270 



COMMON BIUTISH MOTHS 



or marbled with a luixtiire of shades of both these colours. It has 

 a hump on the back of the seventh segment, and two more on the 

 ninth, and possesses four pairs of claspers. It feeds on whitethorn 

 {Cratcegiis oxyacantha), blackthorn (Prunus spiiiosa), and the 

 apple (Pyrus Mains), and may be found on these trees throughout 

 the summer. 



Some believe that there are three successive broods of this insect 

 each year, but it is doubtful whether this is invariably the rule, since 

 both the moth and its larva are to be found without intermission 

 throughout the season. 



The Light Emerald {Metrocampa viargavitaria) 



All the wings of this moth are very pale green, and crossed with 

 a white band which is bordered with a darker green on the inner 

 side. The fore wings have an additional transverse line just half- 

 way between the former and the base, 

 but this one is not so distinct. It 

 Hies in July, and is very widely dis- 

 tributed, and in some parts is very 

 abundant. 



The caterpillar feeds in September, 

 and again in May, after hybernation, 

 on several of our forest trees, includ- 

 ing the oak (Quercus Bobar), elm 

 {Ulmas cajjijK'stria), birch (Bctnla 

 aJba), and beech [Fag us sglvaiica). It is of a dingj olive colour, 

 with a dark dorsal line, on each side of which is a row of white 

 spots ; and it has three pairs of claspers. 



The SeaJlopecl Oalx [CroealUs elingaaria) 



This species is common and widely distributed, and may be seen 

 flying at dusk towards the end of July and throughout August. It 

 is represented in fig. 4 of Plate XII. The antennte of the male are 

 strongly pectinated ; those of the female are simple. 



The caterpillar may be found in the autumn, and again in 

 spring, feeding on the honeysuckle {Lonicera Periclymenum), 

 whitethorn [Crcdcrgus oxyacantha), blackthorn {Primus spinosa), 

 beech (Fagiis sylvatica), and various fruit trees. It is full grown 

 in June, when it turns to a chrysalis in a cocoon spun between 

 leaves or moss on or near the ground. It is of a greyish-brnwn or 

 greyisli-piu'ple colour, and looks very like a piece of twig. 



Fio. 



]77. The Light 



