258 



COMMON BRITISH MOTHS 



The Marvel-du-jour {Agrlopis Aprilina) 



The Marvel-du-jotir is tlecidedly a beautiful moth — quite an ex- 

 ception among the Noctuce in this respect, and it is withal both 

 common and widely distributed. "We need not describe it, since it 

 is represented on Plate XI (iig. 2), and can hardly be mistaken for 

 any other species. 



The caterpillar is dull green, often tinged with red. The dorsal 

 line is broad and dark, and interrupted by a series of very light 

 lozenge-shaped spots. It feeds on the oak in May and Jime, and is 

 full grown in the latter month. It then burrows into the earth at 

 the foot of the tree, and there constructs a fragile earthen cocoon 

 previous to changing to a chrysalis. 



From July to September the chrysalides may be obtained in 

 plenty by breaking up the sods at the roots of oaks, and the perfect 

 insect may be found toward the end of September and throughout 

 October. 



Tlie Small Angle Shades {Euplexia litci])ara) 



This pretty little moth is represented in fig, 3 of Plate XI. It 

 is very common throughout the country, and ma^' be seen in June 

 and July. 



The caterpillar is thickest on the twelfth segment, and gradually 

 tapers from this towards the head. Its colour is pale green, with a 

 white stripe just below the spiracles, which are black. On each 

 side of the back are a number of oblique lines, which meet in the 

 middle line, thus forming a series of v-shaped marks pointing 

 towards the tail. It feeds on the common bracken fern (Fteris 

 aquilina) ,io\g\o\e [Dicjitalii: purpurea), and the male fern [Lastraa 

 Filix-maa), in August and September. 



The Angle Shadci 



{Phlogophora Meti- 



ciilosa) 



This moth is so com- 

 mon and so widely dis- 

 tributed that it is almost 

 sure to be taken by the 

 young collector diu-ing 

 his first season. Its wings 

 are scalloped on the hind margin, and their colour light ochreous, 

 often tinged witli pink or o]i\e green, and marked with dark 



Fig. 168. _The Angle Sh.vdf.s. 



