292 THE MOTHS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



ringed spiracles whitish ; head green or brown freckled with 

 darker. It feeds on groundsel, dock, bracken, and almost any- 

 thing in the way of an herbaceous plant ; often attacks geraniums 

 in the greenhouse as well as outdoors. Has been found in almost 

 every month of the year, but perhaps most common in July, 

 August, and September. The moth also occurs at all seasons of 

 the year, but seems to be most frequent in May and June, and 

 sometimes in September and October. It is found throughout 

 the British Isles. Both this species and the last mentioned, 

 when resting on herbage, paling, or tree stem, chiefly the 

 former, sit with the wings folded in to the body, but each fore 

 wing is broadly wrinkled or folded throughout its length. In 

 this position the moth is very like a crumpled decaying leaf, and 

 for such may be readil)- mistaken. 



The Old Lady {Mormo maura\ 



From its habit of creeping behind curtains, shutters, etc., and 

 otherwise disposing itself in dwelling-houses during the da}', as 

 well as in summer houses and other buildings, this moth (Plate 

 142, Figs. I 5, 3$) must often come under observation. The 

 caterpillar is ochreous brown with a darker diamond pattern on 

 the back ; the central line is ochreous, but much broken, and on 

 each side of it there is a series of pale oblique streaks ; the 

 spiracles are reddish ochreous, edged with black, and the line 

 along them is ochreous ; head pale brown, glossy. The general 

 colour varies to greyish or purplish brown. It feeds on various 

 low herbage in the autumn, and on the young shoots and leaves 

 of sallow, hawthorn, birch, etc., in the spring after hibernation. 

 The moth flies in July and August, and is generally common in 

 th^ south of England. Sometimes it abounds even in the London 

 suburbs, and in 1904 it was seen pretty frequently during August 

 flying, in the evening, low down along the roads and in 

 gardens all over the southern district. The species is also 



