146 THE MOTHS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



throughout England and South Wales. It does not appear to 

 have been noted in Ireland, or in Scotland, except that it has 

 been recorded from the Isle of Arran. 



Oblique Striped {Mesotype virgata). 



The sexes of this species are shown on Plate 54, Figs. 3 J , 

 10$. The fore wings are greyish, inclining to whitish or to 

 brownish, with two white-edged oblique bands, which in the 

 lighter coloured specimens are broad and show up conspicuously, 

 but in the darker are narrower and much less distinct. 



The caterpillar is brownish, but varies in tint, in some cases 

 inclining to pink ; there are three lines along the back, the 

 central one dark green or brown, and the others more or less 

 yellowish ; a blackish or dark grey line low down along the 

 sides. It feeds on yellow bed straw {Galiiun vcrtifn), and may 

 be reared on other kinds of Galhwi. There are two broods, 

 one in May and June, and the other in August and September. 



The moth, which frequents sand-hills and shelving banks by 

 the seaside, is found resting upon its food plant or other 

 vegetation around, in May and June, and again in July and 

 August. 



The species has a wide distribution, and occurs in suitable 

 localities around the coasts of England (except the north-east), 

 and on the west coast of Wales. It also inhabits the Breck 

 sand district of Norfolk and Suffolk, and has been found on 

 chalk downs and hills in the south of England, and in 

 Cambridgeshire and Berkshire. In Ireland, it has been 

 recorded from the counties of Down and Kerry. 



Abroad, its distribution spreads to Eastern Siberia and 

 Amurland. 



Drab Looper {M'moa mur'mata). 



The grey brown or ochreous brown wings of this delicate, but 

 unattractive little moth (Plate 55, Figs, i and 2), are silky in 



