Both sexes of this species are shown on Plate 31, Figs. 2 and 3. The fore
wings are darker in some specimens than in others, and very rarely, in
connection with a change in the hind wings from red to brownish, there has
been a purplish tinge over all the wings. Specimens with the hind wings of
a brown tint have only so far been noted in the environs of London. In 1892
one was taken at Mitcham (warm brown), another at Wandsworth, 1895, a third
at Chingford, 1896 (dusky black-brown), and a fourth at Brondesbury in
1897. At a meeting of the South London Entomological and Natural History
Society, held on January 10, 1889, a coloured sketch of a specimen with
blue hind wings, taken at Colchester, was exhibited (ab. _caerulescens_,
Cockerell). Sometimes the hind wings are a dingy red, or they may incline
to an orange tint; the central black band usually terminates just beyond
the middle, but there is often a detached blackish cloud on the inner
margin; and I have two specimens in which the band unites with this cloud.
[Illustration]
2 Pl. 30.
MOTHER SHIPTON: _eggs, natural size and enlarged, caterpillar, and
chrysalis, natural size and enlarged_.
[Illustration]
2 Pl. 31.
1. _CATOCALA ELECTA_.
2, 3. RED UNDERWING.
{81} The eggs which are deposited on bark of poplar trees, as Fig. 2a on
Plate 33, are deep purplish with a whitish bloom, and inclining to
yellowish on the top. The caterpillar (Plate 33, Fig. 2) is whitish-grey
clouded and mottled with darker brown; the head is rather paler grey,
marked with black. It feeds at night on willow and poplar, and, although
rather difficult to detect, may be found in the chinks of the bark from
April to July. The pupa is brownish, thickly powdered with bluish-white,
and is enclosed in a strong, coarse, cocoon, spun up between leaves.
The moth is out in August and September, sometimes later, and in
confinement has emerged in July. It is more abundant in some years than in
others, and is fond of sitting on walls, pales, etc.; occasionally quite
large numbers have been observed at rest on telegraph poles by the
roadside, only one on a pole, as a rule, but sometimes in twos and threes.
Mr. W. J. Lucas, when at Oxford in August, 1900, counted six on one post,
and five on each of two other posts.
The species is found in suitable localities, that is, where poplars and
willows grow, throughout the south and east of England. The only clear
record from Ireland is that of a worn specimen at sugar, September 16,
1906, at Passage West, co. Cork; but Kane mentions two others.
Represented in North India by var. _unicuba_, Walker, and in Amurland by
var. _obscurata_, Oberthur. {82}
THE DARK CRIMSON UNDERWING (_Catocala sponsa_).
The fore wings of this species vary in general colour from ashy grey to an
almost olive brown; the dark clouding is much in evidence in some
specimens, but absent in others; the white or yellow marks in the vicinity
of the white outlined reniform are noticeable features. Hind wings,
crimson, more or less tinged with purple; the upper half of the central
black band is acutely angled on its outer edge, and bluntly so on its inner
edge, thence curved to the inner margin. (Plate 32, Fig. 1.)
The caterpillar is greyish-brown with a greenish tinge, and dusted with
black; paler on the fourth ring and between rings 7 and 8, and 10 and 11;
the hump on ring 8 has an ochreous tip; raised spots, red, bearing black
bristles; head, pale brown, (Fenn.) It feeds on oak in May and June.
The chrysalis is reddish, dusted with purplish grey, enclosed in a rather
open silken cocoon between leaves. (Plate 33, Fig. 1 larva, 1a pupa.) The
moth is out in July and August. Its chief home is the New Forest, Hants,
where it abounds, in some years, and in others is so scarce that few
specimens can be found. It has been taken occasionally in one or other of
the southern English counties adjoining Hants, and has been noted in
Oxfordshire and Suffolk; but such occurrences seem to be exceptional.
THE LIGHT CRIMSON UNDERWING (_Catocala promissa_).
