256 THE MOTHS OF THE BRITISH ISLES 



darker. The caterpillars hatch in the spring from eggs laid the 

 previous autumn, and may be found until July. They feed at 

 night on the leaves of grasses, especially Nardus and such 

 kinds, growing in parks and open places. The moth is out in 

 August and September, and occurs more or less commonly 

 throughout England and Wales. In Scotland it is found in 

 Ayrshire, and in other localities in the Clyde area; thence east- 

 ward to Aberdeen. Kane states that in Ireland it is generally 

 distributed, and in some localities very abundant, as at Clonbrock, 

 and on the Wicklow coast. 



The Hedge Rustic {Tholera cespitis). 



The sexes of this moth are depicted on Plate 1 28, Figs. 8^,9?. 

 In habits, and also in the kind of places it frequents, this species 

 has much in common with that last mentioned. It is certainly 

 more local, but its range in the British Isles is somewhat similar 

 to that of the Gothic. The life history also is very like that of 

 the last species, and the caterpillar feeds on the same kinds 

 of grass. 



The Antler Moth {Charceas graminis). 



This moth (Plate 127, Figs. 8 J, 9$) has the fore wings 

 greyish brown or reddish brown, sometimes tinged with ochreous 

 in the paler forms, or with olive in the darker forms. There is 

 also variation in the markings, and chiefly of the central forked 

 streak which has been likened to the antler of the stag. In 

 most British specimens of the greyish form this is white 

 throughout its length, and it has three branches ; the stigmata 

 are whitish, and there is often a whitish bar below the central 

 streak. A number of aberrations have been named, and of 

 these the following seem to be the most important : var. 

 tricuspis, Esp., reddish brown ; branched streak, stigmata, and 

 bar ochreous ; var. riifa, Tutt. = triciispis^ Hubn.,as above, but 



