THE EARLY GREY. 



33 



In England this species is found from Shropshire and 

 Staffordshire northwards to Cumberland; thence throu^li 

 Scotland to Aberdeen and Sutherland. In Wales it has been 

 obtained commonly near Rhos in the north. 



Abroad its range spreads to Amurland ; and it occurs in North 

 America, where it is known ?iS gerviana, Morrison. 



The Early Grey {Xylocampa areola). 

 A typical specimen of this widely distributed and, at least in 



the southern half of England, rather common species, is shown 



on Plate 12, Fig. 7. A dark form has 



been named ab. suffusa, Tutt, and 



one with the fore wings of the typical 



grey colour, but with a pinkish flush, 



is ab. rosea^ Tutt. 



The caterpillar (figured from a skin, 

 on Plate 8, Fig. 2) is yellowish- 

 brown, with a fine pale central line 

 along the back, often only distinct on 

 rings r, ir, and 12, and always ob- 

 scured by dark brown patches on 7 

 and 8 ; a blackish line low down 

 along the sides. The body tapers 

 towards each end, and especially so 

 towards the small head. It lives 

 upon honey-suckle, and feeds on the leaves at night, during 

 May and June, or sometimes later. 



_ The moth appears in March and April, and, in the davtime, 

 is often met with at rest on posts, fences, and the trunks of 

 trees ; also upon stone walls, but seemingly less frequently, 

 probably owing to the moth being then less easy to detect. At 

 night it flies around sallow bushes and sometimes settles on the 

 catkins, but is always on the alert. 



Series II. 



D 



Fig. r. 



Early Grey at rest. 



(Photo by W. J. Lucas.) 



