103 
The date of the appearance of the caterpillar is in April 
and May. 
It feeds on the lilac, the jessamine, and the privet. 
SILENIA ILLUNARIA. 
EARLY THORN. 
Plate XVIII. Figure 3. 
This insect measures from a little under an inch and 
a half to nearly one and three quarters in width. 
Male: fore wings dull yellowish-grey, more or less 
marked with brown and very pale pink along the upper 
margin,first line dark brown and slightly bent, the second 
line also dark brown, little bent and nearly straight 
across, between the two is a broader central line. There 
is a patch of olive or orange-brown at the outer corner. 
Hind wings yellowish-grey, with a rather darker bar 
across more or less distinct. 
The female resembles the male, but is rather darker 
coloured. 
Localities for this species, which is common throughout 
the country, are York, Nun-Appleton, Isle of Wight, 
Isle of Man, &c. 
The situations where it is found are hedge-rows and 
wood sides. 
The perfect insect appears in March and April, and 
also again in July. 
The caterpillar is greyish-brown, with a line below the 
back of a paler shade, the eighth and ninth segments 
with slight prominences. 
