DESCRIPTIVE NOTICES OF CONSPICUOUS SPECIES 227 



The larva is creamy-white with numerous black spots, 

 with two or three conspicuous large black spots on the 

 back of each segment ; the spiracular line is reddish- 

 orange. It feeds on currant, gooseberry, sloe, hazel, 

 etc., in April and May. 



The young larvae may often be noticed in August and 

 September, but they hybernate quite small, and pass 

 the winter without feeding. 



The perfect insect appears in July, and may often be 

 observed flying sluggishly in gardens and along hedges, 

 especially towards evening. 



FAMILY XII. ZERENID.E. 

 LIGDIA ADUSTATA. THE SCOECHED CARPET. 



(Plate XI., Fig. 3.) 



This neatly-marked species is widely distributed 

 throughout England, and in the more southern counties 

 is tolerably common; it occurs northward as far as 

 York ; in Ireland it has been observed in the counties 

 of Wicklow and Gal way. 



The expansion of the wings is about an inch. The 

 fore-wings are white with a purplish -brown blotch at 

 the base, beyond the middle is a slightly sinuous pur- 

 plish-brown band, edged internally with tawny and 

 followed by some tawny and purplish-brown clouds 

 towards the hind margin. The hind-wings are white, 

 clouded with pale fuscous beyond the middle, and 

 freckled with purplish-grey towards the inner margin. 



The larva is generally of a beautiful green, with 

 bright red spots on several of the posterior segments ; 

 the head is brown ; the legs are yellowish-red. It feeds 

 on spindle in the autumn. 



