r02 THE MOTHS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



until at last, somewhere about 1880, even the lamps would 

 not draw a single specimen, and soon it appeared probable 

 that the last of the Reed Tussock had been seen in the fens, 

 its only known habitat in Britain. 



Caterpillar, dusky with a blackish stripe along the middle of 

 the back ; the raised dots are ochreous grey with pale yellowish 

 brown hairs arising from them ; there are four brushes of yellow 

 hairs on the back, bunches of long hairs on the first ring extended 

 over the brownish head, and a pencil of similar hairs on ring 

 eleven directed backward. The food plants given are bur-reed 

 {Spari^a?iium)^ Stephens ; C/adium marisciis, Barrett, and reed 

 {Phragmites commit nis). Stephens states that the caterpillar 

 and the moth were found at the end of July and beginning of 

 August, but other authorities give August to June for the cater- 

 pillar, and July for the moth. The caterpillar described above, 

 and of which a figure is given on Plate 44, was obtained, together 

 with eggs and cocoon, from Dr. Staudinger and Bang Haas, of 

 Dresden. All are preserved examples. 



Abroad this species is found in Northern Germany and France, 

 Hungary, Bulgaria, Amurland, China, Corea, and Japan. 



The White Satin Moth {Stilpnotia salids). 



The English name of this species dates back to about 1773, 

 and is a very suitable one for it, the fore wings being especially 

 glossy and satin-like. It seems to be less generally distributed 

 over the country than formerly, but it is still common in most 

 years, and in many places ; more particularly in the south of 

 England, and on the Lancashire coast. Even yet it occurs in 

 the suburbs of London, and on the southern side is sometimes 

 not uncommon. In Scotland it appears to be rare ; Barrett 

 mentions it from Aberdeen, Pitcaple, Inverurie, Peterhead, and 

 Ayrshire. Kane states that in Ireland the species, so far as he 

 knew, only occurred in a locality near Ahascragh. 



