BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS 



during the day on fences, palings, and other places. 

 The brown, greyish, purplish, or violet larva has mottlings 

 and freckles of darker colour, and feeds upon birch, 

 blackthorn, elm, oak, plum, etc. The forewings of the 

 adult insect are greyish, with brown bands and other 

 markings, whilst the hind wings are greyish. It has a 

 thick dark body. 



Peppered Moth. — (Pachys betularia.) The peppery 

 appearance of both pairs of wings of this w'ell-named 

 species at once identify it, but there is an almost black 

 variety as well. It is a familiar moth, and appears in 

 May and June, or later. The larva is some shade of 

 brown, or green, with small white dots on the latter 

 form, and other markings. The head is deeply notched, 

 and ochreous in colour, with a purple tint. The food- 

 plants are made up of beech, birch, elm, oak, sallow, and 

 the leaves of fruit trees. It should be looked for during 

 July and the two succeeding months. 



Square-Spot. — (Tephrosia consonaria .) This plain fawn 

 or greyish moth is of somewhat local appearance, 

 and favours the South of England, though it also occurs 

 in Wales and Ireland. It loves woodland, and is on the 

 wing during May and June. The larva is ochreous- 

 brown, with a paler line down the back. There is more 

 greenish on the under surface, and the body is more or 

 less wrinkled. The food-plant is selected from beech, 

 birch, oak, pine, or the leaves of some other forest tree. 



Common Heath. — {Ematurga atomaria.) A typical 

 heathland moth, and very abundant in its native wilds. 

 It is on the wing in May and June, and the larva may be 



found feeding upon heather, or other moorland plants, 

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