THE CRESCENT. 293 



found more or less frequently throughout England northwards, 

 and well into Scotland, as least as far as Clydesdale. Renton 

 records it as common at sugar in Roxburghshire, and White 

 gives the Forth and Tay districts. Widely distril)uted in 

 Ireland, common in some parts. 



A/yC0-tf^\\r 3 The Gothic {Ncenia typica). 



This moth (Plate 142, Fig. 2) is common m gardens, as well as 

 ^■'''^^ along the weedy wayside and hedgerow in all parts of England 

 and Wales, Scotland to Sutherland, and in Ireland. The cater- 

 pillar (Plate 139, Fig. 2) varies in colour from brownish-grey to 

 pale ochreous brown, or greenish grey, freckled with darker; three 

 pale lines on the first ring, and partly on the second ; some pale 

 oblique streaks on the sides, and blackish marks on rings ten 

 and eleven, the latter more or less united behind ; head of the 

 body colour darker marked. It feeds on all kinds of herbage, 

 also on the leaves of sallow, sloe, apple, etc. When young in 

 large companies on the underside of leaves. August to May. 

 The moth flies in June and July. 



^> t*'^/ The Crescent (Helotropha.kucostigmd). cjr^\^ .\ 



'^^ Of this purphsh-brown species the typical form (Fig. i), and ^^ ^ 

 ^^^^ the pale banded form, \?iX. fibrosa, Hiibn., are shown on Plate 143. c^y.^' 

 The caterpillar, according to Buckler, is slaty brown, inclining ^|^^ 

 to olive drab above ; three paler lines on the back ; the spiracles ^ 

 are black and the usual dots black-brown ; head warm brown, 

 very glossy ; plate on first ring glossy black, that on the last 

 ring blackish brown. It feeds in the stems of Clddiiim marisciis, 

 sedge (G?/Ya- paliuiosa), and yellow dag {In's psc/uhiconis). 

 May to July. The moth is out in late June, July, and August. 

 It inhabits fens and marshy ground, and seems to be found 

 in such localities throughout the British Isles, including the 



