 30, 31_ + _Pelosia muscerda_, 187. _Plates 98, 99_ + _Peridroma saucia_, 212. _Plate 104_ + _Petilampa arcuosa_, 320. _Plate 134_ + _Phalera bucephala_, 81. Plates 35, 37 + _Pheosia tremula_, 69, _Plates 28, 29_; + _dictæoides_, 70, _Plates 28, 29_ + _Phlogophora meticulosa_, 291. _Plate 141_ + _Phothedes captiuncula_, 277. _Plate 134_ + _Phragmatobia fuliginosa_, 155. _Plates 80, 81_ + _Phryxus livornica_, 41 + Pigmy Footman, 184. _Plate 99_ + Pine Beauty, 324. _Plate 155_ + Pine Hawk, 34. _Plates 11, 12_ + Plain Clay, 220. _Plate 110_ + Plumed Prominent, 79. _Plate 33_ + Pod-lover, 252. _Plate 124_ + _Poecilocampa populi_, 113. _Plates 50, 53_ + _Polia chi_, 286, _Plate 138_; + _flavicincta_, 286, _Plate 138_; + _xanthomista_, 287, _Plates 139, 140_ + _Polyploca flavicornis_, 92, _Plates 38, 39_; + _ridens_, 93, _Plates 38, 39_ + Poplar Grey, 193. _Plates 100, 101_ + Poplar Hawk-moth, 20. _Plates 4, 5_ + Poplar Kitten, 59. _Plates 22, 23_ + Poplar Lutestring, 88. _Plate 36_ + _Porthesia similis_, 100. _Plates 42, 43_ + Portland Moth, 211. _Plate 107_ + Powdered Quaker, 331. _Plate 158_ + Powdered Wainscot, 199. _Plate 103_ + Proboscis, 2 + Privet Hawk, 15, 33. _Plates 12, 13_ + _Prodenia littoralis_, 264 + Prominents, 56 + _Psychina_, 7 + _Pterostoma palpina_, 80. _Plates 32, 33_ + _Ptilophora plumigera_, 79, _Plate 33_ + Pupa-digging, 16 + Purple Clay, 11, 224. _Plates 112, 113_ + Purple Cloud, 282. _Plate 137_ + Puss Moth, 62. _Plates 24, 25_ + _Pygæra anachoreta_, 83, _Plate 35_; + _curtula_, 82, _Plates 34, 35_; + _pigra_, 84, _Plates 34, 35_ + _Pyralidina_, 7 + + Rannoch Sprawler, 288. _Plate 140_ + Red Chestnut, 326. _Plates 155, 159_ + Reed Tussock, 101. _Plates 44, 45_ + " Wainscot, 296. _Plates 144, 148_ + Reddish Buff, 321. _Plate 153_ + " Light Arches, 279. _Plate 135_ + Red-necked Footman, 173. _Plates 92, 93_ + Retinaculum, 4 + Rosy Footman, 176. _Plate 95_ + " Marsh Moth, 217. _Plate 108_ + " Minor, 276. _Plate 134_ + " Rustic, 294. _Plate 143_ + Round-winged Muslin, 175. _Plate 95_ + Ruby Tiger, 155. _Plates 80, 81_ + _Rusina tenebrosa_, 322. _Plate 153_ + Rustic, 317. _Plate 151_ + " Shoulder-knot 272. _Plate 134_ + + Sallow Kitten, 61. _Plates 22, 23_ + Sand Dart, 210. _Plate 106_ + _Sarrothripinæ_, 146 + _Sarrothripa revayana_, 146. _Plate 72_ + Satin Carpet, 90. _Plate 39_ + _Saturnia pavonia_, 131. _Plates 66, 67_ + Saxon, 265. _Plate 126_ + Scalloped Hook-tip, 136. _Plates 69, 71_ + Scarce Black Arches, 142. _Plate 73_ + " Chocolate-tip, 83. _Plate 35_ + " Dagger, 196. _Plates 102, 103_ + " Footman, 183. _Plates 96, 97_ + " Hook-tip, 134. _Plates 68, 69_ + " Merveille du jour, 9, 189. _Plates 100, 101_ + " Prominent, 78. _Plates 32, 33_ + " Silver Lines, 146. _Plates 72, 73_ + " Vapourer, 94. _Plates 40, 41_ + Scarlet Tiger, 166. _Plates 88, 89_ + _Segetia xanthographa_, 228. _Plates 112, 114_ + _Senta maritima_, 299. _Plate 145_ + _Sesiidæ_, 6 + Setaceous Hebrew Character, 221 _Plate 110_ + Shears, 246. _Plate 122_ + Shore Wainscot, 308. _Plates 150, 152_ + Short-cloaked Moth, 139. _Plates 72, 73_ + Shoulder-striped Wainscot, 309. _Plate 147_ + Shuttle-shaped Dart, 204. _Plate 104_ + _Sideridis albipuncta_, 312, _Plate 149_; + _lithargyria_, 312, _Plates 150, 152_; + _vitellina_, 311, _Plate 149_ + Silky Wainscot, 299. _Plate 145_ + Silver Cloud, 258. _Plate 128_ + Silvery Arches, 237. _Plate 117_ + Silver-striped Hawk, 48. _Plates 1, 16_ + Six-striped Rustic, 227. _Plate 114_ + Slender Bridle, 281. _Plate 135_ + Small Angle Shades, 291. _Plate 141_ + " Black Arches, 140. _Plate 73_ + " Chocolate-tip, 84. _Plates 34, 35_ + " Clouded Brindle, 273. _Plate 132_ + " Dotted Buff, 320. _Plate 134_ + " Eggar, 114. _Plates 50, 53_ + " Elephant, 48. _Plates 18, 19_ + " Lappet, 125. _Plates 62, 63_ + " Mottled Willow, 319. _Plates 151, 152_ + " Quaker, 328. _Plates 158, 159_ + " Ranunculus, 253. _Plate 125_ + " Rufous, 299. _Plate 145_ + " Square Spot, 226. _Plate 114_ + " Wainscot, 300. _Plate 145_ + _Smerinthus ocellatus_, 22, _Plates 6, 7_; + _populi_, 20, _Plates 4, 5_ + Smoky Wainscot, 305. _Plate 147_ + Southern Wainscot, 306. _Plate 147_ + Speckled Footman, 168. _Plates 90, 91_ + _Sphingidæ_, 6, 17 + _Sphinx convolvuli_, 28, _Plates 9, 10, 11_; + _ligustri_, 33, _Plates 12, 13_ + _Spilosoma lubricipeda_, 151, _Plates 76, 77_; + _menthastri_, 149, _Plates 74, 75, 78_; + _urticæ_, 150, _Plate 75_ + Sprawler, 288. _Plate 138_ + Spurge Hawk, 36. _Plates 1, 14, 15_ + Square-spot Dart, 208. _Plate 106_ + " " Rustic, 228. _Plates 112, 114_ + Square-spotted Clay, 223. _Plate 113_ + _Stauropus fagi_, 64. _Plates 26, 27_ + Stigmata, 5, 6 + _Stilbia anomala_, 315. _Plates 151, 152_ + _Stilpnotia salicis_, 112. _Plates 43, 44_ + Stout Dart, 215. _Plate 107_ + Stranger, 246. _Plate 122_ + Straw Underwing, 269. _Plate 128_ + Striped Hawk, 41. _Plate 15_ + Striped Wainscot, 307. _Plate 147_ + "Sugaring," 11 + Swallow Prominent, 69. _Plates 28, 29_ + Sweet-gale Moth, 197. _Plate 103_ + Swifts, 4, 7 + Sycamore, 192. _Plates 100, 102_ + _Synia musculosa_, 302. _Plate 146_ + + _Tapinostola bondii_, 301, _Plate 146_; + _elymi_, 302, _Plate 146_; + _extrema_, 301, _Plate, 146_; + _fulva_, 300, _Plate 145_; + _hellmanni_, 301, _Plate 146_ + Tawny Shears, 251. _Plate 124_ + _Tholera cespitis_, 256. _Plate 128_ + Three Humped, 72. _Plate 31_ + _Thyatiridæ_, 85 + _Thyatira batis_, 86. _Plates 36, 37_ + Tiger Moths, 148 + _Tæniocampa gothica_, 326, _Plate 155_; + _gracilis_, 331, _Plate 158_; + _incerta_, 330, _Plate 157_; + _miniosa_, 327, _Plate 158_; + _munda_, 330, _Plates 158, 159_; + _opima_, 331, _Plate 157_; + _populeti_, 329, _Plate 157_; + _pulverulenta_, 328, _Plates 158, 159_; + _stabilis_, 328, _Plate 158_ + Tongue, 2 + _Tortricina_, 7 + _Trachea atriplicis_, 264. _Plate 126_ + Treble Lines, 314. _Plate 151_ + Tree-lichen Beauty, 201 + _Trichiura cratægi_, 111. _Plates 50, 51_ + _Trigonophora flammea_, 290. _Plate 141_ + _Trifinæ_, 201 + _Triphæna comes_, 230, _Plates 115, 118_; + _fimbria_, 233, _Plates 116, 118_; + _ianthina_, 234, _Plates 116, 118_; + _interjecta_, 234, _Plate 116_; + _orbona_, 230, 231, _Plates 115, 118_; + _pronuba_, 232, _Plates 115, 118_; + _subsequa_, 231, _Plate 115_ + Triple-spotted Clay, 222. _Plates 110, 111_ + True Lover's Knot, 210. _Plate 107_ + _Trypanus cossus_, 6 + _Trypanidæ_, 6 + Turnip Moth, 201. _Plate 104_ + Tussock Moths, 94 + Twin-spotted, 297. _Plates 114, 148_ + " Quaker, 330. _Plates 158, 159_ + + Uncertain, 317. _Plate 151_ + Union Rustic, 273. _Plate 132_ + + _Valeria oleagina_, 266. _Plate 127_ + Vapourer, 96. _Plates 40, 41_ + Varied Coronet, 250. _Plate 124_ + Vine's Rustic, 318. _Plate 151_ + Viper's Bugloss, 252. _Plate 125_ + + Water Ermine, 150. _Plate 75_ + Webb's Wainscot, 296. _Plates 144, 148_ + White Colon, 240. _Plate 120_ + " Ermine, 149. _Plates 74, 75, 78_ + White-line Dart, 207. _Plate 106_ + White-marked, 325. _Plate 155_ + White-point, 312. _Plate 149_ + White Prominent, 75. _Plates 32, 33_ + " Satin