THE BLACK-BANDED. 287 



The caterpillar is green, inclining to bluish green above ; the 

 lines on the back are whitish, edged with dark green ; that 

 along the black-margined white spiracles is white, shaded 

 above with dark green. It feeds on dock, dandelion, groundsel, 

 etc. ; also on sallow and hawthorn, from April to June. The 

 moth is out in August and September. It prefers the open 

 country to woodlands, and is often seen resting on rocks, stone, 

 or other walls, and buildings. Except that it occurs in Devon 

 and Dorset, the species seems to be absent in the south of 

 England, but its area of distribution extends in the British Isles 

 from the Midlands of England to Moray and Ross in Scotland, 

 and to Ireland. 



The Black-banded {Polia xajithomista). 



The form of this species occurring in Britain is var. nigro- 

 cincta^ Tr. (Plate 140, Figs. 2, 3), which is pale grey, spotted with 

 white, and clouded on the central area with black. The typical 

 yellow flecking and dotting is in this form usually sparse, but 

 occasionally it is prominent. A specimen reared from a cater- 

 pillar taken in the Isle of Man was suffused on the fore wings 

 with bright orange. 



The caterpillar is ochreous brown, varying in tint, above and 

 pale green below the brown spiracles ; the head is rather 

 yellowish and very glossy. It feeds on sea thrift (flowers), and 

 plantain in its haunts, which are the rocky coasts of Cornwall, 

 North Devon, and the Isle of Man. In confinement it will eat 

 groundsel, dock, dandelion, lettuce, etc. Usually the cater- 

 pillars do not hatch out until the spring, and then feed until 

 June or July ; but they have been known to hatch in the 

 autumn, and then to hibernate. The moth flies in August and 

 September, but, although it has been taken at sugar and light, 

 is more frequently reared from caterpillars, which are readily 

 found at night by those who may undertake the sometimes 



