230 



THE YOUNG 



NATURALIST. 



fifth and twelfth segments; feeding on 

 sallows and poplars ; and the Small Choco- 

 late tip (Clostera reclusa), feeding on sallow. 



The Pale Prominent ( Ptilodonta palpina ) 

 feeding on willow, sallow, and poplar ; the 

 Pebble Prominent {Notodonta ziczac), the 

 Swallow Prominent {Notodonta dictcea), and 

 the Lesser Swallow Prominent (Notodonta 

 dictceoides) , are other species of Cuspidates 

 of which I can make but brief mention. 

 Ziczac and dictcea feed on poplar and sallow ; 

 dictceoides on birch. The latter is more 

 slender than dictcea, and the yellow lateral 

 stripe is brighter and more distinct. 



There are some other interesting species 

 of which I should like to make mention, but 

 I must omit them for want of space and 

 pass on to the Noctuina. The most impor- 

 tant larvae I will describe as briefly as pos- 

 sible in the following list : — 



GonopTiora derasa (the Buff Arches). — 

 Rich dark brown, with three white spots on 

 each side. Thyatira batis (the Peach Blos- 

 som). — Reddish grey, marbled with brown ; 

 back tubercled. Both these rest with the 

 anal claspers unattached and both feed on 

 brambles. 



Cymatophora ocularis (Figure of 80.) — This 

 rare caterpillar is pale green, inclined to 

 yellowish, with darker dorsal line and red- 

 dish spiracles. It feeds on aspen. 



Acronycta leporina. — Very hairy. Body 

 of the caterpillar pale green, hairs white 

 and silky. On birch. 



Acronycta aceris. — Flesh-coloured, with 

 long tufts of orange or yellow hairs, and a 

 row of lozenge-shaped white spots down the 

 back. On sycamore. 



Acronycta strigosa. — I have looked out for 

 this caterpillar for years, but in vain, so am 

 unable to describe it from personal observa- 

 tion. Stainton describes it as green at the 

 sides and with a reddish brown stripe along 

 the back. Feeds on sloe. 



Acronycta auricoma is another larva I am 

 unable to describe from personal observa- 



tion. It is said to be purplish grey with 

 reddish dorsal spots, and is reputed to feed 

 on bramble, bilberry, birch, etc. 



Simyra venosa. — Hairy. Whitish grey, with 

 dark dorsal line ; yellow raised spots along 

 the back and sides ; lateral stripe grey. On 

 reeds in the fens of Cambridgeshire. 



Zeucania obsoleta. — Smooth, rather rosy- 

 looking, with white and green lines. On 

 reeds near London. 



Hadena chenqpodii — Green, with red and 

 white spiracular line. On goose-foot, not 

 later than the early part of the month. 



Hadena rectilinea. — Variegated with light 

 and dark brown, purplish underneath ; two 

 yellow spots on twelfth segment. On sallow. 

 Stainton says bilberry and bramble. Only 

 in the north of England and Scotland. 



Heliothis dipsaceus — Straw colour, streak- 

 ed with reddish brown ; violet brown dorsal 

 stripe ; and reddish transverse band on each 

 segment. On toad-flax. 



Abrostola triplasia — Olive green, with two 

 white streaks along the back, and an arrow- 

 shaped mark on the fifth and sixth segments ; 

 spiracular line white, with white streaks 

 running from it obliquely upwards. 



The only other larvae I can make mention 

 of are Spilodes palealis, said to feed on the 

 umbels of carrot, at Folkestone. It is des- 

 cribed as whitish, with pale grey dorsal 

 line and yellowish white head ; Nephopteryx 

 abietella, pale reddish brown, in fir cones 

 and decayed fir wood, to be looked for in 

 the north of England ; and the whitish 

 green Pempelia hostilis, feeding on willow 

 and poplar in some of the woods in the 

 south. 



Late Nesting. — During the past week I 

 have found two nests of the yellow hammer, 

 with newly laid eggs. One egg had a large 

 brown patch on one side, but I broke it in 

 blowing. Sparrows are still nesting. — Tom 

 Robson, Ben Ridge, near Hartlepool, 

 23rd August, 1884. 



