MOTHS 255 



and August ; it gets its name from the crescent-shaped reniform stigma. The 

 SHUTTLE-SHAPED DART (.4. puta) is smaller (E. i^-ij inch), but similarly 

 coloured. Ly. Marshy meadows.) 



The Light-feathered Rustic (A. cinerea). E. ij-i| inch. Has pale grey 

 fore-wings in the male, and dark brown in the female. Only the reniform stigma 

 is present ; it is oval, with a dark edge. Ly. Chalky districts in May and June. 



The Coast Dart (A cursoria) is very variable, from lightish yellow to dark 

 reddish brown, and the markings also vary enormously. It is found on sand- 

 hills. L. feeds on grasses. 



Garden Dart (A. nigricans}. Has sooty brown fore-wings. E. ij-i^ inch. 

 The reniform stigma is generally rather paler than the rest of the wing, and so 

 stands out with slight distinctness. Moth flies hi July to August. L. from 

 September to June on clover, dock, and other low plants. 



The White Line Dart (.4 . tritici) is very similar, and equally variable ; 

 but a normal specimen has a whitish streak along two-thirds of the upper edge 

 (or costa). It is principally a coast insect. 



The Heath Rustic (.4. agathina). E. i-i| inch. Is a brownish species. 

 There is a blackish pyramid on the fore-wings, in which the grey orbicular 

 and reniform stigmata are situated. It is fairly common on heaths in August. 



The Double Dart (Noctua augur). E. i^-if inch. A dull brownish species 

 with a reddish tinge on fore-wings, the markings sometimes bold, at other times 

 indistinct. It is quite common from June to August. L. feeds on low-growing 

 plants from July to May. 



The Grey, or Neglected, Rustic (N. castanea), is slightly smaller, but very 

 similar in its reddish-tinged brown colour; this in the South often varies to 

 grey. The markings are very obscure. Flies in August. Widely distributed. 



The Dotted Clay (N. buja). E. i-if inch. Fore-wings pale ochreous 

 brown (varying to darker) ; but there is often a noticeable black spot near the apex 

 on the upper margin. Moth in July and August. L. September to May on 

 hawthorn, bramble, etc. Common. 



Setaceous Hebrew Character (N. c-nigrum). E. i-i inch. This species 

 varies in colour from pale reddish grey to dark brown ; but in the middle of 

 the costa there is always a light triangular spot, edged beneath by a black V- 

 shaped patch, supposed to represent a Hebrew letter. Moth in July and August, 

 sometimes earlier. L. on dock and other low plants in September onwards 

 to May. 



Flame Shoulder (N. plecta). E. i-ij inch. This species is not unlike the 

 preceding, but smaller, and instead of a wedge-shaped light patch on the costa 

 there is a creamy stripe with black beneath it ; hind-wings whitish. It is quite 

 common in May and June, and again in August to September. L. on low 

 plants, and lettuce and beet. 



The Double Square Spot (N. triangulum). E. i-if inch. Has ochreous 

 brown fore-wings ; has conspicuous marks in the discal cell, one of which 

 (farthest from the base) is a roughly outlined square. It is common in woods 



