THE FEN WAINSCOT. 303 



The Large Wainscot {Calamia hitosa). 



This species, shown on Plate 145, Figs, i, 2, varies somewhat 

 in the colour of the fore wings, which is usually pale ochreous 

 brown, but may be more or less reddish tinged, or clouded with 

 dusky ; there is a row of black dots beyond the middle of the 

 win.g, but these are sometimes faint or absent The range in 

 size is consideral^le, some s])ccimcns arc about the si-ze of 

 L. s/rivni/i(Ui whilst others will equal that of a large N. 

 typJur. 



The caterpillar is whitish tinged with pink aljove, and with a 

 dusky line along the l)ack ; head reddish brown and glossy ; 

 plates on first and last rings of the body shining pale brown. 

 It feeds from April to June in the stems of reed {Phnroni/frs), 

 causing the leaves of the atfected stems to whiten. The moth 

 flies in August, September, and October, sometimes later, and 

 occurs in marshes, and on the banks of streams and ditches, in 

 most of the southern and eastern counties of England, and from 

 Derbyshire to Durham ; in Scotland it has been recorded from 

 Roxburghshire (near Kelso, rare), Perthshire, Aberdeen, and 

 Shetland. The species is widely spread in Ireland. 



The Fen Wainscot {Calamia phragrii'Uidis). 



In the typical form this species (Plate 145, ?'igs. 3, 4) the 

 fore wings are whitish on the basal half, and incline to reddish 

 on the outer half; var. rH/cscens, Tutt, has these wings reddish 

 all over, but somewhat darker on the outer margin. The 

 caterpillar is ochreous white with a slightly paler stripe along 

 the back, edged on each side with purplish ; the spots are black, 

 as also are the spiracles ; head and plates on the first and last 

 rings of the body black or blackish brown, glossy. It feeds 

 from August to June in stems of reed (^Phi'agrnites)^ and is said 



