CATALOGXTE OF MOTHS, 67 



the railway banks between Hart and Hesleden, especially in 

 " Crimdon Cut," where the species often swarms. In 1896 I 

 took two specimens there, in which the paler markings much 

 predominate. 



ARCTIA, Sohrk. 

 19. Arctia caja, (Linn.). Common Tiger. 



Arctia caja. Staint. Man., vol. i., p. 145. 



Chelonia ,, I^ewm, Brit. Moths, p. 33. 



Arctia ,, Barr. Lep. Brit. Is., vol. ii., p. 265. 

 ,, ,, Meyr. Hdbk. Brit. Lep., p. 42. 



Larva. Buck., vol. iii., pi. xliv,, fig. 3 ; O.Wils., pi. xi., fig. 9. 

 This large and variable species is abundant in all parts of both 

 counties, except the higher moorlands, but even there it is found 

 in the more cultivated portions. Its favourite haunts are hedge 

 sides, gardens, railway embankments, etc., where the larvae may 

 be found on sunny mornings feeding on Dock, I^ettle, Thistle, 

 and a great variety of low plants. Little indeed comes amiss to 

 it, and I once found a batch of newly-hatched larvae on a Balsam 

 Poplar. The perfect insect is very retiring, and rarely seen on 

 the wing, for it does not fly till midnight or later, but the larvae 

 may be collected in abundance wherever there is a suitable place. 

 To test its numbers I once picked up every larva I could find 

 on a hedge bank about 250 yards long, by the side of a public 

 road close to where I then resided, on the outskirts of West 

 Hartlepool. I gathered a thousand and then abandoned it. Yet 

 I never saw the imago there except when I used a powerful 

 light very late at night. 



Caja is named in every list in my possession, therefore I do 

 not give localities, but I think it is most abundant near the 

 coast. 



It is one of the most variable of British species, no two speci- 

 mens being exactly alike, but this extreme variability appears 

 to have prevented even the establishment of local races or forms. 

 A specimen was bred at Hartlepool by Mr. T. Tweddell, in 

 which all the wings were black, the usual markings being dis- 

 tinguishable only by appearing rather more glossy. I bred a 



