268 THE BRITISH NATURE BOOK 



3. Gonopterince. 



The Herald (Scoliopteryx libatrix). E. i|-i| inch. A very handsome 

 species, with a hooked apex and curiously excavated and dentated hind 

 margins. Fore-wings sandy-brown tinged with red, and the central areas are 

 usually brighter red; cross lines light grey; a white dot in middle of base. 

 Moth in August to October, and in spring. L. on sallow, osier, etc., in June 

 to August. Common. 



4. Quadrifina. 



Golden Plusia (Plusia moneta). A migrant to England in recent times, 

 but now established, and in some gardens a pest. The usual food plants 

 are monkshood and larkspur, in May to June, and July to August. Moth in 

 June to July; sometimes again in July and August. E. i- if inch. Fore 

 wings pale golden, with dark brown lines. The orbicular and claviform 

 stigmata form an 8-shaped figure. Hind-wings ochreous-grey. 



Burnished Brass (Plusia chrysitis). E. i|-i| inch. Metallic-looking 

 brownish fore- wings, with two broad golden-green areas or bands ; the apex 

 is slightly hooked. Hind-wings greyish brown. L. feeds on nettles. Full 

 grown in May. Moth in June to August. Ly. Hedges and ditches. (The 

 SCARCE BURNISHED BRASS (P. chryson) has one golden patch on the fore- 

 wing. Is very local.) 



The Gold Spot (P. festuccz). E. ij-i inch. Fore- wings purplish brown, 

 burnished with gold near margin and base. In middle two silvery pear- 

 shaped spots, one larger than the other, with a third near the apex. L. feeds 

 on sedge, coarse grasses, etc., April to June. Moth in June to July, some- 

 times August to September. Widely distributed, but rather local. 



Plain Golden Y (Plusia iota). E. i|-i| inch. Fore-wings reddish violet, 

 with dive-brown markings ; identified by the V-shaped light gold spot, with 

 a small dot close to it, forming a broken script " V" (sometimes conjoined). 

 L. in spring on dead nettles, mint, etc. Moth in June and July. Common. 

 (The BEAUTIFUL GOLDEN Y (P. pulchrina] is very similar, the V and the dot being 

 generally broader, and the wings being rather more mottled.) 



The Silver Y (P. gamma}. E. ij-i| inch. Has grey-brown fore- wings, 

 suffused more or less with violet, and containing a silvery Y-shaped mark, 

 rather like the Greek y, below the orbicular stigma. L. feeds on low-growing 

 vegetation in spring and summer, when moth also is to be found. Very common. 

 (The SCARCE SILVER Y (P. interrogationis] is local on heaths and moors in the 

 North. It has a very broad U-shaped mark, with a dot below it or conjoined.) 



The Spectacle (Abrostola tripartite). E. ij-i| inch ; has a spectacle mark 

 of whitish grey, ringed with black before the thorax. The fore-wings are 

 greyish brown, with darker mottles in the central area, the rest being a whitish 

 grey. L. in July on nettles. Moth in June and August. Common. 



