34 THE MOTHS OF THE BRITISH ISLES, 



The Sword-grass {Calocampa exokta). 



Except that the pale grey brown fore wings are more clouded 

 with blackish in some specimens than in others, there is little 

 of importance to note. Usually there are two black wedges 

 pointing inwards from the indistinct submarginal line, but 

 occasionally one, or more rarely both, may be absent. (Plate 14, 

 Figs. 3 $ and 4 ? •) 



The caterpillar is green, with two series of white spotted 

 black marks, the line below these is yellow, and that lower 

 down on the side is bright red ; the spots between the lines are 

 white, encircled with black. From April to May it feeds, often 

 in the sunshine, as well as at night, on restharrow, thistles, 

 stonecrop, groundsel, dock, in fact on almost all low-growing 

 plants, as well as the foliage of some trees. The caterpillars of 

 this and the next species are exceedingly pretty creatures, and 

 are sure to attract attention whenever met with. Dr. Chapman 

 notes that the caterpillar will feed on stale leaves. 



The moth emerges in the autumn, and seems to be on the 

 wing until quite late in the year, and is seen again as early as 

 March, and thence on until May. One male and two females 

 captured at sugar, March 12 and 13, were placed in a glass 

 cylinder with various food plants, and a sprig of sallow catkins, 

 moistened occasionally with syrup, afforded nourishment for the 

 moths every evening. On April 13, two batches of eggs were 

 noted on nettle, but these were not fertile. On April 15 and 

 20 pairing took place ; and by May 3 over three thousand 

 eggs had been deposited. On May 13 the two females, being 

 still alive, were set at liberty (Goodwin). 



Although it certainly appears to be less frequently seen In the 

 south than northwards, the species is known to occur pretty 

 well ail over England and Wales. In Scotland, where it is 

 generally commoner than in England, except perhaps in the 



