1 86 THE MOTHS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



Caterpillar greyish brown, with a black line along the back, 

 and a series of irregular orange marks, representing stripes, 

 on each side of it ; these orange marks are outwardly edged 

 with black ; an orange Hne low down along the sides ; warts 

 greyish or brownish, each bearing a tuft of short pale hairs. 

 Head blackish, shining, notched on the crown, and studded 

 with pale bristles in front. Fed on lettuce from April 30, the 

 date they were received from Mr. Walker of Torquay. They 

 were then quite small, the largest not more than half an inch 

 in length. They pupated in June, and the moths emerged in 

 July, all fine specimens. (Plate 98, Fig. i.) 



In the open the caterpillar feeds upon the black lichens 

 growing on rocks, etc., by the sea ; also upon Dutch clover 

 (Trifolium repcns), kidney vetch (^Aiithyllis vulneraria\ and 

 bird's-foot trefoil (^Lotus corniculatus). 



This species was not known to occur in any part of the 

 British Isles until August, 1861, when the late Mr. C. G. Barrett 

 took four specimens on the Hill of Howth in Ireland [j>ide 

 Ent. Annual^ 1862, p. 106). A large number were subse- 

 quently captured or reared from caterpillars obtained in the 

 same locality by others. Kane ("Cat. Lep. Ireland") remarks 

 that the colony flourished at Howth for many years, but that 

 the species seemingly perished in the severe winters of 1878 or 

 1879, and unless a specimen taken in 1890 was this species, 

 has not since been seen there. The only other Irish locality 

 from which it has been recorded (August, 1866) is on the coast 

 near Waterford. Torquay, where the species was first observed 

 in 1864 is now a noted locality, and it is said to occur in certain 

 spots along the coast to Babbicombe. Other localities in 

 Devon are Dartmouth, Torcross, and Bolt Head. Barrett found 

 the species rarely in two places by the sea in South Pembroke- 

 shire, and mentions Rye in Sussex, and Romney Marsh in 

 Kent, as localities where specimens have occurred. 



Mr. J. Walker informs me that the moths fly at dusk, and 



