THE DOT. 239 



the clots and the spiracles are black, each of the latter with a 

 blackish streak in front of it. In the autumn it feeds upon dock 

 and other low plants ; but in the spring, when it is more easily 

 found, the caterpillar eats the buds and young leaves of birch, 

 oak, sallow, bramble, etc. The moth is out in June and July, 

 and is not uncommon in woods. The black form seems to be 

 peculiar to north England. In Amurland the species is repre- 

 sented by var. askolda^ Oberthiir, and in North America by var. 

 iiijubosa^ Guence. 



The Cabbage Moth {Barathra brass lav). 



The darker markings of this very common greyish moth are 

 often very obscure, but the white outline of the reniform stigma, 

 and the white submarginal line are usually distinct. The cater- 

 pillar varies in colour, but generally is some shade of dull brown 

 or greenish, with the usual dots greyish or green tinged. The 

 central line on the back is dusky, speckled with wliite, and the 

 stripe low down on the sides is yellowish, greenish, or dingy 

 brown ; head ochreous brown marked with darker or greenish. 

 Although it is exceedingly partial to the cabbage and other 

 plants of the kind, it will feed upon almost every sort of low 

 herbage, wild or cultivated. Barrett states that it has been 

 found feeding on oak. I have taken it from birch in the garden, 

 and it is known to eat leaves of almost any tree or shrub that 

 may be offered to it in confinement. July to October. The 

 moth is out in June and July, and sometimes there is an 

 emergence in September. The species occurs over the whole 

 of the British Isles, and abroad its range extends to India, 

 Amurland, and Japan. (Plate 120, Figs. 35, 6 5 



The Dot {Mamesira pcrsicarice). 

 The striking feature of the bluish-black moth shown on 

 Plate 120, Figs, i, 2, is the brownish centred white reniform 



