SILVER- Y— MOTHER SHIPTON 



on the forewings of the imago is more Uke a V than a 

 Y, except in certain specimens. The reddish-brown 

 forewings are ornamented with yellow and dark brown, 

 but the hindwings are yellowish-grey. 



Silver-Y. — {Plusia gamma.) This silver-lettered cousin 

 of the last-named is equally well-distributed, and occurs 

 in Spring and Autumn. The larva is not at all par- 

 ticular as to its food-plant, and will partake of almost 

 any kind of dwarf-herbage. It is found in various shades 

 of green, from light to very dark, and on the body of the 

 former variety a series of transverse whitish lines appear. 

 The line along the spiracles is yellowish, and a dark green 

 one runs down the back. The forewings of the imago 

 vary from greyish-white to very dark colour, and the 

 almost black pupa is hidden in a pale cocoon suspended 

 under leaves of growing plants. 



Mother Shipton. — {Eiiclidia mi.) This curiously- 

 named moth (Fig. 33) is of wide distribution, and its 



^' 



brown and yellow wings are adorned on the front pair 



with marks that account for its popular, as well as 



scientific name of mi, the English name being accorded 



because of a fancied resemblance to the head of Mother 



Shipton, and ?ni because of the Hkeness of the marks to 



the letter M. It is fond of places where wild flowers 



77 



