MAGPIE MOTH. 29 
Amongst notes of Scottish localities, observations have been sent 
me from time to time of the caterpillars being found on Red and 
White Currant and also on Gooseberry leafage at Kirkwall Gardens, 
in Orkney; also at Dunrobin Castle, in Sutherlandshire, in the north 
of Scotland. On Black Currants at Portallock, in Argyllshire. On 
Black, Red, and White Currant and also on Gooseberry leafage at 
Colinsburgh, Fife. On Gooseberry and Currant also at Dalkeith 
Gardens, near Edinburgh, and at Oxenford Castle, in Midlothian. 
In England it has been reported from Scotswood-on-Tyne, Nor- 
thumberland, and from other localities too numerous to name, showing 
the distribution of the insect over a large part of England. But, 
though occurring in Cheshire and Herefordshire, observations of in- 
juries from the attack have not been sent from the Welsh counties ; 
nor have I had observations sent from more than one locality of its 
presence in Ireland. 
The common garden food-plants of the caterpillars are, as mentioned 
above, Red and White, and sometimes Black Currants, and Gooseberry, 
and the leafage of Apricot and Plum is also sometimes attacked. The 
leafage of the Blackthorn or “Sloe” (Prunus spinosa, L.) is also a 
favourite food. 
In the past season the prevalence of this moth was so very ob- 
servable that it was noticed as follows in the article on ‘‘ Agriculture ”’ 
in the ‘ Times’ of Monday, July 26th, 1897 :— 
‘“‘ Last week witnessed the sudden appearance of large numbers of 
the prettily-marked and readily recognizable Magpie Moth, Abraxas 
grossulartata, the invasion serving to call to mind the similar one of 
twelve years ago. This moth breeds a looper caterpillar, the colour 
markings of which are identical with those of its parent; it is a 
destructive pest of Gooseberry, Currant, and other fruit trees.” 
To the above Dr. W. Fream, writing from Downton, near Salis- 
bury, on October 30th, in reply to my enquiries, kindly added regarding 
this attack :— 
‘“‘ It was exceedingly abundant locally, say South Wilts and South 
Hants, and I also had information from other districts.”—(W. F.) 
Early in the season I noticed some presence of the moths in my 
own garden at St. Albans, where I had not previously observed this 
infestation ; and on April 21st the following note of the presence of the 
attack to a very injurious amount for several years back was sent me 
by Mr. T. W. Backhouse, of West Hendon House, Sunderland. 
Mr. Backhouse observed that he wrote because he did not find I 
had mentioned in my Annual Report for 1896 ‘‘the pest of ‘ Currant 
Moths,’ alias common ‘ Magpie Moths,’ which has prevailed for some 
years—I think, four or five—in our neighbourhood. All attempts to 
‘overcome them haye been more or less unsuccessful, excepting the 
