230 THK MOTHS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



the eleventh ring is edged behind with ochreous ; head dark 

 brown ; spiracles and raised dots blackish. (Adapted from 

 Fenn ) It feeds on hedge bedstraw {Galiinn molliigo)^ dock, 

 plantain, nettle, and many other low plants ; also on lettuce. 

 July to October. Generally the winter is passed in the chrysalis 

 stage, and the moth comes out in the following June or July. 

 Sometimes the moth has emerged in September. 



The Lesser Yellow Underwing {TnpJueua {Agrotis) 

 comes = orboia). 



This very variable species, of which the typical forms and 

 two varieties are represented on Plate 115, is to be found, often 

 abundantly, almost everywhere i.n the British Isles, except the 

 Shetlands. 



Apart from a form peculiar to Scotland, which will be 

 separately referred to, the colour range of the fore wings is from 

 pale ochreous-brown to a deep brown ; in all shades there may 

 be a tinge of reddish, or a suffusion of greyish. In Ireland and 

 Scotland, and less frequently in England, a distinctly red form 

 occurs. (Plate 115, Fig. 7.) Then there is variation in the 

 markings, and more particularly in the reniform and orbicular 

 marks ; both stigmata are, perhaps, rarely absent, but they are 

 frequently very faint, and of the orbicular there is often not a 

 trace. On the other hand, both may be filled up with dark 

 brown, or blackish, and very conspicuous. The cross lines, and 

 more especially the shaded submarginal, are usually pretty 

 much in evidence, but these are apt to disappear entirely. The 

 yellow hind wings are occasionally smudged with blackish 

 towards the base ; the central crescents vary in size, and some- 

 what in shape, and although sometimes greatly reduced, they 

 are only rarely quite missing ; the black band before the outer 

 margin is also subject to modification in width and the regularity 

 of its edges. 



