THE THORNS 



and dots of black down the back, and black dots along the 

 sides. There is a wide line of reddish low down the 

 body, and the head is black. 



Early Thorn. — {Selenia bilmiaria.) This light brown 

 moth, with sharp pointed forewings and the margins of 

 both pairs somewhat indented, is well distributed, and 

 appears in Spring. It is double-brooded, the first 

 larvae feeding in May and June, and the second batch in 

 August and September. The orange, or reddish- 

 brown, larva has a raised surface on segments seven and 

 eight, and when at rest on a twig, is very difficult to 

 detect. It feeds upon alder, birch, blackthorn, haw- 

 thorn, sallow^ and other woody plants. When resting, 

 this species assumes the position of a butterfly rather 

 than a moth. 



Lunar Thorn. — {Selenia lufiaria.) Although of wide 

 distribution, this pretty species, having very deeply-cut 

 margins to the brownish-yellow wings and a moon-like 

 marking on each of the four wings, is nowhere plentiful. 

 In its general habits it closely resembles S. bilunaria, 

 but the larva occurs later, from July onwards. It is 

 brownish, with lighter or darker markings, with indistinct 

 fines down the back. It is, however, found to exhibit 

 a good deal of variety. 



Purple Thorn. — {Selenia tetralunaria.) This larger 

 and darker-coloured species has the four whitish moon- 

 marks of the last-named, but the wing-margins are not 

 so deeply cut. The inner patch of dark colour is, how- 

 ever, more pronounced. Its chief stronghold is in the 

 South, but it is local. It flies in April and May, and the 



second brood in July and August. The reddish-brown 



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