172 



MOTHS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



The chrysalis is dark-brown tinged with reddish ; in a sHght 

 silken cocoon jast under the surface of the ground, or among 

 any loose material on the ground. 



The moth is on the wing at the end of May and in June ; 



odd specimens 

 have occasion- 

 ally been seen 

 in April. It 

 occurs on waste 

 ground, sandy 

 heaths, railway 

 banks, downs, 

 and hill-sides. 

 Although fairly 

 common gene- 

 rally, in some 

 years it is not 

 at all plentiful 

 even when 

 caterpill a r s 

 may have 

 abounded the 

 previous sea- 

 son. When dis- 

 FiG. 24. turbed from 



Cinnabar Caterpillars Feeding-. among its food 



(Photo by W. J. Lucas.) pj^^t or herb- 



age around, it is not very active on the wing, and is easily 

 captured. Its usual time of flight is in the evening. Light 

 seems to have an attraction for it, as it has been taken at 

 gas lamps in towns, some distance from any place where the 

 caterpillar could have fed. 



Occurs in all suitable places throughout the greater part of 

 England and in Scotland up to Moray. Common in Ireland. 



