THE SQUARE-SPOTTED CLAY. 223 



two specimens have been recorded from Ireland. Its range 

 extends to Siberia and Amurland. 



The Double Square-spot {Noctua triangidnm). 



This species (Plate 113, Fig. i) is usually pale brown, more 

 or less tinged with reddish, but some specimens are of a rather 

 darker hue, and others inclined to greyish. The conspicuous 

 marks in the discal cell, usually black or blackish, are sometimes 

 pale or dark reddish brown. The moth flies in June and July, 

 and occurs in woods or well-timbered districts throughout 

 England (except in Somerset, Dorset, and westward), Wales, 

 Scotland (mainland), and Ireland. 



The Square -spotted Clay {Noctua stigmatica). 



As will be seen from its portrait (Plate 113, Fig. 2), this moth, 

 although darker in colour, is marked somewhat similarly to the 

 last referred to. It should be noted, however, that the basal 

 line is less distinct ; the submarginal line is inwardly shaded 

 with blackish, and there is no blackish spot at its costal ex- 

 tremity. The fore wings are sometimes pale reddish brown, 

 and sometimes almost blackish. 



The caterpillar, which is ochreous, or brownish, is somewhat 

 similar in marking to that of A. ditrapcziiivi^ and feeds on 

 dandelion, dock, chickweed, plantain, sallow, etc. In confine- 

 ment it is said to eat sliced carrot or potato, and, if kept warm, 

 may be induced to feed up and attain the moth state early in 

 the year. 



The moth flics in July and August and seems to be partial to 

 woods. It is very local, but occurs not uncommonly in the 

 New Forest, Hampshire, and in Oxfordshire and Berkshire 

 beech woods ; also found in Buckinghamshire, the Eastern 

 Counties, Kent, Sussex, Dorsetshire, Devon, Lancashire (once), 

 Yorkshire (very local), and North Wales (once). In Scotland 



