288 COMMON BRITISH MOTHS 



that we arouse it at almost every stroke while beating low 



bushes. 



All its wings are yellow, and crossed by numerous delicate 

 white and brown lines. The most con- 

 spicuous feature is the two white lines, 

 with dark brown edging, crossing the fore 

 wings. 



The caterpillar feeds by night, and is 

 therefore seldom seen except by those who 



FIG. 206. THE YELLOW make special nocturnal searches with the 



SHELL. aid of a lantern or sweep net. It devours 



various grasses, and hides itself among the 



roots or under stones during the daytime. It is full grown in April 



or May. The colour is dull pale green, with a dark green dorsal 



line, and two white stripes on each side. 



The Small Phoenix (Cidaria silaceata) 



Again passing over a few small and less important genera, we 

 select the small Phoenix as the last example of this very extensive 

 family. 



The fore wings of this species are dark brown, paler toward the 

 hind margin. Most of the wing rays are 



&^^ V ^ -^^ffi generally of a pale yellowish colour, and a 



W variable and complicated system of whitish 



B^^ lines crosses the wings near the base, and 



TJ&gt * ^Hp another near the hind margin. Among the 



Fie 207 THE SMALL l^ter there is always a series of dark 



PHCENIX. triangular spots, with apices pointing to- 



wards the hind margin. 



This moth is moderately common throughout the British Isles, 

 and is double brooded, appearing in May and August. 



The caterpillar is green, with a row of brown spots along the 

 middle of the back. When full grown it changes to a chrysalis in 

 a light web. 



Family EUBOLIID^E 



This is the last family of the Geometrce we shall notice, and 

 contains ten species. Most of these are rather pretty moths, and 

 all have the tips of the fore wings more or less pointed. As a rule, 

 too, there is a dark streak running from the very tip of the wing for 

 a short distance obliquely inward. 



