294 THE MOTHS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



Hebrides and Shetlands. Abroad the range extends to Amur- 

 land, China, Japan, also North America. 



The Ear Moth {Hydra da {Gortyna) 7iictitans). 



On Plate 143 are shown a more or less typical specimen of this 

 species (Fig. 3) ; the reddish spotted var. erythrostignia^ Haw. 

 (Fig. 4) ; and two examples of the marsh or saltern form, paludis, 

 Tutt (Figs. 5, 6), for which specific rank has been claimed. 

 Specimens found in marshes, especially those by the sea, are 

 usually somewhat larger than normal, but I cannot see that they 

 otherwise differ from forms of nictitans. The caterpillar is 

 greenish pink with pinkish grey stripes on the back and sides ; 

 spiracles black, and usual dots dark brownish ; head pinkish 

 ochreous, plate on ring one of the body yellowish brown. 

 It feeds from May to August on grasses, chiefly the lower part 

 of the stems. The moth flies in August and September, and is 

 sometimes seen in the daytime on the flowers of thistle and rag- 

 wort, etc., but far more frequently at night, when it also visits 

 sugar more or less freely. Usually common in marshy places 

 throughout our islands. The range abroad extends to Amurland, 

 Corea, Japan, and North America. 



The Rosy Rustic {Hydrmia {Gortyna) micacea). 



This moth (Plate 143, Figs. 8, 9) is also widely spread 

 over the British Isles, occurring most freely on the coast, but 

 not uncommonly inland. It appears in the autumn, and is 

 frequently seen at light, and although not very partial to sugar 

 it occasionally visits that attraction as well as ragwort blossom, 

 etc. The caterpillar is dull smoky pink, with a faintly darker 

 central stripe; the usual dots dark brown, and the spiracles 

 black; head, and plates on first and last rings of the body 

 ochreous brown. May to August on dock, plantain, feeding in 



