72 CURRANT MOTH. 



each wing. The caterpillar feeds on the common 

 ling, and the Moth flies about the middle or end 

 of June. 



THE next insect is the common CURRANT or 

 MAGPIE MOTH (Abraxas grossulariata), one of its 

 popular names being derived from the nature of 

 its food, and the other from the magpie-like 

 character of its markings. 



To describe the exact colour and positions of 

 its markings is utterly impossible, on account of 

 the extreme variations to which it is subject. It 

 is, indeed, so variable a Moth in its aspect, that 

 even a beginner at Moth-hunting is sure to find 

 several well-marked varieties, and will sometimes 

 mistake them for different species. The general 

 nature of the markings may however be described 

 as follows : The fore- wings are white or whitish 

 grey, and have a yellow band crossing them in 

 the middle, and a patch of the same colour at 

 the base. Over the wings are spread numerous 

 black or dark brown spots, arranged without any 

 particular order, but usually following the line of 

 the margin, and grouped on either side of the 

 yellow stripe. The hind-wings are marked in 

 much the same manner, with the exception of 

 the yellow stripe. 



