214 THE MOTHS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



it possibly represents 2.h. ftisco-tmdata^ which is most frequent 

 in the smaller moorland race. 



The egg (Plate 87, Fig. lb) when figured, February 8, 1908, was 

 whitish as regards the shell, but the interior was dark greenish. 

 In April the caterpillar appeared to be formed, but it did not 

 leave the shell until early in May. 



The full-grown caterpillar (Plate 87, Figs, i, i^) is brownish, 

 inclining to blackish ; whitish between the rings, white lines 

 along the back and sides, and tinged with red along the 

 spiracular region. It feeds, in May and June, on sallow, willow, 

 poplar, hazel, bilberry, and heather. The moth is out in July 

 and August, but I have seen the small bilberry-feeding form 

 (Plate 86, Figs. 5, 6) on a corner of Exmoor, North Devon, in 

 great profusion in late June, whilst in the same district the 

 sallow-feeding, larger form appeared about a fortnight later, 

 at which time specimens among bilberry were not numerous, 

 and rather shabby in appearance. 



Except perhaps in the Shetlands, this species is to be found in 

 all parts of the British Isles. It is very common in hedgerows, 

 and around the margins of woods ; the smaller race frequents 

 woods where bilberry is estabhshed, and also occurs on mountains 

 and moors. 



Abroad, the range extends to Amurland, China, Japan, and 

 also to North America. 



tff^/ ^ ^ May Highflyer {Hydriome?ia tmphivtafa). 



nyMf*^^ The typical and commoner form of this species is shown on 

 Plate 86, Figs. 7 and 8. The ground colour, usually pale green, 

 is sometimes almost white, but more frequently it is tinged with 

 greyish brown, thus leading up to the blackish ab. infiiscata^ 

 Prout (Figs. 9, 10). 



The caterpillar is brownish grey, or purplish grey, dotted with 

 black and dappled with dark brown ; of the three lines along 



