THE ORANGE SALLOW. 



17 



specimens belong to ab. rufa, Tutt, which is reddish in the 

 coloration of fore wing (Fig. 7). Sometimes the basal area in 

 this colour form is pale also. 



The caterpillar is green, sometimes tinged with olive and 

 freckled with darker green ; there are three dark-edged pale- 

 green lines along the back ; the under surface is tinged with 

 yellowish, and is separated from the green colour of the upper 

 surface by a whitish stripe, edged above with black ; head, 

 brownish, with darker freckles. It occurs in April and May, 

 when it feeds on bramble, rose, oak, sallow, and some low- 

 growing plants. 



The moth is found in September and October throughout 

 England, and Scotland up to Moray. 



The Orange Sallow {Cirrhia {Xantkia) citrago). 



The ground colour of the fore wings is generally yellow, but 

 in some districts the specimens exhibit a tendency towards 

 orange-red. The latter tint is very decided in var. aiirantzago^ 

 Tutt. There is but little variation in marking, but the central 

 cross line is broader in some specimens than in others. (Plate 

 10, Fig. I.) 



The caterpillar is dark olive-grey above, with white dots, 

 and obscure greenish beneath ; of the three whitish lines along 

 the back, the central one is rather wider than the other two, 

 which are edged above with black ; along the region of the 

 spiracles the colour is whitish grey. Head, brown, shining, and 

 darker on the mouth ; a black mark on ring of body next the 

 head. (Adapted from Porritt.) It feeds on lime ( 7 ilia vulgaris) 

 in April and May, and conceals itself between two spun-together 

 leaves during the daytime. In such retreats I have frequently 

 detected them by simply standing under the branches and 

 looking upwards and outwards from the trunk. When nearly 

 full grown they more often descend the tree, and hide by day 

 Series II. q 



