103 



The date of the appearance of the caterpillar is in April 

 and May. 



It feeds on the lilac, the jessamine, and the privet. 



SELENIA ILLUNARIA. 



EARLY THORN. 

 Plate XVIII. Figure 3. 



THIS insect measures from a little under an inch and 

 a half to nearly one and three quarters in width. 



Male: fore wings dull yellowish-grey, more or less 

 marked with brown and very pale pink along the upper 

 margin, first line dark brown and slightly bent, the second 

 line also dark brown, little bent and nearly straight 

 across, between the two is a broader central line. There 

 is a patch of olive or orange-brown at the outer corner. 

 Hind wings yellowish-grey, with a rather darker bar 

 across more or less distinct. 



The female resembles the male, but is rather darker 

 coloured. 



Localities for this species, which is common throughout 

 the country, are York, Nun-Appleton, Isle of Wight, 

 Isle of Man, &c. 



The situations where it is found are hedge-rows and 

 wood sides. 



The perfect insect appears in March and April, and 

 also again in July. 



The caterpillar is greyish-brown, with a line below the 

 back of a paler shade, the eighth and ninth segments 

 with slight prominences. 



