THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



115 



to Sweden and Finland. It occurs also in 

 Southern Russia, and in Siberia, reaching 

 the valley of the Amoor. 



Varieties. — No forms of this species 

 have been named. It varies chiefly in 

 intensity of colour, and in the extent of the 

 darker markings in the male. I have two 

 females given me by Mr. G. T. Porritt, and 

 bred by him from larvae found at Wicken 

 Fen, that are exceedingly pale ochreous in 

 colour, but I have specimens bred here that 

 are scarcely any darker. I also have a 

 female, clouded and marked with reddish 

 brown, exactly like the male, and nearly as 

 dark, and such specimens are not uncommon 

 in collections. The males of the Wicken 

 specimens are often as pale as ordinary 

 females. I know of no abnormal ferms. 



ANTICLEA BADIATA. 



The Shoulder Stripe. 



This is one of the prettiest of the earlier 

 geometers, and is sufficiently common to be 

 met with by almost every one who will 

 take the trouble to look for it. Unlike the 

 last species it is easier for a beginner to find 

 the perfect insect than the larva. It sits on 

 palings, or on tree trunks in open places in 

 woods, and may even be found on gate-posts, 

 and such like places, where its rather bright 

 colour renders it sufficiently conspicuous. 

 It may also be taken on the wing at dusk, 

 and should be looked for in places where 

 the wild rose occurs. 



" BADIATA, W.V., Badia'ta, badius, chest- 

 nut-colour." A.L. 



Imago. — The forewings are various 

 shades of reddish brown. The portion nearest 

 the base is darkest, then a narrow pale band, 

 with a darker patch in the upper portion 

 where it is rather wider. This is separated 

 from the rest of the wing by a narrow dark 

 line, rather angulated near the costa. These 

 basal markings occupy nearly one-third of 



the wing. The hind margin is also dark 

 reddish brown, scarcely so deep in hue as 

 the base, and shading off more or less grad- 

 ually to the lighter central portion, in which 

 is a small but distinct spot at the disc. 

 The hind wings are brownish grey, some- 

 times with indistinct lines, and slightly 

 darker at the hind margin. 



Larva. — Rather long and slender, gen- 

 erally green on the back, but varying to 

 brown, the divisions between the segments 

 yellow, and the usual spots white ; spiracles 

 always black ; head varying from yellow 

 to brown. 



Pupa. — In an earthen cocoon, on or 

 just below the surface. 



Food Plants.— The Dog rose is given 

 in most of the manuals as the food, but it 

 feeds here on the Spiny rose {Rosa spinosis- 

 sima) also. 



Times of Appearance. — in forward 



seasons the imago emerges in March, but 

 may always be met with in April, in which 

 month the egg is laid on the food-plant. 

 The larva is full fed by July, and it remains 

 in pupa over the winter. 



Habitat. — Lanes, open places in woods, 

 bents, where the spiny rose grows, &c., &c. 

 It is generally distributed throughout 

 Britain. Abroad it occurs in Central 

 Europe, extending southwards to the North- 

 ern parts of Italy. It also reaches Finland, 

 and the Eastern portion of Siberia. 



Varieties. — No form of this insect 

 has been considered sufficiently distinct to 

 be named. It varies considerably in the 

 extent of its markings, and also in the depth 

 of colour. In some specimens the darker 

 shades extend nearly all over the wing ; in 

 others the paler central portion is much 

 wider. In most of specimens that I have 

 seen this pale band is only a very light 

 brown, but it is sometimes nearly white, 

 contrasting prettily with the darker shades 

 of the other portions of the wing. - 



