150 THE MOTHS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



the foliage of low-growing plants, and does not appear to be 

 specially attached to any particular kind. The chrysalis is dark 

 brown, in a close-fitting cocoon of silk and hair from the cater- 

 pillar, spun up in odd corners on the ground or at the base of a 

 wall or fence, sometimes between the pales (Plate 74). 



The moth emerges in June, and may be seen sitting on walls, 

 fences, trees, or on the herbage growing on hedge banks ; or 

 even on the bare ground. It often flies into houses when lighted 

 up, and is a frequent attendant at the public gas lamps and 

 electric lights. The geographical range of this species extends 

 through Northern and Central Europe southward to North- 

 West Africa, and eastward to Amurland. 



The Water Ermine {Spilosoma nrtkce). 



The specimens of this white moth, depicted on Plate 75, are of 

 the form usually met with in Britain. To Haworth, Stephens, 

 and other early entomologists this was known by the English 

 name of the " Water Ermine " {S. papy7'ata, Marsham), whilst a 

 rarer form — with a minute dot on the disc of the fore wings, and 

 three dusky spots on the hind wingSj as in the White Ermine — 

 was the "Dingy White" of Haworth. Occasionally specimens 

 are obtained with extra black spots on the basal and front areas 

 of the fore wi.ngs. 



Caterpillar, dark brown with a purplish tinge, the hairs, arising 

 in spreading tufts from black warts, are dark brownish ; spiracles 

 white ; head black and glossy. Feeds in July and August on 

 a variety of marsh plants, among which are yellow loosestrife 

 {Lyshnachia vidgaris)^ mint, {Mentha agi(atica), lousewort 

 {Pediaila?'is\ water dock {Rumex hydrolapathum\ and iris. It 

 seems to affect plants growing under bushes, rather than those 

 more exposed. It is, presumably, not difficult to rear in con- 

 finement, as there is a record of eight broods belonging to three 

 generations, and all descendants of a captured female, having 



