GREEN CARPET. 185 



lurks among the vegetation growing on banks, and the hedge- 

 rows of lanes, etc. 



In the south of England the species chiefly affects the coasts 

 of Dorset, Devon, and Cornwall ; but it occurs locally in and 

 around beech woods of Kent, and is more frequent in those of 

 Berks, Oxford, and Bucks. From Somerset it spreads through 

 the western counties, including part of Wales, to Lancashire. 

 It is, however, most common among the hills and rills from 

 Yorkshire northwards. In Scotland it is local in Roxburgh, 

 widely distributed, and sometimes abundant in Clydesdale and 

 throughout the Highlands to Sutherland. It has also been 

 noted from Arran. Local in Ireland, but apparently abundant 

 in some parts. 



Green Carpet {Amoebe viridaria). 



This species (Plate 75, Figs. 7, 8), also, has green fore wings, 

 with a rather deeper green central band and basal patch. The 

 former is limited by white lines marked with black, con- 

 spicuously so on the front and inner margins ; there are also 

 black marks on the front edge of the basal patch, and at the 

 tips of the wings. The green colour quickly fades to a yellowish 

 or sandy tint. 



The wrinkled caterpillar is olive brown, with bristle-bearing 

 black dots ; the back has a dark central line, and is adorned 

 with reddish V-shaped marks except on the end rings. It feeds 

 in the spring, after hibernation, on bedstraw {Galmm\ but it is 

 said to eat sorrel, dead-nettle {Lamiujn), etc. 



The moth is out in June, earlier in the south, and later in the 

 north. It hides among herbage during the day, and may 

 occasionally be seen resting on tree-trunks, etc., then flying 

 just before dark about hedges, and on commons and heaths. 

 Specimens have been noted in some years in September. 



Except that it has not been detected in the Shetlands, the 

 species seems to be found in all parts of the British Isles. 



