CLAY TRIPLE-LINES. 1 37 



The moth is out in May and June, and specimens of a second 

 generation are often not uncommon in August. It occurs in 

 woodlands throughout England, but is most plentiful in the 

 south. In Scotland, it appears to be local in Clydesdale, 

 but is found thence up to Moray. In Ireland, only recorded 

 from Galway (two specimens). 



Clay Triple-Lines {Ephyra Unearid), 



This species (Plate 53, Fig. 13) varies in the general colour 

 from yellowish to pale reddish ochreous ; the cross lines are 

 also variable, often the first is missing (Plate 53, Fig. 14), and 

 not infrequently the dark central line is the only visible mark- 

 ing, but very exceptionally the central line is very little, if at 

 all, more distinct than the normal first and second. A very 

 rare form 2ih./asdata, Prout, has a smoky band on all the wings. 

 The ringed white dots are rarely very conspicuous, and may be 

 absent. 



The caterpillar is pale brownish, with a brown-edged yellowish 

 line along the middle of the back, and some yellow-edged dark- 

 brown streaks on the sides. In another form, the head is brown 

 and the body green. 



It feeds in June, July, and again in September, on beech. 

 The moth is out in May and June, and again in August and 

 September. Beech woods are its favourite haurts, and it 

 seldom strays far from them. It is generally common in the 

 south, and its range apparently extends to Northumberland ; 

 but it is local and infrequent in the north. Three specimens 

 have been recorded from Co. Galway, and one from Co. Cork, 

 in Ireland. 



Note. — Nearly fifty years ago, at Brighton, a single specimen 

 was reared from one of eight larvae that hatched from the same 

 number of eggs deposited by a female E. linearia that had 

 paired with a male E. orbiadaria. This hybrid has been 

 named brightoni, Tutt. 



