44 THE MOTHS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



The caterpillar feeds, in August and September, on worm- 

 wood and other kinds of Artemisia. It is green with red 

 raised spots, a white line along the middle of the back, and a 

 yellow stripe low down along the sides ; head, brown inclining 

 to blackish above. The moth is out in June and July. 



The Beautiful Yellow Underwing {Anuria myrtillt). 



In its typical form (Plate 17, Figs, i, 2) this species has the 

 fore wings purplish brown or blackish brown, whilst in var. 

 rufescens^ Tutt, the general colour of the fore wings is reddish 

 inclining to crimson, and the white markings are clearly 

 defined. In some dark specimens the markings are more or 

 less obscure, and in others only the central white dot is distinct. 



The caterpillar is green, dotted and marked with white ; 

 there are three rows of yellowish bars along the back, those 

 forming the outer series slightly curved. It is to be found on 

 ling {Calliina vulgaris), also on heath {Erica), from July to 

 October, but it seems to be more frequently obtained in early 

 autumn. Occasionally it has been found in the spring. Haw- 

 thorn has been mentioned as a food-plant (Plate 20, Fig. i). 



The moth has been taken in each month from April to 

 August, but it is perhaps most plentiful from May to July. 

 The species occurs on heath and moorlands throughout the 

 British Isles, but so far it has not been recorded from the 

 Shetlands. It flies on sunny days and is very active on the 

 wing, but when the sun is obscured, or towards evening, it may 

 be found at rest on the heather sprays, usually at their tips. 



The Small Dark Yellow Underwing (Anarta cordigera). 



The pretty moth represented on Plate 1 7, Fig. 7, is only found 

 in the British Isles, on the mountains of Scotland, chiefly in 

 Perthshire and Aberdeenshire. Sometimes the basal area of 



