THE PORTLAND MOTH. 211 



commons throughout the British Isles. It varies in the tint of the 

 reddish colour, and in the greater and lesser prominence of the 

 white markings. Specimens from Scotland, especially from 

 the Shetland Isles, are generally larger than English examples, 

 and are often clouded with darker tints. The caterpillar, which 

 is figured on Plate 109^ Fig. 4, is reddish brown with a pale line 

 along the middle of the back edged with dark brown or blackish 

 marks on each side ; a whitish or pinkish white stripe along the 

 sides with a brown edging above. Head ochreous brown., 

 marked with darker. It feeds on heath and heather, and hides 

 by day in the moss or among dead leaves, etc., below the food 

 plant, August to May. The moth flies, sometimes by day, but 

 usually at night, in June, July, and in late seasons in August. 



The Portland Moth (AgroHs {Lycophotid) prcecox). 



The pretty greenish moth with black cross lines, white spots, 

 and reddish-brown clouding on the outer area (Plate 107, 

 P'ig. 4), is said to have been first reared in this country by 

 the Duchess of Portland, early in the nineteenth century, 

 hence the English name. Although occasionally found several 

 miles from the sea, it is essentially a coast species, and may be 

 obtained on the sandhills of Dorsetshire, Devon, Suffolk, 

 Norfolk, Cheshire, Lancashire, Yorkshire, and the Isle of .Man. 

 Odd specimens occasionally occur inland, as for example at 

 Kendal (1899), and in Worcestershire (1901 and 1903). In 

 Scotland it is found in suitable places along the west coast, 

 from the Firth of Clyde to Sutherland, and on the east to 

 Moray ; and it is widely spread on the coasts of Ireland. The 

 caterpillar is slaty grey ; central line on the back whitish 

 or pale greyish, expanding on each ring and so forming a 

 series of connected spots, edged with darker tint ; then a 

 whitish stripe, edged above by a slender black line ; a whitish 

 or bluish grey stripe along the black spiracles. Head pale 



