136 THE MOTHS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



outer margin there is a pale line ending on the tip of the wing. 

 The hind wings have an obscure dusky central dot placed in the 

 upper edge of the band, and usually there are two brownish 

 bands on the outer marginal area, but these do not extend to the 

 front margin. Except that the female is generally larger, and 

 the antennas are simple, the sexes are much alike (Plate 71). 



This species is best distinguished from binaria by the dark 

 bands, and the straighter second line. The central dots are 

 less trustworthy characters, because summer specimens of the 

 present species often have two of these spots on the fore wings 

 (var. ojsliva, Spr.), and in occasional examples of binaria the 

 lower central spot of the hind wings is absent. As a rule, how- 

 ever, the central dots are more conspicuous in biuaria than in 

 cidtraria. The ^%'g is yellowish, tinged with reddish at the 

 ends and along the sides. The caterpillar is somewhat similar 

 to that of the last species, but the hump on ring three is smaller, 

 and the side lines and diamond mark are whiter. It may be 

 found in June and July, and again in September, and even in 

 October in some years. It feeds on beech (Plate ^o). 



This species is found where beech trees occur, preferably on a 

 chalky soil, in the counties of England from Norfolk south- 

 wards. The male may often be seen flying, around the beech 

 trees or neighbouring bushes, in the sunshine ; or both sexes 

 may be caused to leave their resting places among the foliage 

 by tapping the boughs. 



Its range extends through Central Europe to Asia Minor. 



The Scalloped Hook-tip {Drcpana laccrtinaria). 



The name Scallop Hook-tip given to this species by Moses 

 Harris in 1775, doubtless referred to the ragged outlines 

 of the fore wings. These wings are pale brown in colour, 

 freckled and clouded with darker tints, and crossed by two dark- 

 brown lines ; the central dot is black, but often minute ; fringes 



