THE LESSER SATIN MOTH. 89 



to figures noted in the last species (Plate 36, Figs. 7, 8). In 

 Scotland the moths have a paler ground colour generally, van 

 scotica^ Tutt. ; one from Ireland with ground colour pearly white 

 and broad black "lutestrings" has been named van gaelica, 

 Kane. Hybrids from a cross pairing of this species with the last 

 have been obtained by Mr. W. H. B. Fletcher. These specimens 

 have the "lutestrings" of ^r, and the "figure of 80" characteristic 

 of octogcssima. Caterpillar yellowish green with a dark line 

 along the middle of the back, and two black spots on the front 

 edge of the ring next the yellowish brown head. It feeds on 

 poplar, and hides between united leaves in the daytime ; may 

 be found from July to September or even later. Chrysalis, 

 reddish brown, the surface minutely pitted, and spike pointed, 

 and thickened at the base ; in a brownish cocoon spun up 

 between leaves. The moth emerges in June or July, and it 

 comes freely to sugar, but like other members of this family is 

 not always easy to box. It seems to occur in most places 

 where poplar trees are well established ; widely distributed 

 over England, and found throughout Scotland even to the 

 Shetland Isles. In Ireland it seems to be local and rare. 

 Distribution abroad much as in the last species. 



The Lesser Satin Moth {Palimpsestis dtiplaris). 



Figs. I, 2, on Plate 39, represent the typical southern form of 

 this species. The fore wings are pale greyish with a whitish 

 edged, broad, dark central band ; two black dots on the outer 

 edge of the band distinguish this species from the next. In Scot- 

 land and in Northern England the general colour is blackish 

 or purplish grey (Fig. 3), and sometimes specimens more or 

 less suffused with the darker colour are found in the southern 

 half of England. Quite the darkest, almost black, form seems to 

 occur in Cannock Chase, Staffordshire, and in Delamere Poorest, 

 Cheshire. The caterpillar is greenish; central area of the back 