Moth, 102. _Plates 43, 44_ + " Speck or American Wainscot, 310. _Plate 149_ + " Spot, 249. _Plate 124_ + Wings, 3 + Wing Areas and Lines, 4; + cells, 6 + Wood Tiger, 157. _Plates 80, 81_ + + _Xylomania conspicillaris_, 258. _Plate 128_ + _Xylophasia hepatica_, 280, _Plates 130, 135_; + _lithoxylea_, 279, _Plate 135_; + _monoglypha_, 280, _Plate 136_; + _rurea_, 278, _Plates 130, 135_; + _scolopacina_, 281, _Plate 135_; + _sublustris_, 279, _Plate 135_; + _zollikoferi_, 279, _Plate 153_ + Yellow Horned, 92. _Plates 38, 39_ + Yellow-tail, 100. _Plates 42, 43_ + Yoke, 4 + + _Zeuzera pyrina_, 6 + _Zygænidæ_, 6 + +MOTHS.--SERIES I. + + OLD EDITION. NEW EDITION. + For Sphinx convolvuli read Herse (Sphinx) convolvuli + " Arsilonche albovenosa " Simyra (Arsilonche) albovenosa + " Bryophila glandifera " Bryophila muralis (glandifera) + " Agrotis (Hapalia) præcox " Agrotis (Lycophotia) præcox + " Agrotis (Peridroma) saucia " Agrotis (Lycophotia) saucia + " Agrotis (Spaelotis) lucernea " Agrotis (Episilia) lucernea + " Agrotis (Pachnobia) simulans " Agrotis (Episilia) simulans + " Agrotis (Ogygia) obscura " Agrotis ravida (obscura) + " Noctua sobrina " Noctua (Mythimna) sobrina + " Epineuronia popularis " Tholera (Epineuronia) popularis + " Charæas graminis " Cerapteryx (Charæas) graminis + " Hyppa rectilinea " Lithomoea (Hyppa) rectilinea + " Hama abjecta " Hama oblonga (abjecta) + " Apamea gemina " Apamea obscura (gemina) + " Trigonophora flammea " Rhizotype flammea + " Mormo maura " Mania maura + " Nonagria cannæ " Nonagria algæ (cannæ) + " Synia musculosa " Oria (Synia) musculosa + " Grammesia trigrammica " Meristis (Grammesia) trigrammica + " Caradrina exigua " Laphygma exigua + +SPECIAL INDEX. + + _abjecta_ (_Hama_), 270 + _aceris_ (_Acronycta_), 192 + _Acronyctinæ_, 189 + _adusta_ (_Eumichtis_), 260 + _advena_ (_Aplecta_), 237 + _æstiva_ (_Drepana_), 136 + _æthiops_ (_Miana_), 275 + _agathina_ (_Agrotis_), 214 + _albicolon_ (_Mamestra_), 240 + _albida_ (_Arsilonche_), 199 + _albimacula_ (_Dianthoecia_), 249 + _albipuncta_ (_Leucania_), 312 + _algæ_ (_Bryophila_), 201 + _algæ_ (_Nonagria_), 296 + _albovenosa_ (_Arsilonche_), 199 + _albula_ (_Nola_), 141 + _alni_ (_Acronycta_), 193 + _alopecurus_ (_Xylophasia_), 278 + _alpinum_ (_Diphtera_), 190 + _alsines_ (_Caradrina_), 317 + _ambigua_ (_Caradrina_), 318 + _anachoreta_ (_Pygæra_), 82, 83 + _anceps_ (_Hama_), 271 + _anomola_ (_Stilbia_), 315 + _antiqua_ (_Orgyia_), 96 + _approximans_ (_Meristis_), 315 + _aprilina_ (_Agriopis_), 294 + _aqulina_ (_Agrotis_), 207 + _Arctiidæ_, 148 + _arcuosa_ (_Petilampa_), 320 + _argentea_ (_Palimpsestis_), 90 + _argillacea_ (_Dianthoecia_), 241 + _ariæ_ (_Trichiura_), 113 + _arundineta_ (_Nonagria_), 298 + _ashworthii_ (_Agrotis_), 216 + _assimilis_ (_Crymodes_), 262 + _atriplicis_ (_Trachea_), 264 + _atropos_ (_Acherontia_), 24 + _augur_ (_Noctua_), 218 + _auricoma_ (_Acronycta_), 196 + _australis_ (_Aporophyla_), 284 + + _baja_ (_Noctua_), 220 + _barrettii_ (_Dianthoecia_), 247 + _basilinea_ (_Trachea_), 272 + _batis_ (_Thyatira_), 86 + _bicolorana_ (_Hylophila_), 146 + _bicoloria_ (_Leucodonta_), 75 + _bicoloria_ (_Miana_), 277 + _bicuspis_ (_Cerura_), 58 + _bidens_ (_Acronycta_), 196 + _bifida_ (_Cerura_), 59 + _bilinea_ (_Meristis_), 315 + _bimaculosa_ (_Miselia_), 289 + _binaria_ (_Drepana_), 135 + _bipunctata_ (_Senta_), 299 + _bombyliformis_ (_Hemaris_), 55 + _bondii_ (_Tapinostola_), 301 + _borealis_ (_Phragmatobia_), 155 + _bradyporina_ (_Acronycta_), 