3IO THE MOTHS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



The Devonshire Wainscot {^Laicania {Cirphis) puUrsccns). 



So far as the British distribution of this species (Plate 147, 

 Y\g. 9) is known, it seems to be confined to the coasts of South 

 Devon and South Wales. It was first noted at Torquay in the 

 year 1859, and about twelve years later was detected in Carmar- 

 thenshire. Abroad it occurs somewhat locally in France, Italy, 

 Dalmatia, and in North-west Africa. 



The caterpillar is pale brown with three whitish lines on the 

 back, the central one edged on each side with blackish, the 

 others shaded above with blackish with black dots in the shading-, 

 and edged below by a blackish fine ; all these lines become faint 

 on the last three rings of the body; the usual dots are black; 

 head rather paler, somewhat shiny, the lobes conspicuously edged 

 with black, and the jaws marked with blackish. It feeds on 

 grasses from September to January. The figure on Plate 148, 

 Fig. 7, is from one of a few caterpillars kindly sent by Mr. J. 

 Walker, of Torquay. He writes : " They are full fed by the 

 beginning of January as a rule, and although they go down, 

 they do not turn until the beginning of June." Mine unfortunately 

 died in the cocoon. The moth flies in July and August, and 

 favours particular coves and banks by the sea. It visits sugar, 

 and also the flowers of wild sage. 



The White-speck or American Wainscot {Ln/cania 

 i^Cirphis) imipwida). 



This moth (Plate 149, Fig. 4) is known in America, where it is 

 exceedingly abundant and destructive, as the " Army Worm." 

 It ranges through India, China, and Japan, and occurs in many 

 other parts of the world, including Madeira and the Canary Isles. 

 It is rare in Europe, and appears to have l)een noted in ]:)arts of 

 Spain, Portugal, and France. Since Haworth described and 



