2o8 THE MOTHS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



on each side of it ; low down on the sides is another dusky hne. 

 It feeds from September to May on mouse-ear chickweed, bed- 

 straw, plantain, and other low-growing plants growing on sandy 

 soils. 



The moth is out in July and August, and is widely distributed 

 throughout the British Isles, including the Orkneys and Shet- 

 lands, but especially common on coast sandhills. 



The Square -spot Dart {Agrotis {Euxoa) obeli sea). 



The fore wings of this moth (Plate io6. Fig. 12) are pale 

 greyish brown, purplish brown, or sometimes slaty brown, with 

 fairly distinct black cross lines, and a pale streak along the 

 front edge ; the first line is straight and less angled, and the 

 second line less curved towards the front margin than in 

 A. tritici. The caterpillar, which feeds from about October to 

 July on rock rose, bedstraw, and other low plants growing in 

 rocky places by the sea or on hillsides, is very similar to that of 

 the last species. The moth is out in August and September in 

 its special haunts. A well-known locality for it is Freshwater 

 in the Isle of Wight, but it may be obtained at Torquay, Devon- 

 shire ; Padstow, Cornwall ; and the Scilly Isles. Also recorded 

 from Sussex, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, South Wales, 

 Derbyshire, Cheshire, Lancashire, and Yorkshire. In Scotland 

 on the south-west and east coasts; and in Ireland at Howth, 

 Dublin ; Dungarvan, Co. Waterford ; and Mt. Charles, 

 Donegal. 



The Heart and Dart {Agrotis {Feltid) cxdamatio7iis). 



On Plate 105 are figured two examples of the male (Figs. 

 3, 4,) and two female specimens (Figs. 5, 6). The colour of the 

 fore wings ranges from pale whitish brown through various 

 shades of brown and grey to a sooty brown or black. The cross 

 lines are rarely very distinct, the reniform, orbicular, and clavi- 

 form marks are, however, generally much in evidence ; but either 



