THE YOUNG NATUEALIST. 



249 



another species which is frequently observed in the perfect state but its exist- 

 ence in the earlier stages is a mystery, the larvae never being met with, and 

 this remark will apply to A. oculea which is another common species and also 

 to Miana strigilis, C. morpheas, C. blanda, and C. cubicularis, all of which 

 are frequently taken in London. The life history of our next species Agrotis 

 exclamationis is however well known, the large white larvae being frequently 

 dug up in the spring when the ground is being broken up after the winter ; 

 they turn to a bright red pupa, and the moths emerge in June and July. It 

 is almost unnecessary to say that T. pronuba occurs, being frequently observed 

 in the heart of the city; and a pretty little species which must not be over- 

 looked is Noctua plecta which first appears at the end of May and continues 

 about until the middle of August. Another of the same family Noctua 

 C.-vigrum is sometimes taken but it must be considered a rarity. In the 

 neighbourhood of elms we can generally obtain T. stabilis, the larvse being 

 frequently observed on the trunks during July. The beautiful Angle shades 

 moth P. meticulosa also favours us with its presence during the autumn 

 months, the larvae having previously fed up on any low plants in July and 

 August ; its neighbour Euplexia lucipara also puts in an appearance in an 

 irregular sort of manner being common in some years and conspicuous by its 

 absence in others. 



We now come to Iladena oleracea (Bright line Brown-eye moth) this is 

 probably the most abundant species of its genus, being found in profusion 

 both in the larval and perfect state, frequenting gardens and waste places and 

 feeding upon any low plant ; Chenopodium being an especial favourite. The 

 perfect insect appears towards the end of May and can be observed down to 

 the beginning of July; it is not given to variation but the larvse are found of 

 almost every shade of green and brown, from pea-green to olive, and from 

 wainscot brown to black. It has been stated that the brown caterpillars 

 produce male moths, and the green ones females, but I have not verified this 

 statement which, however, I have no doubt is correct, as I have found such 

 to be case with the larvae of Mamestra persicarice, they can be easily identified 

 by the presnce of numerous little white dots in the centre of each of which is 

 a minute black speck ; the spiracular stripe is well defined and usually of a 

 bright yellow colour. These larvae may be sought in any place where there is 

 a patch of greea, in fact perhaps no species has better adapted itself to town 

 life, they are found during August and September, going underground at the 

 end of the latter month, the pupal state lasting about seven months, there 

 being only one brood each year. 



Our next species is Hadena chenopodii (Nutmeg Moth) though not so 

 plentiful as its congener H. oleracea, this species is tolerably abundant, being 