191 + _brassicæ_ (_Barathra_), 239 + _brevilinea_ (_Leucania_), 308 + _brunnea_ (_Noctua_), 224 + _bucephala_ (_Phalera_), 81 + + _cæruleocephala_ (_Diloba_), 265 + _caia_ (_Arctia_), 160 + _caliginosa_ (_Acosmetia_), 321 + _callunæ_ (_Lasiocampa_), 116 + _camelina_ (_Lophopteryx_), 77 + _cana_ (_Miana_), 276 + _candelarum_ (_Agrotis_), 216 + _candelisequa_ (_Acronycta_), 192 + _candida_ (_Stilpnotia_), 103 + _caniola_ (_Lithosia_), 185 + _cannæ_ (_Nonagria_), 296 + _capsincola_ (_Dianthoecia_), 250 + _capsophila_ (_Dianthoecia_), 251 + _captiuncula_ (_Phothedes_), 277 + _capucina_ (_Miselia_), 289 + _carmelita_ (_Odentosia_), 78 + _carpophaga_ (_Dianthoecia_), 251 + _castanea_ (_Noctua_), 219 + _celerio_ (_Chærocampa_), 43 + _celerio_ (_Hippotion_), 43 + _centonalis_ (_Nola_), 142 + _cespitis_ (_Tholera_), 256 + _chaonia_ (_Drymonia_), 68 + _characterea_ (_Xylophasia_), 280 + _chi_ (_Polia_), 286 + _Chlöephoridæ_, 143 + _chlorana_ (_Earias_), 144 + _chrysorrhoea_ (_Euproctis_), 99 + _chrysozona_ (_Hecatera_), 253 + _cinerea_ (_Agrotis_), 204 + _c-nigrum_ (_Noctua_), 221 + _coenosa_ (_Lælia_), 101 + _combusta_ (_Xylophasia_), 278 + _comes_ (_Triphæna_), 230 + _comma_ (_Leucania_), 309 + _complana_ (_Lithosia_), 183 + _compta_ (_Dianthoecia_), 250 + _conflua_ (_Noctua_), 224 + _confusalis_ (_Nola_), 141 + _conigera_ (_Leucania_), 313 + _connexa_ (_Apamea_), 273 + _consequa_ (_Triphæna_), 231 + _conspersa_ (_Dianthoecia_), 248 + _conspicilaris_ (_Xylomania_), 258 + _contigua_ (_Mamestra_), 243 + _convolvuli_ (_Herse_), 28 + _convolvuli_ (_Sphinx_), 28 + _corticea_ (_Agrotis_), 203, 209 + _coryli_ (_Demas_), 190 + _cratægi_ (_Trichiura_), 112 + _crenata_ (_Chaonia_), 66 + _crenata_ (_Gluphisia_), 66 + _cribrum_ (_Coscinia_), 168 + _crinanensis_ (_Hydroecia_), App. + _cucubali_ (_Dianthoecia_), 251 + _cuculla_ (_Lophopteryx_), 76 + _cucullatella_ (_Nola_), 139 + _cultraria_ (_Drepana_), 135 + _cursoria_ (_Agrotis_), 206 + _curtisii_ (_Triphæna_), 231 + _curtula_ (_Pygæra_), 82, 84 + _Cymatophoridæ_, 85 + + _dahlii_ (_Noctua_), 225 + _dentina_ (_Mamestra_), 246 + _deplana_ (_Lithosia_), 180 + _depuncta_ (_Noctua_), 220 + _derasa_ (_Habrosyne_), 85 + _deschangei_ (_Spilosoma_), 152 + _desillii_ (_Agrotis_), 210 + _dictæoides_ (_Pheosia_), 70 + _didyma_ (_Apamea_), 274 + _diluta_ (_Asphalia_), 91 + _dimidiata_ (_Pheosia_), 70 + _dispar_ (_Lymantria_), 103 + _dissimilis_ (_Mamestra_), 242 + _dissoluta_ (_Nonagria_), 297 + _ditrapezium_ (_Noctua_), 222 + _dodonides_ (_Drymonia_), 68 + _dominula_ (_Callimorpha_), 166 + _Drepanidæ_, 131 + _dromedarius_ (_Notodonta_), 70 + _dumerilli_ (_Luperina_), 268 + _duplaris_ (_Palimpsestis_), 89 + + _eboraci_ (_Spilosoma_), 152 + _ectypa_ (_Leucania_), 304 + _edda_ (_Noctua_), 219 + _elpenor_ (_Chærocampa_), 49 + _elpenor_ (_Eumorpha_), 49 + _elpenorcellus_ (_Metopsilus_), 48 + _elymi_ (_Tapinostola_), 302 + _Endromididæ_, 129 + _eremita_ (_Lymantria_), 105 + _erythrostigma_ (_Hydroecia_), 294 + _euphorbiæ_ (_Acronycta_), 197 + _euphorbiæ_ (_Deilephila_), 36 + _euphorbiæ_ (_Hyles_), 36 + _exclamationis_ (_Agrotis_), 208 + _exigua_ (_Laphygma_), 319 + _extrema_ (_Tapinostola_), 301 + _exulis_ (_Crymodes_), 262 + + _fagi_ (_Stauropus_), 64 + _falcataria_ (_Drepana_), 133 + _familiaris_ (_Lasiocampa_), 116 + _fascelina_ (_Dasychira_), 97 + _fasciata_ (_Macrothylacia_), 121 + _fasciata_ (_Spilosoma_), 152 + _fasciuncula_ (_Miana_), 275 + _fasciuncula_ (_Oligia_), 275 + _favicolor_ (_Leucania_), 304 + _festiva_ (_Noctua_), 224 + _fibrosa_ (_Helotropha_), 293 + _ficklini_ (_Dianthoecia_), 247 + _fimbria_ (_Triphæna_), 233 + _finmarchia_ (_Polyploca_), 92 + _flammea_ (_Meliana_), 300 + _flammea_ (_Rhizotype_), 290 + _flammatra_ (_Noctua_), 221 + _flava_ (_Lithosia_), 181 + _flavago_ (_Ochria_), 295 + _flavicincta_ (_Polia_), 286 + _flavicornis_ (_Polyploca_), 192 + _flavida_ (_Arsilonche_), 199 + _fluctuosa_ (_Palimpsestis_), 90 + _fraterna_ (_Nonagria_), 297 + _fuciformis_ (_Hemaris_), 53 + _fuliginosa_ (_Phragmatobia_), 155 + _fulva_ (_Tapinostola_), 300 + _furcula_ (_Cerura_), 61 + _furuncula_ (_Miana_), 277 + _furva_ (_Hama_), 271 + + _gælica_ (_Palimpsestis_), 89 + _galii_ (_Celerio_), 38 + _galii_ (_Deilephila_), 38 + _gemina_ (_Apamea_), 272 + _geminipuncta_ (_Nonagria_), 297 + _genistæ_ (_Mamestra_), 241 + _glandifera_ (_Bryophila_), 200 + _glareosa_ (_Noctua_), 218 + _glauca_ (_Mamestra_), 245 + _glaucata_ (_Cilix_), 138 + _gonostigma_ (_Orgyia_), 94 + _gothica_ (_Tæniocampa_), 326 + _gothicina_ (_Tæniocampa_), 326 + _gracillis_ (_Tæniocampa_), 331 + _graminis_ (_Cerapteryx_), 256 + _graminis_ (_Charæas_), 256 + _griseo-variegata_ (_Panolis_), 324 + _griseola_ (_Lithosia_), 181 + _gueneei_ (_Luperina_), 268 + + _harpagula_ (_Drepana_), 134 + _haworthii_ (_Celæna_), 269 + _hebridicola_ (_Agrotis_), 214 + _hellmanni_ (_Tapinostola_), 301 + _helvetina_ (_Agrotis_), 218 + _hepatica_ (_Xylophasia_), 280 + _hera_ (_Callimorpha_), 164 + _hethlandica_ (_Dianthoecia_), 249 + _hibernica_ (_Celæna_), 270 + _hibernicus_ (_Cerapteryx_), 257 + _hispidus_ (_Heliophobus_), 267 + _hoegei_ (_Gastropacha_), 127 + _hospita_ (_Parasemia_), 157 + _hybridus_ (_Smerinthus_), 22 + _hyperborea_ (_Agrotis_), 215 + _Hypsidæ_, 167 + + _ianthina_ (_Triphæna_), 234 + _ilicanus_ (_Sarrothripa_), 147 + _ilicifolia_ (_Epicnaptera_), 125 + _immaculata_ (_Tæniocampa_), 330 + _impar_ (_Bryophila_), 200 + _impudens_ (_Leucania_), 307 + _impura_ (_Leucania_), 305 + _incerta_ (_Tæniocampa_), 330 + _infuscata_ (_Acronycta_), 192 + _infuscata_ (_Xylophasia_), 280 + _innuba_ (_Triphæna_), 232 + _interjecta_ (_Triphæna_), 234 + _intermedia_ (_Celerio_), 41 + _inversa_ (_Smerinthus_), 22 + _irregularis_ (_Dianthoecia_, 252 + _irrorella_ (_Endrosa_), 177 + + _jacobææ_ (_Hipocrita_), 171 + + _l-album_ (_Arctornis_), 94 + _lacertinaria_ (_Drepana_), 136 + _lacteola_ (_Lithosia_), 185 + _lanestris_ (_Eriogaster_), 114 + _lapponica_ (_Pterostoma_), 80 + _Lasiocampidæ_, 106 + _latruncula_ (_Miana_), 275 + _leucographa_ (_Pachnobia_), 325 + _leuconota_ (_Hecatera_), 254 + _leucophæa_ (_Pachetra_), 257 + _leucostigma_ (_Helotropha_), 293 + _lichenea_ (_Epunda_), 285 + _ligustri_ (_Craniophora_), 198 + _ligustri_ (_Sphinx_), 33 + _lineata_ (_Deilephila_), 41 + _literosa_ (_Miana_), 276 + _lithargyria_ (_Leucania_), 312 + _Lithosiinæ_, 173 + _lithoxylea_ (_Xylophasia_), 279 + _littoralis_ (_Leucania_), 308 + _littorali_s (_Prodenia_), 264 + _livornica_ (_Deilephila_), 41 + _livornica_ (_Phryxus_), 41 + _loreyi_ (_Leucania_), 311 + _lubricipeda_ (_Spilosoma_), 151 + _lucernea_ (_Agrotis_), 213 + _lucipara_ (_Euplexia_), 291 + _luneburgensis_ (_Aporophyla_), 282 + _lunigera_ (_Agrotis_), 205 + _lurideola_ (_Lithosia_), 182 + _luteago_ (_Dianthoecia_), 247 + _lutescens_ (_Callimorpha_), 164 + _lutulenta_ (_Aporophyla_), 282 + _Lymantriidæ,_ 94 + + _maillardi_ (_Crymodes_), 262 + _margaritosa_ (_Agrotis_), 212 + _marginata_ (_Lasiocampa_), 116 + _maritima_ (_Senta_), 299 + _matura_ (_Cerigo_), 