Some British Moths Described 
of lichens; for it is upon these that the larve feed. 
They are singularly beautiful; green, black, and yellow 
mottled, they resemble their food so much in colour 
and wrinkledness that, so long as they remain still, they 
are practically invisible. Larva in May; moth in June 
and July. Expanse, to 14 inches. 
Boarmia gemmaria: the Willow Beauty (Plate XII., 
Fig. 33).—Expanse, 12 inches. A very variable species 
belonging to a variable group. Var. Perfumaria is per- 
haps the most notable; it has a broad black bar across 
both upper and under wings. The moth appears in 
July and August. The larva is a very general feeder, 
attacking Oak, Willow, Bilberry, Birch, Elm, Ivy. 
Common everywhere. 
Tephrosia biundularia; the Engrailed (Plate XII, 
Fig. 23).—Expanse to 14 inches. Also very variable ; 
in fact, every district seems to have its own form. 
Moth in April and May ; larva during the summer, on 
Oak, Birch, Larch, etc. 
Family GEOMETRIDA. 
Geometra papilionaria: the Large Emerald (Plate 
XII., Fig. 17).—Not a very common moth, but very 
widely distributed ; may be looked for wherever there 
are Birch plantations. Flies rather high at dusk, 
settling from time to time just beyond the reach of the 
net; a shake of the tree, and it is off again. The 
larve hibernate, so it is best to look for them in the 
spring : April and May Out in July. Expanse, 2 to 
24 inches, 
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