212 THE MOTHS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



brown, obscurely marked with darker. It feeds from September 

 to June on dwarf sallow, grasses, chickweed, wormwood, etc. 

 The moth flies in August. 



The Pearly Underwing {Agrotis (^Peridromd) saucid). 



Two specimens, both males, are represented on Plate 104. 

 Fig. 10 is more or less typical and Fig. 9 is referable to var. 

 viargan'/osa, Haworth ; both occur together wherever the 

 species is found, but the typical form is generally the most 

 frequent. 



The caterpillar, which tapers slightly towards the head, is 

 reddish grey or brown above and paler on the sides ; a line 

 along the middle of the back is yellowish and edged with dark 

 brown dashes ; the line along the greyish ringed black spiracles 

 is pale and edged above with black ; a yellowish blotch on the 

 last ring and a black bar on ring eleven ; head pale brown or 

 greyish brown marked with black. It feeds on most low plants ; 

 also on cabbage and rape. It occurs in June and July, and 

 in a second generation in September, October, and sometimes 

 November. From eggs laid in September the caterpillar hatched 

 in from five days to a fortnight and moths resulted from these 

 about six weeks later. 



Although it certainly does occur in May and June some- 

 times, the moth is very much more frequently seen in autumn. 

 On the south coast, extending to Cornwall and the Scilly 

 Isles, the species is possibly a resident. In other parts of 

 the British Isles its occurrence is more or less casual, and, 

 although common in some years in other southern, and also 

 eastern and northern counties, it does not seem to be per- 

 manently established therein. No doubt its more general 

 distribution, and abundance here and there, in certain years, is 

 due to the arrival of immigrants, either in small numbers in the 

 spring, or in swarms later on in the year. 



