266 THE MOTHS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



^ ^13^*^ ^'^ Clouded Silver (BaJ)ta temerata). 



A 



■ In its silky, white wings this species (Plate 107, Figs. 7 i , 8 9 ) 



is similar to the last mentioned. It is, however, rather larger, 

 and there are greyish clouds on each side of the outer cross 

 line, but there are no blackish spots on the front edge of the 

 fore wings. The clouding referred to is heavier and darker in 

 some specimens than in others, but occasionally, chiefly in the 

 female, is almost absent. 



The green caterpillar, when full grown, is ornamented with 

 brown-bordered reddish spots on the back, but these markings 

 are absent in its earlier stages. The head is paler than the 

 body, and has a reddish spot on each side. It feeds, in July 

 and August, on sloe, plum, and bird cherry in this country, but 

 the continental authors give birch, willow, rose, etc. The moth 

 is out in May and June, and occurs throughout England and 

 Wales, to Cumberland ; but it is far more frequent in the south 

 than in the north. Barrett mentions a single specimen from 

 Wigtownshire in Scotland. In Ireland, Kane states that it is 

 abundant at Clonbrock, Merlin Park, and in several other 

 localities in Galway ; it is not uncommon at Killarney, Kerry ; 

 and a few specimens have been taken at Powerscourt, Wicklow, 

 and Sligo. 



The range abroad extends to Amurland and Japan. 



Common White Wave {Cabera ptisaria). 



In its typical form (Plate 107, Figs. 10, 11) this white species 

 has three dark-grey almost parallel cross lines on the fore wings 

 and two on the hind wings. The first or the second of these 

 lines on the fore wings may be absent, occasionally both may be 

 missing and the third very faint. Not infrequently in undersized 

 bred specimens the first line approaches the second line either 



