THE DOTTED CARPET. 31I 



ochreous between the black cross lines, but sometimes this 

 area is flushed with orange. 



Two figures of the caterpillar will be found on Plate 133, Fig. 2. 

 In colour and marking it so closely resembles the greenish-grey 

 lichen upon which it feeds, that its detection thereon is iK)t 

 always easy. May and June are the best months in which to 

 collect the caterpillars (although they may be found during the 

 autum.n and early spring), and they may then be jarred from 

 the lichen {Usnea barbata), etc., growing on branches of trees 

 and bushes, or searched for among the lichen on the tree 

 trunks, or on wooden pales and fences. 



The species is widely spread over the southern half of 

 England, but is more or less rare from the Midlands north- 

 wards. It has occurred in South Wales and the Isle of Angle- 

 sea ; and Kane states that it is widely distributed and locally 

 common in Ireland. In some parts of South Scotland it is not 

 uncommon, and its range extends to Aberdeen and Ross. 



The Dotted Carpet {Cleorajnbata). 



This species (Plate 136, Figs. 3, 4) has long been known as 

 glabraria^ Hubner, but as authorities are agreed that jiibata, 

 Thunberg, is an earlier name, it must be adopted. The 

 general colour is whitish, powdered with dark grey and black ; 

 there are four black spots on the front margin and from these 

 blackish markings cross the wings, but only the first hne is 

 generally distinct, although a second line, beyond the large 

 black discal spot, is sometimes clearly defined and entire; 

 occasionally a central shade and a submarginal line are both in 

 evidence. The hind wings have a black central spot and a 

 blackish line beyond, but the latter is often absent. Excep- 

 tional aberration takes the form of leaden black blotches, clouds, 

 and streaks on the fore wings, and dusky clouding on the hind 

 wings, chiefly on the basal area. 



