THE LARGE YELLOW UNDERWING 85 



PLATE XLV 

 THE LARGE YELLOW UNDERWING (1) 



There are several different kinds of Yellow 

 Underwing moths, but this is by far the commonest 

 of them all. It makes its appearance in June 

 and July, and although it only flies by night you 

 can easily find it during the day. All that you 

 have to do is to go to a strawberry bed, and 

 brush about among the leaves of the plants. 

 Before long you are quite sure to see one of 

 these moths running quickly about like a mouse 

 in search of a fresh hiding-place. And, if you 

 try to catch it, it will take to its wings, fly for 

 a few yards, and then again settle down to seek 

 some place of concealment among the herbage. 



The caterpillars of this moth are very mis- 

 chievous creatures, for they eat their way right 

 into the hearts of cabbage and lettuce plants, 

 and quite spoil them for the table. And as they 

 only feed by night, and hide away beneath the sur- 

 face of the ground by day, it is not at all easy 

 to catch them. They vary a good deal in colour. 

 Indeed, you may find them of almost any shade, 

 from light yellowish-green to dark brown. But 

 along the back there is always a yellow stripe, with 

 a dark line on each side of it, while on the sides 

 there is a row of seven or eight short black streaks. 



You may find these caterpillars from March 

 till the beginning of June. 



