254 THE BRITISH NATURE BOOK 



mark, something like a bracket [)] or a large comma (?], close to the inner 

 margin, with a small spot sometimes below it. The hind-wings are a lighter 

 brownish grey, shaded deeper towards the edge. Moth flies in June to July, 

 sometimes August to September. L. feeds on knot-grass, dock, plantain, etc., 

 in July to September. Common. (The LIGHT KNOT-GRASS (A. menyanthidis) 

 is the same size and very similar, but lighter in colour. Orbicular stigma is 

 usually a distinct small black ring with a lighter centre. Appears in June 

 and July on moorlands in the North.) 



The Coronet (Cranisphora ligustri). E. i$-i| inch. Is similarly coloured. 

 There is a pale greyish mark just beyond the reniform stigma like a coronet or 

 crown. L. feeds on ash and privet in August and September. Moth in June 

 and July. 



Marbled Beauty (Bryophila perla). E. about I inch. Fore-wings cream- 

 coloured, marbled with darker. The orbicular and claviform stigmata are joined 

 and make a figure 8 of dark grey. Hind-wings creamy white with dark lines. 

 L. August to May on wah 1 lichens. Moth in July and August. (The MARBLED 

 GREEN (B. glandifera) is slightly larger and has a greenish tinge in fore-wings ; 

 has no figure 8. A rather local species.) 



2. Trifince. 



Turnip Moth (Agrotis segetum). Very variable. E. ij-if inch. Fore- 

 wings yellowish or brownish grey, sometimes orange-brown ; the markings 

 darker and obscure. Hind-wings whitish, with brown margins and veins. Found 

 in June. L. feeds from July to April on turnips and swedes, to which it is 

 very destructive. (The DARK SWORD-GRASS (A. ypsilon) is similar in colour, 

 but larger (E. if-2 inches). The markings are plainer. The submarginal 

 line is yellowish and makes a W ; and bounded by it are two or three black 

 arrow-headed streaks. Flies in August. L. feeds on cabbage, lettuce, swedes, 

 etc. The PEARLY UNDERWING (A saucia) is of the same size and colouring, 

 but is a local species.) 



Archer's Dart (A. vestigialis). E. i^-i| inch. A handsome species with 

 pale brown fore-wings. Hind-wings whitish, margined with grey. Submarginal 

 line is whitish and zigzag, and has some black arrow-headed marks in front 

 of it. The three stigmata are generally clearly defined, enclosed in black, 

 the orbicular being whitish with a dark pupil. L. in August to May on grasses, 

 bedstraw, etc. Moth in July and August. Ly. Sandhills. 



Heart and Club (A corticea). E. ij-i inch. Fore-wings pale brown, 

 with darker markings. Hind-wings lighter. Stigmata sharply defined in black, 

 reniform being more or less heart-shaped ; and near the base there is a dark 

 brown mark resembling a club. Appears in July. L. feeds on low-growing 

 plants dock, goosefoot, etc. in March and April. (The HEART AND DART 

 (A. exclamationis) is very similar, but has a distinct black mark on the front 

 of the thorax. The CRESCENT DART (.4. lunifera) is a coast species in July 



