366 THE MOTHS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



This species is the geminaria of Brahm (1791), but rhoin- 

 boidaria, Schiffermiiller (1776), although only a catalogue name 

 until figured by Hiibner, about 1797, is adopted by some 

 authors. 



/ • 1"^ Satin Carpet {Boartnia ahietaria). 



f). ® I ■U''^ As an inhabitant of Britain this species was first noted from 

 Xi^^ • Hampshire, and in 1825 was figured and described by Curtis 

 ^(U*^ ^5 jllcis sericearia. Two specimens of this form, from the New 

 Forest, are depicted on Plate 132, Figs, i, 2 ; but paler, and also 

 darker, examples are found in this locality, and, occasionally, 

 melanic specimens occur as well. The latter form, some 

 examples of which might be described as sooty black with 

 black veins, is more prevalent among the yews and firs of 

 Surrey. 



The caterpillar, for the example of which (and also the tgg)^ 

 figured on Plate 138, Figs, i, \a, I am obliged to Mr. Arthur J. 

 Scollick, is, in one form, ochreous brown with paler cream- 

 coloured patches on the back ; and in another dark grey- 

 brown with paler patches, sometimes of a light cinnamon 

 brown ; a pale, thin line along the middle of the back runs 

 through a series of brownish diamonds ; there are other pale 

 lines on the back and sides, and these are edged with brownish, 

 and partly with blackish ; spiracles outlined in black. (Adapted 

 from Buckler.) It feeds on spruce, pine, yew, oak, birch, sallow, 

 etc., from August to June. A larva has been found on bilberry 

 in Devon 



The moth is out from late June to early August, but captured 

 specimens are not often suitable for the cabinet, they are 

 generally more or less frayed or scarred. 



Beside Surrey and Hants, previously mentioned, the species 

 occurs in Sussex (Tilgate Forest), Buckinghamshire (Halton), 

 and has been recorded from Berkshire ; Egg Buckland, Oxton, 



