148 THE MOTHS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



fore wings rather than the tip itself that is white, and this 

 sometimes extends for a short distance along the fringe of the 

 outer margin. Haworth's EngHsh name for this insect (his 

 chcerophyllata) was "The Looping Chimney Sweeper" in 

 reference to its caterpillar, and to distinguish it from his 

 '• Chimney Sweeper," " Chimney Sweeper's Boy," and other 

 oddities in the vernacular among the Psychids. 



The caterpillar, which feeds in the spring on flowers of the 

 earth-nut {Conopodiuvi demidatimi, or Bjinium flexuosimi)^ is 

 green, and paler on the sides than on the back ; there are three 

 darker green lines along the back, the central one merging into 

 reddish on the last ring, and the others narrowly edged on each 

 side with white ; a whitish stripe runs below the red spiracles. 



The moth is a sun lover, and flits about flowers growing 

 among or near its food plant, in June and July. 



The species is widely distributed over England, Wales, 

 Ireland, and Scotland, but it does not appear to have been 

 noted north of Moray in the last-named country. It is always 

 very local, frequents moist fields, borders of woods, and even 

 waysides. 



The range abroad extends to Amurland. 



The Grey Carpet {Lithosfege griseatd). 



The more or less greyish moth, shown on Plate 55, Fig. 3, 

 varies in tint, some specimens being decidedly more grey than 

 others. At the apex of the fore wings is a short blackish dash, 

 and from this a curved dusky line may be traced to the inner 

 margin. The female has the wings rather shorter than those of 



the male. 



The slender, dark-lined, greenish caterpillar feeds on the 

 seed pods of flixweed {Sisymbrium)^ and treacle mustard 

 {Erysim2i7n), in July and August. When reared in captivity 

 it will thrive on other kinds of Cruciferge. 



