28 THE MOTHS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



if the weathei is favourable ; it is early on the wing again in the 

 spring. 



Although apparently uncommon in some few parts, the species 

 seems to be generally distributed and plentiful throughout 

 England, Wales, Scotland up to Ross (recorded from Stromma, 

 Orkney), and Ireland. 



In Japan, a greyish form with larger spots (ab. tripunctay 

 Butler) occurs. 



The Tawny Pinion (^Lithophane {Xylina) semibrunned). 



An example of this species is represented on Plate 12, Fig. 4. 

 The black streak from above the middle of the inner margin 

 towards the hind margin should be noted, as this character 

 distinguishes seinibrtmnea from dark forms of the following 

 species — Z. socia. 



The caterpillar is yellowish green, with a broad creamy stripe 

 along the middle of the back, and two indistinct fine lines on 

 each side ; below the black-outlined white spiracles is a yellow 

 stripe. Head, bluish green, freckled with darker green. It 

 feeds on ash in May and June. 



The moth appears on the wing, and may be seen at ivy bloom 

 and sugar, from September to November, and is sometimes 

 captured at sallow, after hibernation, in March or April. 



It is on record that two specimens taken in November were 

 kept in confinement, and three other captives were added in 

 February. All continued to live until June, and two were still 

 alive on the 23rd of that month. 



Although this species is found more or less regularly in most 

 of the English counties south of Worcester on the west, and 

 Huntingdon on the east, it is always very local, and never 

 plentiful. It has been reported from Carmarthenshire in South 

 Wales ; and Kane states that in Ireland it has been taken in 

 Gal way and Kerry. 



