GEOMETERS 287 



grey bar, containing a black spot, crosses the middle. The hind 

 margins of the fore wings are faintly marked with pale brown, 

 and lines of the same tint, more or less distinct, cross the hind 

 wings. 



This moth is very common in all 

 parts of the country, and may be seen 

 on the wing throughout the summer. 



The caterpillar is light brown, with 

 several longitudinal lines of different 



colours. On the back of each of the ^ 204t _ THB SILVER 

 segments seven, eight, and nine is a GEOUND CARPET. 



distinct black V-shaped mark, termi- 

 nating behind with a bright red spot. It feeds on the primrose 

 (Primula acaulis) in the autumn, hybernates through the winter, 

 and is full grown about the beginning of April. 



The Garden Carpet (Melanippe fluctuaia) 



Our third and last member of this genus is the Garden Carpet 

 a moth that must be pretty well known to almost everybody, since 

 it is the commonest of all the Geometrce that frequent our gardens. 



The fore wings are pale grey or brown- 

 ish, with a patch of dark greyish brown 

 at the base, another larger one on the 

 middle of the costa, and a third near the 

 tip. The wing is usually clouded between 

 the middle blotch and the inner margin, 

 and numerous fine wavy lines, more or FIG. 205. THE GAHI>EN 

 less distinct, cross the wing. CARPET. 



This moth may be seen throughout 



the summer, from May to September, but is most abundant in 

 June and July. 



The caterpillar is extremely variable in colour, being either 

 green, brown, or grey, or some intermediate tint ; and is marbled 

 and dotted with dark brown on the back. It feeds on the nastur- 

 tium (Tropceohim majus), rape (Brassica Napus), and various 

 other cruciferous plants ; and may be found from April to August. 



The Yellow Shell (Camptogramma bilineata) 



Passing over two smaller genera, we come to the beautiful 

 little Yellow Shell. This moth is so abundant in most parts 



