248 



THE BRITISH NATURE BOOK 



E. 2|-3 J inches. Male deep reddish brown, with a wide yellowish band beyond 

 middle of both wings; also a white central spot on fore-wings. Female 

 larger, a brownish yellow colour, with paler bands and a larger central spot. 

 Moth flies in July and August. L. found on various low plants bramble, 

 heather, hawthorn, etc. Female, if bred in captivity and placed in a jar 

 in the open air, will attract the males from all directions. Almost my earliest 

 peep, many years ago, into the life of a moth was the result of the taking of a 

 female Oak Eggar in Wales, fresh from the chrysalis. I put her into a tumbler 

 outside the window and went in to lunch. After lunch I went out to kill her, 

 and found several males fluttering wildly round the glass. 



The Grass Eggar (L. trifolif) is not so large (E. 2-2f inches), but is very 

 similar in colour, except that the male is not so dark, being the same reddish 

 brown colour as the female. P.p. Trefoil, plantain, and other grasses. Local. 

 Fox Moth (Macrothylacia mbi). E. 2|-2f inches. The male is fox-colour, 

 the female greyish brown generally. Fore-wings of both have two pale yellowish 

 lines across central area. L. in June to October is velvety-black (full-grown), 

 with reddish hairs and blue incisions. Feeds on heath, bramble, etc. Moths 

 emerge in May to June. Males fly by day very often, females only by night. 



Drinker (Cosmotriche potatoria). E. 2-2\ inches. Another reddish brown 

 moth, with yellowish suffusions, the female being lighter than the male. Often 



there is a noticeable line (or band) from 

 the apex of the fore-wing to middle 

 of the inner margin ; also a kidney- 

 shaped spot surmounted by a smaller, 

 rounder spot above middle of fore-wings. 

 L. feeds on coarse grasses, August to 

 October. It gets its name from a habit 

 of the larva of drinking drops of dew. 

 Moth found in July. Ly. Damp places, 

 marshes, ditch-sides, etc. 



Lappet (Gastropacha quercifolia). 

 The name arises from the curious fleshy 

 lappets on the sides of the caterpillar, 

 which is very large and dark grey or 

 brown, having two white marks edged 

 with black on the third ring. It feeds 

 on sloe, hawthorn, apple, etc., from 

 July to September. The moth (E. 2j- 

 3| inches) emerges in June or July ; flies 

 by night. Colour, a warm reddish brown 

 suffused with purple, with blackish lines. 

 When resting the fore-wings are so folded 



over the others that it looks like a withered leaf. The egg is remarkably 

 coloured white with grey lines, like a boy's marble. 



Caterpillar of Drinker Moth. 



