^4 THE MOTHS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



with a dusky edge above. Head, ochreous brown ; plate on 

 first ring blackish lined with white. It feeds on beech, oak, and 

 heather. When approaching full growth it probably feeds on 

 low-growing plants, and it may be found from April to June. 



The moth flies in September and October, sometimes in 

 November. Decaying apples seem to have a stronger attractive 

 influence at times than either sugar or ivy bloom. Except that 

 it appears to be local or scarce in the Midlands, the species 

 occurs, in many parts commonly, throughout England, Wales, 

 and Scotland to Moray. In Ireland it is generally distributed 

 and abundant in some localities. 



The Brick (^Amathes {Orthosia) circellaris). 



Yellow or ochreous is the typical coloration, but the most 

 frequent form of this common species in Britain is 2^. ferruginea^ 

 Hiibn., which is ochreous tinged with rust colour. Sometimes, 

 the fore wings are more or less suffused with blackish, and with 

 the markings black, such specimens are referable to 7nactlenta 

 as figured by Hiibner, Noct., Fig. 688. The more usual form 

 is shown on Plate 7, Figs. 9, 10. 



At the time it is freshly laid, the egg (Plate 5, Fig. 3a) is 

 yellowish, but changes in about a week to purplish with a more 

 or less distinct pearly sheen. 



The caterpillar is brown inclining to yellowish, the head is 

 reddish, and the plate on first ring blackish ; there are three 

 pale lines along the back, the central one more or less inter- 

 rupted by dusky V-shaped marks, the others with an interrupted 

 edging above ; the stripe along the region of the blackish 

 spiracles is yellowish grey. It lives on wych-elm and ash, 

 eating the flowers, seeds, and leaves, but has a decided pre- 

 ference for the first two. It may be beaten in May and early 

 June, sometimes in numbers, from the seeds (Plate 5, Fig. 3). 



