lO THE MOTHS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



colour of the fore wings is greyer; the cross lines are not parallel, 

 and the outer margins of these wings are less irregular. The 

 caterpillar is greenish, with black dots, and white lines along 

 the back and sides ; the head and plate on the first ring of the 

 body black. It feeds, on poplar and aspen, in April and May. 

 By day these caterpillars may be found spun up between two 

 leaves or in a folded leaf. The moth is out in July and August, 

 but is rarely noticed in the daytime, although at night, when it 

 becomes active, it may be obtained, sometimes not altogether 

 uncommonly, at honeydew, or in much fewer numbers at sugar or 

 light. The best way to obtain the species is to search for the 

 caterpillars, which are not at all difficult to rear. Most of them, 

 however, prefer the higher foliage of well-grown aspen or 

 poplar, where they may be seen but not readily secured ; but I 

 have generally found as many as I wanted within reach. 



The species seems to have a wide distribution throughout 

 England, and Scotland up to Moray, its occurrence in any 

 locality depending on the presence of the poplar or aspen. The 

 range abroad extends to Eastern Siberia. 



The Centre -barred Sallow {Cirrhcedia {Atethmia) 

 xerampelind) . 



The typical form of this pretty species has the fore wings 

 yellow, with a purplish-red central band. The band, which 

 fills up the space between the first and second lines, is rarely 

 carried through to the front margins of the wing, but usually is 

 only fragmentary above the reniform stigma, which forms part 

 of it ; it also varies in the intensity of the purple tint. In most 

 British specimens the band varies as indicated above, but the 

 general colour of the fore wings is orange-yellow (Plate 4, Fig. 8) 

 — ab. centrago^ Haw. — the hind marginal band agreeing in colour 

 with that of the central band. Or the fore wings may assume 

 the colour of Fig. 9, var. unicolor^ Stand., but this form is rare 



