36 THE MOTHS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



One moth emerged September 29, and five others, including 

 three cripples, later. 



This species is most frequent in Ireland and Scotland, being 

 distributed throughout the latter country to Orkney and Shet- 

 land. It has been noted from Wales and almost every part of 

 England, but does not seem to be plentiful generally in either 

 country. 



The distribution abroad ranges to East Siberia and to North 

 America, 



The Mullein {CnculUa verbasci). 



Two specimens, representing both sexes, of this species are 

 shown on Plate 15, Figs, i ^ , 2 $ . Sometimes the darker colour 

 on the marginal areas, especially the inner, inclines to blackish ; 

 while in some specimens the whole of the fore wings is suffused 

 with brownish. 



The caterpillar is white with a greenish tinge, each ring of the 

 body is banded with yellow, has four black spots on the back, 

 and some black dots and lines on the sides ; the head is 

 yellowish, dotted with black. It may be found in June and 

 July quite exposed on mullein {Verbascum thapsus, and 

 V. pzil'venile7itu7n) ; also figwort {Scrophularia nodosa^ and 

 S. aqicatica). Barrett states that it has been noted on Buddlcea 

 globosa^ an American plant sometimes grown in gardens. 

 These caterpillars are certainly attacked by parasitical flies, but 

 do not seem to be quite so frequently " stung " as those of some 

 other species of the " Sharks." The caterpillar figured on 

 Plate 18, Fig. i, was obtained at Box Hill by Mr. Norman Riley. 

 The moth is out in late April and in May, and, except an 

 occasional capture at light, is rarely seen in the open. The 

 caterpillars are probably obtainable in most English and Welsh 

 counties, especially the southern ones of both countries, wher- 

 ever there is an abundance of its food plants. Except that 

 Mc Arthur found the species in the Isle of Lewis, in 1901, there 



