122 THE MOTHS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



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 larvic 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. 



The late Mr. Robson used to collect the caterpillars on fine 



