264 THE MOTHS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



The moth is out in late April sometimes, but it is more 

 frequent in May and June, and as a second generation in 

 August, earlier or later in some seasons. It may be knocked 

 out of hedges in which spindle is growing. The species is not 

 uncommon in most of the southern English counties, but in the 

 northern ones its occurrence is more casual. It has been 

 recorded from North Wales ; in Ireland it is fairly common in 

 some western and southern counties, and rare in the east and 

 north ; in Scotland, only noted from the south-east, Arran. and 

 the Hebrides. 



Abroad, its range extends to Japan, where it is represented 

 hy wdiLjapofiiata, Staudinger. 



The Sloe Carpet {Aleiids {Bapta) pidaria). 



This blackish-grey species (Plate 107, Fig. 6) has been con- 

 fused in the past with pictaria^ Thunberg, which is referable 

 to Cleora lichenaria, and it was then known by the popular 

 name of " The Grey Carpet." As the caterpillar feeds on the 

 foliage of the sloe, and the moth is fond of resting on the stems 

 and twigs, and appears at the time the bushes are wreathed in 

 their snowy blossoms, the sloe carpet seems to be rather more 

 suitable than are most of the names by which our moths are 

 popularly known. 



The caterpillar is dusky brown, with blackish V-shaped 

 marks upon the back, white marks on rings 7 and 8, and a 

 black line on the last ring. It feeds at night, in June and early 

 July, and as it remains on the bushes during the day, it may be 

 obtained by beating. At night the moths fly about the bushes 

 for a short time, and then sit on the twigs, when they may be 

 secured. Of course, a lantern will be a necessity. 



Barrett states that stunted bushes on open heaths and hill- 

 sides are preferred tc hedgerows. 



