THE BRINDLED OCHRE. 285 



The Feathered Ranunculus {Epunda lichencd). 



This is a maritime species and is chiefly found in the Isle ot 

 Wight, the Isle of Portland, and along the coasts of Cornwall, 

 Devon, Somerset, Gloucester, and on the opposite Welsh coast. 

 It is locally common in Cheshire and Lancashire, and occurs on 

 the coast of North Wales, in Flint and Carnarvon. In York- 

 shire it is not uncommon at Scarborough. Has been recorded 

 from the Lincolnshire coast and from Eastbourne. There are 

 two records from Scotland — Renfrew and Ayr. In Ireland it 

 is common at Howth, and abundant at Rossbeigh, Co. Kerry. 

 This species, and the last two, have a rather limited range 

 abroad. On Plate 137 are portraits of two local forms. Fig. 5 

 is from Portland, and Fig. 6 from Plymouth. It will be noted 

 that the former is greyish in tone whilst the latter is greenish 

 and rather larger. Similar local variation occurs throughout 

 the range of the species. 



The caterpillar (Plate 133, Fig. 2) is olive green inchning to 

 brownish above ; along the back are darker markings forming 

 a central stripe and a paler interrupted stripe on each side ; a 

 pale stripe along the spiracles. It feeds from autumn to May 

 on various low plants. The moth flies from late August to 

 early October. The first British specimen is said to have been 

 taken in the New Forest in 1847 ; but in 1850 about a hundred 

 were captured at New Brighton in Cheshire. 



The Brindled Ochre {Das \ folia icmpli). 



The dull ochreous-brown moth shown on Plate 138, Fig. i, 

 has hardly any well-defined markings, but the cross fines are 

 generally darker, and the reniform and orbicular paler. The 

 caterpillar, which feeds in the stems of cow-parsnip {^Hcradcum 

 sphondyliuni) from April to August, is pinkish ochreous with a 

 rather darker stripe on the back ; raised spots brown ; head 



