134 'fHE AtOTHS OF THE P-RI'lISH ISLES. 



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, some- 

 times 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 



