20 THE MOTHS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



eat the leaves of sallow and the seeds of wych-elm. It may be 

 found from March to June. 



The moth appears in September and October. It is widely 

 distributed, and often common at the sugar patch, over the 

 whole of England, Wales, Scotland up to Moray, and Ireland. 



The range abroad extends to Amurland, Japan, Kamtschatka, 

 and North America. 



The Sallow {Xanfhia fulvago). 



A typical male and female of this species are shown on 

 Plate TO, Figs. 7, 8 ; Fig. 6 on the same plate represents ab. 

 fiavescens^ Esper. Sometimes the fore wings are orange- 

 tinged, and such examples having the typical markings well 

 defined are referable to ab. aurantia^ Tutt. In cerago^ Hiibner, 

 the markings are fainter than in the type, and the orange- 

 yellow modification of this form has been named imperfecta^ 

 Tutt. 



The caterpillar is brown above with a tinge of red or purple, 

 and freckled with darker ; there are three pale lines along the 

 back, but only the central one is distinct, and this is more or 

 less interrupted by clusters of darker freckles ; there is a darker 

 stripe composed of freckles on the sides, and below this is a 

 pale brownish stripe ; head, brown, plate on the first ring of 

 the body blackish with pale lines upon it. It feeds when 

 young in sallow catkins, and later on low-growing plants, also 

 leaves of sallow and seeds of wych-elm. Early stages are 

 figured on Plate 6. The moth is out in September and early 

 October. It is widely distributed, and generally common, 

 throughout England and Wales, Scotland to Moray, and 

 Ireland. Its range abroad extends to Amurland and Japan. 



Note. — It may be stated here that the present species, 

 together with mirago, Intea, fulvago, gilvago^ and ocellaris, are 

 referred to Cosmia^ Ochs. and Treit., by Hampson {Cat. Lep. 

 PhaL vi. 497). 



