286 THE MOTHS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



reddish brown. The moth flies in the autumn, and, after hiberna- 

 tion, in the spring. It frequents rocky places on the coast and 

 on hills. Its range in England is pretty much as in -the last 

 species, but it does not seem to occur on the south-east coast. 

 In Scotland it is widely spread over the country to the Orkneys, 

 and has been found in the most northern isle of the Shetlands, 

 but it is generally uncommon. It has been taken near Dublin 

 in Ireland, and less frequently in Antrim and Donegal. 



The Large Ranunculus {Polia flavidncta). 



The fore wings of this moth (Plate 138, Figs. 6 and 7), are 

 pale grey, clouded, and marked with darker ; yellowish freckles 

 at the base, and on the central area and the submarginal line 

 are usually, but not always, present. Sometimes, chiefly in 

 northern specimens, these wings are much suflused with darker 

 grey, approaching blackish. The caterpillar is green with a 

 yellowish or bluish tinge ; a dusky line along the back, and a 

 dark green line along the black-edged white spiracles. It feeds 

 on dock, groundsel, plantain, and many other plants from April 

 to July. The moth flies in September and October, and, except 

 in Kent, and perhaps Sussex, is rather uncommon in the 

 southern counties of England. It occurs, however, not in- 

 frequently in the eastern counties, and through Oxford, Berks, 

 Gloucester, Somerset to Cornwall, and northward through 

 Hereford and parts of the Midlands to Lancashire, Yorkshire, 

 and Durham. 



The Grey Chi {Polia chi). 



Four specimens are depicted on Plate 138. Figs. 2 and 3 

 represent the sexes of the type form, and Figs. 4 and 5, the 

 greenish-grey var. oiivacca^ Stephens. Both forms may be 

 paler or darker, but the green tinge is apt to fade out. Var. 

 siiffitsa, Tutt, is a dark greyish suffused form. 