Generally smaller, and the fore wings are usually greyer, than the last
species; the first black cross line is inwardly shaded with blackish; on
the hind wings the central black band is straighter, and the upper half,
although sometimes slightly expanded, is not angled; in some examples the
band does not quite reach the inner margin, and such specimens have been
referred to ab. _mneste_, Hubner. (Plate 32, Fig. 2.) {83}
The caterpillar is of a greenish-tinged greyish coloration, freckled with
darker grey, and with yellowish brown patches on rings 4, 8, and 9. It
feeds, at night, on oak, boring into the buds at first, but afterwards
attacking the foliage: May and June. The moth occurs in oak woods in July
and August, but it does not seem to be met with anywhere in England so
frequently as in the New Forest, Hampshire. Even in that favourite locality
it is seen but rarely in some seasons. It is, or has been, found in several
other southern and eastern counties, but, as a rule, only in a casual way.
THE BLACKNECK (_Toxocampa pastinum_).
In some examples of this species (Plate 32, Fig. 3) the ground colour of
the fore wings, usually pale grey sprinkled with brown, is inclined to
whitish, and but little powdered with brown, except the outer fourth, upon
which there is generally some brown shading. The reniform stigma varies in
shape; in some specimens it is lunular, and in others triangular, with the
apex directed inwards; the orbicular, represented by a black dot, is
occasionally absent; the cross lines are usually traceable, but the central
shade is not often distinct.
The caterpillar is rather long, and tapers slightly from the middle towards
each end. In colour it is greyish, inclining to ochreous on the back, and
dusted with black; there are three reddish lines along the back, the outer
ones edged below with white; the spiracles are black, and the line along
their area is white. It feeds at night on the tufted vetch (_Vicia
cracca_), and after hibernation attains full growth about May, when it
pupates in a cocoon among leaves on the plant, or on the ground. The moth
comes out in June and July, and in its haunts, which are the borders of
woods or the clearings therein, it flutters about at early dusk, when it
can be easily netted. Unlike the species next referred to, it does not seem
to have any great partiality {84} for flowers, but it has been taken at
sugar, and the females are found at night upon the food plant. It is known
to occur in Berkshire and most of the southern counties from Kent to Devon,
and eastward from Essex to Norfolk, Cambs., and Hunts.; has also been
recorded from Yorks., Hereford, and South Wales.
The range abroad extends to Amurland.
THE SCARCE BLACKNECK (_Toxocampa craccae_).
This species (Plate 32, Fig. 4) is similar to the last, but the wings are
rather less ample, the tint is slightly more brownish, and the veins are
paler, especially on the outer area. Distinguishing features are the
heavier and deeper black collar, and four blackish dots on the front edge
of the fore wings. Var. _plumbea_, Bankes, the usual form in Cornwall, is
darker than the type, having the fore wings bluish-grey mixed with
chocolate, instead of pale ash-grey mixed with light walnut brown; hind
wings brownish grey, instead of pale greyish brown. The caterpillar, which
in shape is similar to that of the last species, is ochreous brown, with
darker brown lines along the back and sides. It feeds at night on the wood
vetch (_Vicia sylvatica_), but is said to eat other kinds of vetch in
confinement. It may be found resting on stems of the food plant by day, or,
when feeding at night, by the aid of a lantern, but it quickly falls off
when disturbed. The moth flies at dusk in July and August, and has a strong
liking for the flowers of the wood-sage, but visits golden-red and other
flowers also, and will sometimes turn up at the sugar patch. It is not
uncommon in some parts of the rocky coast of North Devon, as near Lynmouth,
where it was first met with by the late Rev. E. Horton in 1861. It has
since been found commonly on the Cornish coast. From what I know of its
habits, I should say that the species would be found all along the North
Devon and Cornish coasts, wherever the food plant occurs; but it does not
seem to inhabit in any other part of Britain. Abroad, its range extends to
East Siberia and Amurland.
[Illustration]
2 Pl. 32.
1. DARK CRIMSON UNDERWING.
2. LIGHT CRIMSON UNDERWING.
3. THE BLACK NECK.
4. SCARCE BLACK NECK.
[Illustration]
2 Pl. 33.
1, 1a. DARK CRIMSON UNDERWING: _caterpillar and chrysalis_.
2, 2a. RED UNDERWING: _eggs, natural size and enlarged, and caterpillar_.
{85}