*■ iJ^^ GOLD SWIFT. Il^^ 363 



I ^ Common Swift {Hepialus lupuhna). 



Three examples of this species are shown on Plate 158. Fig. 4 

 is a typical male, Fig. 5 a whitish sufifused variety, and Fig. 6 

 is a female. The latter sex is generally devoid of marking, and 

 in the male the stripes and dashes are far more conspicuous in 

 some specimens than in others. 



The glossy whitish caterpillar has a brown head ; the plate 

 on the first ring of the body is brownish, and the raised dots 

 are pretty much of the same colour. It feeds on the roots of 

 grass and other plants, and is full grown about April. A figure 

 of the caterpillar, from a drawing in colour by Mr. A. Sich, and 

 a photo of the pupa by Mr. H. Main, are shown on Plate 159, 

 Figs. I and ia\ the latter is twice natural size. 



The moth is out in June, or sometimes late May, and 

 occasional specimens have been noted in September. It is 

 more frequently seen at rest, on fences, etc., than either of the 

 other species of the genus ; but towards dusk it is on the wing, 

 and may then be observed in large numbers careering over 

 grass meadows or along stretches of green turf by the wayside. 



Generally distributed, and often abundant, throughout the 

 United Kingdom ; and it occurs in Monaghan, Mayo, Galway, 

 and Kerry, in Ireland. 



Gold Swift {Hepialiis hedd). 



Both sexes of this species are shown on Plate 158, where 

 Fig. 7 represents the golden-marked male, and Fig. 8 the more 

 dingy, dull, purplish-grey striped female. There is variation in 

 number and in size of the markings on the fore wings of the 

 male, and occasionally the hind wings in this sex are adorned 

 with golden spangles on the outer area. 



The pale greyish brown caterpillar has glossy darker brown 



