GEOMETER 



279 



cases 

 The fringe 



FIG. 183. THE COMMON 

 HEATH. 



The ground colour of the wings of the male is a dull yellowish 

 grey, and that of the female greyish white. In both cases the 

 wings are crossed by irregular dark brown bands. 

 is barred alternately with white and dark 

 brown, and the whole of the ground tint 

 between the above-mentioned bands is 

 thickly dotted with dark brown. The 

 female is generally smaller than the male. 



The caterpillar is very variable in 

 colour, but is generally reddish brown, 

 ochreous brown, or greenish, with a light 

 line along the spiracles, and a series of lozenge-shaped spots on the 

 back. It feeds on trefoils (Lotus corniculatus and L. pilosus) 

 and various other plants that grow on heaths. 



The Bordered White (Bupaliis piniaria) 



The male of this species is boldly marked with yellowish white 

 and dark brown, the arrangement of the two colours being shown 

 in fig. 190. The female is very differ- 

 ent in general appearance. Her wings 

 are of an almost uniform orange or 

 yellowish-brown tint. The fore wings 

 are darker near the tip, and there is 

 generally a darker transverse band 

 across the centre. 



The male may often be seen flying 

 in the sunshine among the branches 

 of fir trees during May and June, but 

 his mate is rather less active, and is generally to be secured by 

 beating the branches. 



The caterpillar is pale green, with whitish stripes and yellow 

 spiracles. It feeds during August and September on the leaves of 

 the Scotch fir (Pinus sylvestris). 



FIG. 190. THE BORDERED 

 WHITE MALE. 



Family 

 The Currant Moth (Abraxas grossuJariata} 



The family Zerenidce contains only four British moths, and of 

 these we select the Currant Moth or Magpie. This insect is 

 exceedingly common everywhere, and on account of its general 

 brightness of appearance, and also of its diurnal habits, it is often 



