August  1,  1895. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
109 
plumpness  being  suggestive  of  good  fare  while  in  the  stage  of 
caterpillar. 
Undoubtedly,  some  of  them  have  done  us  mischief  before  they 
became  moths,  and  it  has  been  suggested  that  advantage  might  be 
taken  of  their  weakness  for  sweets,  by  not  only  netting  them  when  on 
flowers  but  also  by  snaring  them  with  rags  dipped  in  syrup.  Excepting 
in  the  case  of  one  or  two  conspicuous  species,  however,  these  moths  are 
so  much  alike  that  gardeners  could  hardly  be  expected  to  distinguish 
the  obnoxious  ones  from  those  that  are  harmless  to  cultivated  plants, 
and  some  would  be  killed  that  might  be  spared.  Also  it  is  in  May, 
June,  and  the  early  part  of  July  that  we  notice  about  our  gardens  at 
night  a  preponderance  of  the  destructive  moths,  but  several  of  these 
species  appear  continuously  during  the  summer,  and  show  themselves 
even  when  we  are  hoping  they  have  vanished  for  the  season.  No  doubt 
the  capture  and  removal  of  the  females  (before  they  have  laid  their 
eggs)  of  such  species  as  the  familiar  Mamestra  Brassicm,  is  a  real 
advantage,  for  the  eggs  of  moths  belonging  to  the  Noctua  tribe  are 
in  an  appearance,  so  named  not  from  their  rapid  movements,  but  because 
the  wings  sometimes  have  dart-like  markings.  One  of  the  commonest 
is  the  Garden  Dart  (A.  nigricans),  a  dingy  species,  more  frequent  when  a 
caterpillar  in  fields  than  it  is  in  gardens,  eating  Clover  and  various 
plants,  though  a  family  party  of  them  may  turn  up  unexpectedly 
amongst  vegetables.  Its  capture  would  be  justifiable,  and  that  also  of 
the  Dot  Moth  (Mamestra  Persicariae),  very  conspicuous  by  its  white  spot, 
with  darkish  centre,  on  the  chestnut  brown  fore  wings.  Its  caterpillar 
varies  much  in  colour,  but  has  always  a  double  set  of  markings  on 
the  back,  in  form  of  the  letter  V,  one  of  these  being  darker  than  the 
rest  ;  the  head  is  pale  and  shining,  behind  it  has  a  square  velvety  patch. 
I  mention  this  particularly  because  it  is  a  caterpillar  often  brought  to 
entomologists  to  name,  the  food  being  very  varied ;  and  though  most 
common  in  August  and  September,  specimens  occur  about  gardens  much 
later,  when  caterpillars  have  nearly  ceased  to  be  seen.  Perhaps  amongst 
the  darker  moths  we  notice  the  paler  Angle  Shades  (Phlogophora 
meticulosa),  though  it  is  more  frequently  a  September  species,  the  first. 
Fig.  15.— CRAIG- Y-NOS. 
seldom  found,  and  the  young  caterpillars  are  clever  in  concealing 
themselves. 
It  is  not  uncommon  to  find  about  this  time  moths,  chrysalids,  and 
caterpillars  too,  of  the  above-named  species,  which,  though  called  after 
its  favourite  food,  the  Cabbage  and  its  varieties,  is  a  feeder  on  several 
other  vegetables,  as  well  as  on  Dahlias,  Pelargoniums,  Marigolds,  and 
many  plants  of  the  flower  gaiden.  The  abundant  Turnip  moth,  or 
Agrotis  segetum,  is  about  as  injurious,  but  nearly  all  the  moths  emerge 
in  June,  and  the  caterpillars  commence  feeding  on  the  crowns  or 
stems  of  various  plants  during  July,  working  downwards  to  the  roots 
later,  where  they  finish  their  career. 
Amongst  the  more  notable  haunters  of  flowers  at  evening  hours  just 
now  are  several  moths  that  have  beautiful  markings,  and  which  are  only 
visitors  to  the  garden,  having  led  their  caterpillar  life  elsewhere  in  fields, 
lanes,  or  woods  ;  others  that  we  see  have  been  bred  within  the  garden 
precincts,  and  are  at  home  there,  though  as  caterpillars  they  may  not 
have  been  very  destructive.  Even  in  London  suburbs  we  sometimes 
see  the  large  and  handsome  red  underwing  moth  (Catocala  nupta)  ;  its 
caterpillar  is  a  feeder  on  Willows  ;  and,  of  similar  size,  the  sombre, 
yet  finely  tinted  Old  Lady  (Mania  maura),  the  caterpillar  of  which  occurs 
chiefly  on  fruit  trees,  but  does  no  harm.  We  may  come  on  an  example 
of  the  Herald  (Gonoptera  libatrix),  with  its  angulated  wings  of  greyish 
brown,  orange,  and  white  ;  taking  some  honey  ere  it  hybernates,  for  it 
usually  hides  early  within  a  barn,  shed,  or  toolhouse,  to  appear  again 
before  the  arrival  of  the  spring. 
Then  we  have  several  of  the  dart  moths  of  the  genus  Agrotis  putting 
brood  appearing  in  May,  a  moth  very  recognisable  and  elegant.  Its- 
summer  caterpillars  feed  on  some  low  plants  in  our  flower  borders, 
also  on  shrubby  specits.  It,  is  one  of  the  few  caterpillars  appreciating 
the  flavour  of  Chrysanthemum  leaves. 
Specimens  of  the  large  yellow  underwing  are  easily  recognisable,  and 
still  about.  This  is  a  moth  remarkably  muscular,  as  we  soon  discover 
if  one  is  taken  in  the  hand.  Its  capture  is  advisable,  for  the  eggs  are 
laid  on  all  sorts  of  garden  plants,  and  the  caterpillars  feed  through¬ 
out  the  autumn,  winter,  and  spring,  usually  burying  by  day,  but  they 
sometimes  live  exposed  on  the  stems  or  stocks.  Recently  the  insect 
has  been  stated  to  have  shown  itself  a  foe  to  the  Chrysanthemum.  It 
could  scarcely  do  much  harm  to  this  plant  in  the  early  summer,  when 
the  caterpillar  is  notable  from  its  size,  and  probably  more  is  to  be 
apprehended  from  insidious  attacks  by  the  young  brood  during  the 
autumn.  The  petroleum  and  softsoap  solution  judiciously  applied  will 
kill  this  caterpillar,  also  soot  worked  into  the  soil  round  the  stems.  Other 
tellow  underwings  come  to  flowers,  but  they  are  not  harmful  species. 
One  that  is  very  beautiful  is  the  broad -bordered  Tryphrena  fimbria.  The 
caterpillar  feeds  on  Birch  or  Sallow  in  the  spring  and  the  Primrose  or 
Nettles  in  the  autumn. 
Rare  is  the  lesser  broad-bordered  T.  janthina,  richest  in  colouring 
of  all  the  genus.  Other  moths,  large  and  small,  swell  the  host  of  even¬ 
ing  seekers  for  honey,  some  of  the  species  that  the  old  entomologists 
called  by  the  fancy  names  of  rustics,  gothics,  quakers,  arches,  and 
brocades.  Caterpillars  of  these  frequently  feed  on  grasses,  or  on 
low  plants  by  roadsides  and  along  the  edges  of  fields,  though  the  moths 
