1 88 THE MOTHS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



and to pinkish on the sides ; three lines along the side, the 

 central one dark green, and the others whitish. It feeds on 

 primrose, red campion {Lychnis diurna\ bilberry, etc., as well 

 as on the flowers of coarse grasses ; in North Devon I found 

 it in profusion at night, on the blossoms of a wood-rush 

 {Luziild)^ growing in a sheltered wood near the sea. April and 

 May, later perhaps in the north. (Plate 'j']^ Figs. 4-6 J , 7-9 $ .) 

 The moth is out in July and August, and is common in 

 almost every part of the British Isles. 



NoYember Moth {OporaUa {Epirritd) dilutatd). 



The more usual forms of this common autumnal species are 

 those represented by Figs, i and 2, Plate 78. Fig. 3 is a 

 small example of the pale form, ab. christyi, Prout, which, in 

 many respects, is very similar to autwnnata, Guende, a form 

 of the next species. Fig. 4 is a female approaching ab. 

 obscurata, Staud., and Fig. 5 shows the uniformly blackish ab. 

 melana, Prout. In some pale-coloured specimens the only 

 conspicuous marking is a broad central band which is almost 

 black in colour (ab. latifasciafa^ Prout). 



The eggs (Plate 76, Fig. \d) were yellowish when laid, but 

 soon changed to crimson red. 



The caterpillar is green, inclining to whitish below, often 

 marked, more or less distinctly, with purplish red, as a central 

 line, or series of spots, along the back, and sometimes as bands 

 on the ring division. It feeds on the foliage of trees, such as 

 elm, oak, birch, etc., also on sallow, hawthorn, sloe, apple, 

 plum, and other fruit trees. April to June. (Plate 76, Fig. i.) 



The moth is out in October and November in the South, 

 but earlier in the North. It is an inhabitant of woodlands, 

 and may be disturbed from bushes, trees, and sometimes may 

 be seen on the trunks of the latter, and on fences. At night it 



