LITTLE THORN. 285 



reddish brown in colour ; the second line runs to the front 

 margin before the tip, and the outer margin beyond is almost 

 entirely purple. The female (Fig. 3) has the ground colour 

 pale yellowish, and the outer borders narrowed, especially on the 

 fore wings. Very occasionally, the ground colour in the male 

 approaches that of the female. The eggs (Plate 121, Fig. i) 

 are pale yellow when deposited, but afterwards become honey 

 yellow, freckled with reddish, and later they are red all over. 

 The caterpillar is dingy brown, inclining to greyish on the back 

 of the first four rings, a dark mark about the. middle of the 

 back, and on each side of this two slender whitish lines 

 are fairly distinct ; underside, whitish tinged with pale violet. 

 It feeds, in May and June, sometimes later, on dwarf sallow and 

 willow, birch, aspen, etc. 



The moth is out in July and August, sometimes later. 

 Although odd specimens have been recorded from Norfolk, 

 St. Ives (Hunts), Newbury (Berks), and Arundel (Sussex), the 

 species is a northern one, occurring chiefly near York (Sanburn 

 Moss). 



In 1863, two specimens were secured at Learmouth Bog, near 

 Cornhill-on-Tweed, and in 1890, Bolam found it at Newham 

 Bog, on the Northumberland border. Renton states that it is 

 fairly common in good seasons at Adderstone-lea Moss, 

 Roxburghshire ; and Salvage found it widely distributed in 

 Sutherlandshire. 



Little Thorn (^Cepphis [Epio?ie) advefiaria). 



This species (Plate 119, Fig. 4) is usually whitish, freckled 

 and clouded with grey brown ; cross lines rather darker. The 

 markings may be tinged with ochreous, or with red (Sheffield). 



A uniform brown-coloured specimen with white fringes has 

 been bred (Surrey). 



The caterpillar is greyish brown, minutely freckled with 

 blackish ; two white spots on front of ring 5, and two smaller 



