62 THE MOTHS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



The Spotted Sulphur {Emmelia trahealis). 



Although this pretty black and yellow moth (Plate 21, Fig. 12) 

 was noted by Stephens (1830) as being occasionally captured in 

 Battersea fields, and as occurring near Margate, and elsewhere 

 in Kent, it was not until 1847 that the Breck-sand district of 

 Norfolk, adjoining parts of Suffolk, and Cambridge, became 

 known as being inhabited by The Spotted Sulphur. The 

 vicinity of Brandon and Tuddenham is especially favoured by 

 the species, but it occurs in several other parts of the area. 

 Occasionally, specimens have been captured in various Kentish 

 localities, and between thirty and forty years ago single 

 examples were taken in Hackney Marshes, Lower Clapton 

 (August 2), also in Wandsworth (at light, July 26). From 

 these facts it would appear possible that the species occasionally 

 strays from its haunts in the eastern counties and sometimes to 

 a considerable distance. Once, indeed, a specimen was found 

 on a gas lamp at Exeter. On the other hand, it is quite cor- 

 ceivable that such wanderers may have come from abroad. 



Some specimens are of a paler yellow than others, but there 

 is rather more noticeable aberration in the number and intensity 

 of the black markings. 



The caterpillar is reddish brown, with three darker lines 

 along the back, the central one pale edged ; a pale yellow stripe 

 runs along the region of the spiracles, and has a fine brownish 

 line running through it from end to end. Another form is 

 green with white lines. It feeds on the bindweed {Convolvulus 

 arvensis) in July, and has a second brood in September. The 

 moth, which rests among herbage by day, and flies towards 

 evening, is found in June, July, and August. 



The species is found throughout Central and Southern Europe, 

 its range extending to Denmark and South Sweden ; eastward 

 it occurs in Asia Minor, Syria, and through Asia to Japan. 



