238 THE MOTHS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



is pale ochreous brown above, and inclining to greenish below ; 

 three dark-edged pale lines, and a series of dark diamond-shaped 

 marks on the back. The usual dots are whitish encircled with 

 blackish, and the blackish edged spiracles are reddish brown ; 

 head olive brown, and plate on first ring blackish with the three 

 lines showing distinct. From July to September it feeds on 

 various low plants, including rest-harrow, dandelion, and knot- 

 grass, also on broom, bilberry (Barrett) ; and Newman men- 

 tions sowthistle {Sonchus) and lettuce. In confinement the 

 moth sometimes emerges in the autumn, but in the open it flies 

 in June and July. Flowers seem to have more attraction for it 

 than sugar. I have taken it at the blossoms of wood sage, white 

 campion, and woundwort {Stachys), and Barrett notes, bladder 

 campion, viper's bugloss, and the, martagon lily. The species is 

 chiefly found, as regards England, in the southern and eastern 

 counties ; and in the Solway, Clyde, Forth, and Tay districts of 

 Scotland. Louth is the only Irish county from which it has 

 been reported. The range abroad extends to Amurland. In 

 North America the species is represented by var. pirrpun'ssala, 

 Grote. 



The Grey Arches {Aplcda {Mamestra) ?icbulosa). 



Grey of some shade is the more general hue of this species, 

 but it varies in the West of England and in Ireland to white 

 (var. pallida^ Tutt), and this form is shown on Plate 119, 

 Fig. 3. In Cheshire (Delamere), Lancashire (Warrington), 

 and South Yorkshire black or blackish forms occur, and two 

 examples of this melanic race are portrayed on the plate, Fig. 

 4 being var. robsoni., Collins, and Fig. 5 var. thoinpsoiii^ Arkle. 

 Over the greater part of England, and in Scotland, the greyish 

 form is most frequently met with, but the white form has been 

 found in Argyllshire and in Sutherland. The caterpillar is 

 ochreous brown or brownish grey, with a series of diamond- 

 shaped blackish marks, and a pale central line, on the back ; 



