82 THE MOTHS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. , 



The Dark Crimson Underwing {Catocala sponsd). 



The fore wings of this species vary in general colour from 

 ashy grey to an almost olive brown ; the dark clouding is much 

 in evidence in some specimens, but absent in others ; the white 

 or yellow marks in the vicinity of the white outlined reniform 

 are noticeable features. Hind wings, crimson, more or less 

 tinged with purple ; the upper half of the central black band is 

 acutely angled on its outer edge, and bluntly so on its inner 

 edge, thence curved to the inner margin. (Plate 32, Fig. i.) 



The caterpillar is greyish-brown with a greenish tinge, and 

 dusted with black ; paler on the fourth ring and between rings 

 7 and 8, and 10 and 1 1 ; the hump on ring 8 has an ochreous 

 tip ; raised spots, red, bearing black bristles ; head, pale brown. 

 (Fenn.) It feeds on oak in May and June. 



The chrysalis is reddish, dusted with purplish grey, enclosed 

 in a rather open silken cocoon between leaves. (Plate 33, 

 Fig. I larva, la pupa.) The moth is out in July and August. 

 Its chief home is the New Forest, Hants, where it abounds, 

 in some years, and in others is so scarce that few specimens 

 can be found. It has been taken occasionally in one or other 

 of the southern English counties adjoining Hants, and has been 

 noted in Oxfordshire and Suffolk ; but such occurrences seem 

 to be exceptional. 



The Light Crimson Underwing {Catocala promissa). 



Generally smaller, and the fore wings are usually greyer, than 

 the last species; the first black cross line is inwardly shaded with 

 blackish ; on the hind wings the central black band is straighter, 

 and the upper half, although sometimes slightly expanded, is 

 not angled ; in some examples the band does not quite reach 

 the inner margin, and such speciuiens have been referred to ab. 

 mneste, Hiibner. (Plate 32, Fig. 2.) 



