Some British Moths Described 
habit of appearing late at sugar, just as you are preparing 
togo home. The larva isa fairly general feeder, Goose- 
foot, Chickweed, and Dock, being perhaps the most 
favoured plants. Expanse of moth, nearly 2 inches. 
Hadena oleracea: the Bright Line (Plate IX., 
Fig. 14).—-A common garden species everywhere. It 
varies very little. Comes to sugar abundantly. The 
larva (Plate XIV., Fig. 7) attacks most garden plants, 
Lettuce, Cabbage, Nasturtiums, being perhaps the 
favourites. It is either brown or green, with a light 
line on either side, and dotted all over with very fine 
black spots. Look in August and September for th 
larva, June and July for the moth. Expanse, 14 inches. 
Family XyLinip@ 
Calocampa vetusta: the Red Sword Grass (Plate IX., 
Fig. 15).—One of the moths we see at sugar in Sep- 
tember and October. When at rest it has a curious 
way of folding its wings ; they appear as if wrapped 
round the body, and the moth looks like a bit of rotten 
stick or a curled leaf. ‘The females usually survive the 
winter, and reappear at Sallow catkins in spring. The 
larve feed on low plants on swampy ground ; hence you 
will find the moth commonest at sugar on trees near a 
marsh. Expanse, 2 inches. 
Cucullia verbasci: the Mullein Shark (Plate IX., 
Fig. 16).—The Sharks are quite a distinct little group. 
We have eight species, which may be taken at bloom or 
occasionally at rest on palings, or, better still, bred. 
The larve of most of them live upon various species of 
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