269 + _maura_ (_Mania_), 292 + _megacephala_ (_Acronycta_), 193 + _melaleuca_ (_Xylomania_), 259 + _melanocephala_ (_Acronycta_), 191 + _mendica_ _(Diaphora_), 153 + _menthastri_ (_Spilosoma_), 149 + _menyanthidis_ (_Acronycta_), 196 + _mesomella_ (_Cybosia_), 178 + _meticulosa_ (_Phlogophora_), 291 + _micacea_ (_Hydroecia_), 294 + _miniata_ (_Miltochrista_), 176 + _miniosa_ (_Tæniocampa_), 327 + _molybdeola_ (_Lithosia_), 184 + _monacha_ (_Lymantria_), 105 + _monoglypha_ (_Xylophasia_), 280 + _montivaga_ (_Acronycta_), 197 + _mori_ (_Bombyx_), 106 + _morpheus_ (_Caradrina_), 316 + _morrisii_ (_Petilampa_), 320 + _munda_ (_Tæniocampa_), 330 + _mundana_ (_Nudaria_), 174 + _muralis_ (_Bryophila_), 200 + _muscerda_ (_Pelosia_), 187 + _musculosa_ (_Oria_), 302 + _myricæ_ (_Acronycta_), 197 + + _nana_ (_Tæniocampa_), 328 + _nebeculosa_ (_Brachionycha_), 288 + _nebulosa_ (_Aplecta_), 238 + _neglecta_ (_Noctua_), 219 + _nerii_ (_Daphnis_), 45 + _nerii_ (_Chærocampa_), 45 + _neurica_ (_Nonagria_), 298 + _neustria_ (_Malacosoma_), 107, 111 + _nictitans_ (_Hydroecia_), 294 + _nigra_ (_Aporophyla_), 282 + _nigricans_ (_Agrotis_), 207 + _nigricans_ (_Nonagria_), 297 + _nigristriata_ (_Senta_), 299 + _nigrocincta_ (_Polia_), 287 + _nigrocostata_ (_Senta_), 299 + _Noctuidæ_, 189 + _Nolidæ_, 139 + _Notodontidæ_, 56 + _nubilata_ (_Asphalia_), 91 + + _obelisca_ (_Agrotis_), 208 + _oblonga_ (_Hama_), 270 + _obscura_ (_Apamea_), 272 + _obscura_ (_Bombycia_), 263 + _obsoleta_ (_Leucania_), 307 + _occulta_ (_Euoris_), 236 + _ocellatus_ (_Smerinthus_), 22 + _ochrea_ (_Dianthoecia_), 249 + _ochreola_ (_Lithosia_), 180 + _ochroleuca_ (_Eremobia_), 263 + _octogessima_ (_Palimpsestis_), 88, 89 + _oculea_ (_Apamea_), 274 + _oleagina_ (_Valeria_), 266 + _oleracea_ (_Mamestra_), 241 + _olivacea_ (_Lasiocampa_), 116 + _olivacea_ (_Polia_), 286 + _olivaceo-fasciata_ (_Lasiocampa_), 126 + _ophiogramma_ (_Apamea_), 274 + _opima_ (_Tæniocampa_), 320 + _or_ (_Palimpsestis_), 88 + _orbona_ (_Triphæna_), 230 + _orion_ (_Diphtera_), 189 + _oxyacanthæ_ (_Miselia_), 289 + + _pabulatricula_ (_Apamea_), 273 + _pallens_ (_Leucania_), 304 + _pallida_ (_Aplecta_), 238 + _pallida_ (_Trichiura_), 112 + _palpina_ (_Pterostoma_), 80 + _paludis_ (_Hydroecia_), 294 + _palustris_ (_Hydrilla_), 321 + _papyrata_ (_Spilosoma_), 150 + _pascuea_ (_Aporophyla_), 284 + _passetii_ (_Eurois_), 236 + _pavonia_ (_Saturnia_), 131 + _peregrina_ (_Mamestra_), 246 + _perfusca_ (_Noctua_), 226 + _perla_ (_Bryophila_), 200 + _persicariæ_ (_Mamestra_), 239 + _petasitis_ (_Hydroecia_), 295 + _phoebe_ (_Notodonta_), 72 + _phragmitidis_ (_Calamia_), 303 + _pigra_ (_Pygæra_), 84 + _pinastri_ (_Hyloicus_), 34 + _pini_ (_Dendrolimus_), 106 + _pini_ (_Eutricha_), 106 + _piniperda_ (_Panolis_), 324 + _pisi_ (_Mamestra_), 244 + _plaga_ (_Agrotis_), 209 + _plantaginis_ (_Parasemia_), 157 + _plecta_ (_Noctua_), 228 + _plumigera_ (_Ptilophora_), 79 + _polyodon_ (_Cloantha_), 282 + _Polyplocidæ_, 95 + _popularis_ (_Tholera_), 255 + _populeti_ (_Tæniocampa_), 329 + _populi_ (_Amorpha_), 20 + _populi_ (_Poecilocampa_), 113 + _populi_ (_Smerinthus_), 20, 22 + _porcellus_ (_Chærocampa_), 48 + _porcellus_ (_Metopsilus_), 48 + _potatoria_ (_Cosmotriche_), 123 + _præcox_ (_Agrotis_), 211 + _prasina_ (_Euoris_), 235 + _prasinana_ (_Hylophila_), 145 + _primulæ_ (_Noctua_), 224 + _pronuba_ (_Triphæna_), 232 + _protea_ (_Eumichtis_), 264 + _psi_ (_Acronycta_), 195 + _pudibunda_ (_Dasychira_), 98 + _pudorina_ (_Leucania_), 307 + _pulchella_ (_Deiopeia_), 169 + _pulverulenta_ (_Tæniocampa_), 328 + _punctina_ (_Leucania_), 306 + _puta_ (_Agrotis_), 204 + _putrescens_ (_Leucania_), 310 + _putris_ (_Axylia_), 229 + _pygmæola_ (_Lithosia_), 184, 185 + _pyramidea_ (_Amphipyra_), 323 + + _quadra_ (_Oeonestis_), 179 + _quadripunctaria_ (_Callimorpha_), 164 + _quadripunctata_ (_Caradrina_), 318 + _quercifolia_ (_Gastropacha_), 126 + _quercus_ (_Lasiocampa_), 115 + + _radiata_ (_Spilosoma_), 152 + _radiola_ (_Agrotis_), 205 + _ramosana_ (_Sarrothripa_), 147 + _ravida_ (_Agrotis_), 215 + _rectilinea_ (_Hyppa_), 265 + _remissa_ (_Apamea_), 272 + _renigera_ (_Agrotis_), 213 + _reticulata_ (_Neuria_), 254 + _revayana_ (_Sarrothripa_), 144, 146 + _rhomboidea_ (_Noctua_), 223 + _ridens_ (_Polyploca_), 93 + _ripæ_ (_Agrotis_), 210 + _roboris_ (_Aplecta_), 238 + _roboris_ (_Lasiocampa_), 116 + _rosea_ (_Agrotis_), 214, 218 + _rossica_ (_Callimorpha_), 166 + _rubi_ (_Macrothylacia_), 121 + _rubi_ (_Noctua_), 226 + _rubricollis_ (_Atolmis_), 173 + _rubricosa_ (_Pachnobia_), 326 + _rufa_ (_Coenobia_), 299 + _rufa_ (_Tæniocampa_), 326 + _rufescens_ (_Tæniocampa_), 332 + _rumicis_ (_Acronycta_), 198 + _runica_ (_Diphtera_), 190 + _rurea_ (_Xylophasia_), 278 + _russula_ (_Diacrisia_), 158 + _rustica_ (_Diaphora_), 153 + + _salicis_ (_Acronycta_), 198 + _salicis_ (_Stilpnotia_), 102 + _sanio_ (_Diacrisia_), 158 + _Sarrothripinæ_, 146 + _satura_ (_Eumichtis_), 260 + _Saturniidæ_, 131 + _saucia_ (_Agrotis_), 212 + _scabriuncula_ (_Dipterygia_), 281 + _schaufussi_ (_Malacosoma_), 111 + _scincula_ (_Drepana_), 137 + _scolopacina_ (_Xylophasia_), 281 + _scotica_ (_Acronycta_), 196 + _scotica_ (_Palimpsestis_), 89 + _scotica_ (_Polyploca_), 92 + _secalis_ (_Apamea_), 274 + _sedi_ (_Aporophyla_), 283 + _segetum_ (_Agrotis_), 201 (_segetis_) + _semivirga_ (_Acronycta_), 191 + _semivirgata_ (_Hyppa_), 265 + _senex_ (_Comacla_), 175 + _serena_ (_Hecatera_), 254 + _sericea_ (_Lithosia_), 184 + _sexstrigata_ (_Noctua_), 227 (_umbrosa_) + _signata_ (_Endrosa_), 177 + _similis_ (_Porthesia_), 100 + _simulans_ (_Agrotis_), 214 + _sinelinea_ (_Leucania_), 308 + _sobrina_ (_Noctua_), 227 + _sororcula_ (_Lithosia_), 187 + _sparganii_ (_Nonagria_), 296 + _Sphingidæ_, 17 + _sphinx_ (_Brachionycha_), 288 + _spinula_ (_Cilix_), 132 + _stabilis_ (_Tæniocampa_), 328 + _steinerti_ (_Acronycta_), 193 + _stellatarum_ (_Macroglossa_), 52 + _stigmatica_ (_Noctua_), 223 + _straminea_ (_Leucania_), 181 + _striata_ (_Coscina_), 167 + _strigilis_ (_Miana_), 274 + _strigosa_ (_Acronycta_), 194 + _strigula_ (_Agrotis_), 210 + _strigula_ (_Nola_), 140 + _suasa_ (_Mamestra_), 242 + _subfusca_ (_Noctua_), 203 + _subsequa_ (_Triphæna_), 231 + _sublustris_ (_Xylophasia_), 278 + _subrosea_ (_Noctua_), 217 + _suffusa_ (_Polia_), 286 + _sundevalli_ (_Craniophora_), 199 + _superstes_ (_Caradrina_), 317 + + _taraxaci_ (_Caradrina_), 317 + _tenebrosa_ (_Rusina_), 322 + _templi_ (_Dasypolia_), 285 + _testacea_ (_Luperina_), 267 + _thalassina_ (_Mamestra_), 243 + _thompsoni_ (_Aplecta_), 238 + _thulei_ (_Noctua_), 224 + _Thyatiridæ_, 85 + _tincta_ (_Aplecta_), 236 + _tiliæ_ (_Dilina_), 17 + _tiliæ_ (_Mimas_), 17 + _tityus_ (_Hemaris_), 55 + _torva_ (_Notodonta_), 73 + _tragopogonis_ (_Amphipyra_), 324 + _tremula_ (_Pheosia_), 69 + _trepida_ (_Notodonta_), 74 + _triangulum_ (_Noctua_), 223 + _tricuspis_ (_Cerapteryx_), 256 + _tridens_ (_Acronycta_), 195 + _trifolii_ (_Lasiocampa_), 119 + _trifolii_ (_Mamestra_), 245 + _trifolii_ (_Pachygastria_), 107 + _trigrammica_ (_Meristis_), 314 + _trimacula_ (_Drymonia_), 67 + _tritici_ (_Agrotis_), 207, 208 + _tritophus_ (_Notodonta_), 72, 73 + _trux_ (_Agrotis_), 205 + _turca_ (_Leucania_), 314 + _typhæ_ (_Nonagria_), 297 + _typica_ (_Nænia_), 293 + + _ulmifolia_ (_Gastropacha_), 126 + _umbrosa_ (_Noctua_), 227 + _unanimis_ (_Apamea_), 273 + _unicolor_ (_Lithosia_), 180 + _unipuncta_ (_Leucania_), 310 + _urticæ_ (_Spilosoma_), 150 + + _variegata_ (_Ptilophora_), 79 + _versicolor_ (_Endromis_), 129 + _vestigialis_ (_Agrotis_), 202 + _villica_ (_Arctia_), 162 + _viminalis_ (_Bombycia_), 263 + _vinula_ (_Dicranura_), 62 + _vitellina_ (_Leucania_), 311 + _v-nigrum_ (_Leucoma_), 94 + + _walkeri_ (_Spilosoma_), 149 + _wismariensis_ (_Senta_), 299 + _w-latinum_ (_Mamestra_), 241 + + _xanthographa_ (_Noctua_), 228 + _xanthomista_ (_Polia_), 287 + + _ypsilon_ (_Agrotis_), 209 + + _zatima_ (_Spilosoma_), 152 + _ziczac_ (_Notodonta_), 70 + _zollikoferi_ (_Xylophasia_), 279 + +A LIST OF THE FAMILIES OF BRITISH MOTHS described in this volume. + + SPHINGIDÆ, 17-55 + NOTODONTIDÆ, 56-84 + THYATIRIDÆ, 85-93 + LYMANTRIIDÆ, 94-105 + LASIOCAMPIDÆ, 106-128 + ENDROMIDIDÆ, 129, 130 + SATURNIIDÆ, 131, 132 + DREPANIDÆ, 132-138 + NOLIDÆ, 139-142 + CHLOËPHORIDÆ, 143-146 + SARROTHRIPINÆ, 146 + ARCTIIDÆ, 148-188 + ARCTIINÆ, 148-172 + LITHOSIINÆ, 173-188 + NOCTUIDÆ, 189-331 + ACRONYCTINÆ, 189-201 + TRIFINÆ, 201-331 + + * * * * * + + +A LIST OF THE VOLUMES IN THE WAYSIDE AND WOODLAND SERIES + + * * * * * + +WAYSIDE AND WOODLAND BLOSSOMS A Pocket Guide to British Wild Flowers, for +the Country Rambler. (First and Second Series.) With clear Descriptions of +760 Species. By EDWARD STEP, F.L.S. And Coloured Figures of 257 Species by +MABEL E. STEP. + +WAYSIDE AND WOODLAND TREES A Pocket Guide to the British Sylva. By EDWARD +STEP, F.L.S. With 175 Plates from Water-colour Drawings by MABEL E. STEP +and Photographs by HENRY IRVING and the Author. + +WAYSIDE AND WOODLAND FERNS A Pocket Guide to the British Ferns, Horsetails +and Club-Mosses. By EDWARD STEP, F.L.S. With Coloured Figures of every +Species by MABEL E. STEP. And 67 Photographs by the Author. + +THE BUTTERFLIES OF THE BRITISH ISLES A Pocket Guide for the Country +Rambler. With clear Descriptions and Life Histories of all the Species. By +RICHARD SOUTH, F.E.S. With 450 Coloured Figures photographed from Nature, +and numerous Black and White Drawings. + +THE MOTHS OF THE BRITISH ISLES (First and Second Series). A Complete Pocket +Guide to all the Species included in the Groups formerly known as +Macro-lepidoptera. By RICHARD SOUTH, F.E.S. With upwards of 1500 Coloured +Figures photographed from Nature, and numerous Black and White Drawings. + +THE BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES AND THEIR EGGS (First and Second Series). A +Complete Pocket Guide with descriptive text. By T. A. COWARD, M.B.O.U., +F.Z.S., F.E.S. With 455 accurately Coloured Illustrations by ARCHIBALD +THORBURN and others, and 134 Photographic Reproductions by RICHARD KEARTON, +F.Z.S., Miss E. L. TURNER, M.B.O.U., and others. + + * * * * * + +AT ALL BOOKSELLERS. _Full Prospectuses on application to the Publishers_-- +FREDERICK WARNE AND CO., LTD. LONDON: Chandos House, Bedford Court, Bedford +Street, W.C. 2 NEW YORK: 26, East 22nd Street. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Moths of the British Isles, First +Series, by Richard South + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 41782 *** |