THE NOCTU^E 257 



dark grey, and there is a row of black spots along the hind margin. 

 The hind wings are smoky brown, becoming paler towards the base. 

 The caterpillar feeds on oak (Quercus Robur), hornbeam (Car- 

 pinus Betulus), and birch (Betula alba), 

 and may be found in abundance during 

 May and June. It is green, with dark 

 spots, and white lines on the back and 

 sides. Although it partakes of the leaves 

 of the above-named trees, yet its chief 



food seems to be other caterpillars, for it p IG< igg > ^HE DUN- 



devours these with a savage greediness BAB. 



that is simply astonishing. It will chase 



an unfortunate caterpillar, seize it by the neck with a fatal grip, 



and rapidly devour it. Its chief prey seems to be the larva of the 



Winter Moth (Brumata). 



Family HADENID^E 



Nearly fifty British Noctuce are included in the family 

 Hadenidce. They are of variable dimensions, and differ much in 

 the brightness of their colours, some being very dingy, and others 

 gaily tinted. Their antennae are rather long ; and when at rest 

 the wings slope from the back like the sides of a roof. 



The larvae are smooth, and not very thick ; and there is some- 

 times a hump on the twelfth segment. The pupae are brown and 

 shiny, and are inclosed in earthen cocoons beneath the surface of 

 the soil. 



The Broad-barred White (Hecatera serena) 



Although not gaily coloured, this is a pretty little moth, there 

 being a bright contrast between the white ground and the grey 

 markings of the wings. It is common 

 in the south of England, and seems to 

 be plentiful in and around London. 



The caterpillar is of a dingy greenish 

 colour, with a yellowish stripe on each 

 side of the back ; and there are two dis- 

 tinct dots on the back of each segment. FIG. 167. THE BROAD- 



It feeds during July and August on sow- BARBED WHITE. 



thistles (Sonchus oleraceus and S. arven- 



sis), sleepwort (Lactuca virosa), and hawkweeds (Hieracia). 



The moth flies in June and July. 



