96 THE MOTHS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



the back, the central one rather broad, and that on each side 

 is edged below with dusky. What the food may be in a natural 

 state has not been ascertained, but the caterpillars have been 

 reared from the egg on a diet of thyme flowers, supplemented 

 by the bodies of a few brothers or sisters. July and August. 



The moth has been noted in June (end), July, August, 

 September, and October ; but whether there are two generations 

 or only one in the year is not definitely known ; the assumption 

 is that there are two. 



This species is partial to moist localities, and its favourite 

 haunts are fens, mosses, or marshy heaths, and the outskirts of 

 damp woods. It ranges over the greater part of England, and 

 is found in Wales (Pembrokeshire). In Scotland it has been 

 noted from Roxburghshire, and is locally common in Clydesdale. 

 It is known to occur in Cork, Kerry, and Sligo, and probably is 

 to be found in other parts of Ireland. 



The Marsh Oblique -barred {Tholomiges turfosalis). 



The species shown on Plate 36, Fig. 5, is much smaller than 

 either of the last two. The narrow fore wings are whitish- 

 ochreous, more or less thickly sprinkled with brown ; the first 

 of the three dark cross lines is often indistinct, the second is 

 bent under the black central dot, and the third runs obliquely 

 to the tip of the wing ; the last two are each outwardly edged 

 with whitish. 



Nothing seems to be known of the early stages. 



This species was first made known as an inhabitant of the 

 British Isles by Doubleday, who described it as Hypetiodes 

 huinidalis^ in 1850, from specimens taken in Ireland by Weaver 

 in 1848. In 1850 it was found plentifully on one of the Cheshire 

 moors; and Harrison, in The Zoologist for 185 1, writes: 

 " From the middle of July up to the 8th of August, it might be 

 seen any fine evening, between the hours of six and eight, flying 



