1 66 THE MOTHS OF THE BRITISH ISLES, 



range extending to Holland, Belgium, and Livonia. It was 

 known as an inhabitant of the Channel Islands long before it 

 became established in England. 



The Scarlet Tiger {CaUimorpha dominnla). 



Except in minor details this tropical-looking moth (Plate 89) 

 seems little given to variation in England. In parts of Central 

 and Southern Europe, and Asia Minor, striking forms occur, 

 and some of these are very occasionally found with us. Among 

 such rare aberrations in this country are var. rossica^ Kol., with 

 yellow hind wings ; and var. bithyniica^ Stand., with the spots 

 on the fore wings yellow, and the hind wings of the normal 

 crimson colour. A South European form, \?ix. persona, Hiibn., 

 has the hind wings and body black, with some yellow marks on 

 the basal area ; spots on the fore wings smaller than in the 

 type. Specimens approaching this form have been reported 

 from Kent, which county is also noted for " black doininulaP 

 In the latter variety the hind wings, body, and spots on fore 

 wings are blackish ; it is exceedingly rare, A specimen taken 

 at St. Margaret's Bay, Kent, some years back has the spots on 

 the fore wings blurred, due to a cloudy suffusion filling up the 

 space between them ; the spots on the hind wings are pale. 



Caterpillar, black, hairy, with bands of more or less con- 

 nected spots, yellow or yellowish in colour, down the middle of 

 the back, and along the sides ; the hairs, arising from shining 

 black warts, are grey with some black onefi intermixed. Head, 

 glossy black. It hatches from the ^g^ in July or August, feeds 

 for awhile, then hibernates, and completes its growth in April 

 or May. A number of plants have been mentioned as suitable 

 food for these caterpillars, but the favourites are, perhaps, 

 nettle, groundsel, hound's-tongue {Cynoglossuin officinale), 

 bramble, sloe, and sallow (Plate 88). 



