no THE MOTHS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



plants that flourish in the insects' favourite haunts, which, in 

 this country, are the salt marshes along the estuaries of the 

 Thames and Med way. 



The caterpillar is black, inclining to bluish between the 

 rings ; along the back are four much broken reddish orange 

 lines and a central bluish line ; a bluish stripe followed by a 

 reddish one along the sides, and below this the colour is bluish, 

 speckled with black ; the hairs are golden brown. Head 

 blackish grey, without black spots (Plate 49, Fig. 3). 



The chrysalis and its cocoon are similar to those of the Lackey, 

 and spun up among herbage. 



The moth emerges in July and August and, although it may 

 be occasionally attracted by light, is rarely seen in the open, 

 The caterpillars are to be found, most years, in plenty from May 

 to July. They feed on almost every kind of plant growing on 

 the salterns, and as they are fond of sunning themselves on 

 sea wormwood, sea plantain, etc., are easily seen at such times. 

 In dull weather they retire to their webs, which are generally 

 rather low down in the herbage. In confinement they will do 

 very well if supplied with fresh sprays or leaves of almost 

 any fruit tree, or of birch, whitethorn, etc. The receptacle 

 containing them should be constructed and placed so that the 

 caterpillars get plenty of air and sunshine. It is considered 

 desirable to sprinkle both food and caterpillars with water now 

 and then ; some rearers deem it necessary to put a tiny pinch 

 of salt in the water used for sprinkling ; and in my own 

 experience I have found that better results were obtained when 

 the food was thus treated than when the salt was omitted. 



On the continent this species occurs in woods, and on heaths, 

 etc, but in Britain it is seemingly confined to salt marshes. 

 Although it has been recorded from the Suffolk coast, and 

 other places, the best localities for it are probably the salterns, 

 from Gravesend to the Isle of Sheppey, and at Southend and 

 Shoeburyness. 



