THE NOCTUM 253 



The Lesser YcUow Utulerwing {Triplurna Comes) 



This insect is very similar to tlie last, but is lai-f^er. The 

 fore wings are also of a greyish or ochreous brown, and the black 

 margin of the hind wings is propor- 

 tionately narrower. \ /" 



It is more abundant than Ian- j; ^i-*- . ' -,' ■ 



til ilia; in fact it is to be found '; ';;- ^- -J-- 

 every where in plenty- during the '^- 

 month of July. 



The caterpillar is yellowish 

 brown. On the back of each of 

 the eleventh and twelfth segments Fn;. 100.— The Lesser 



are two conspicuous dark marks. Yellow Undeewing. 



The spiracles are white, and below 



them is a pale brown stripe. It feeds on the foxglove (Digitalis 

 inirpiirea), chickweed {Stellaria media), thrift (Arinerict maritima), 

 and other low plants in the autumn, hj'bernates during the winter, 

 and attacks sallows {Salix Caprea and S. cinerea) and whitethorn 

 {CratcEgus oxyacantlia) as soon as the buds appear in the spring. 

 It is full grown in April, and then changes to a chrysalis on the 

 svn-face of the earth. 



The Large Yellow Underwing {Triphana Promiha) 



This is by far the commonest moth of the genus, and may be 

 found everywhere, in town and countrjs from June to August. It 

 is represented on Plate XI (fig. 1), but its fore wings are very vari- 

 able, sometimes a cold dingj' grey, but often of an exceedingly rich 

 and warm brown. On the costal margin, not far from the tip, there 

 is always a small black spot, which will serve to distinguish it from 

 Comes. 



The caterpillar (fig, 21) feeds throughout the winter on the roots 

 of almost every plant in our gardens ; and, during the warmer 

 weather of the autumn and spring, on stems and leaves. It is full 

 grown early in the sinnmer, and then changes to a chrysalis in the 

 ground. Its colour is dirty yellowish or greenish grey, with a row 

 of dark spots on each side, 



