In this species the ground colour is silvery white. The bases of the fore wings are blotched with pale brown, and a dark brownish-grey bar, containing a black spot, crosses the middle. The hind margins of the fore wings are faintly marked with pale brown, and lines of the same tint, more or less distinct, cross the hind wings. [Illustration: FIG. 204.--THE SILVER GROUND CARPET.] This moth is very common in all parts of the country, and may be seen on the wing throughout the summer. The caterpillar is light brown, with several longitudinal lines of different colours. On the back of each of the segments seven, eight, and nine is a distinct black V-shaped mark, terminating behind with a bright red spot. It feeds on the primrose (_Primula acaulis_) in the autumn, hybernates through the winter, and is full grown about the beginning of April. _The Garden Carpet_ (_Melanippe fluctuata_) Our third and last member of this genus is the Garden Carpet--a moth that must be pretty well known to almost everybody, since it is the commonest of all the _Geometrae_ that frequent our gardens. [Illustration: FIG. 205.--THE GARDEN CARPET.] The fore wings are pale grey or brownish, with a patch of dark greyish brown at the base, another larger one on the middle of the costa, and a third near the tip. The wing is usually clouded between the middle blotch and the inner margin, and numerous fine wavy lines, more or less distinct, cross the wing. This moth may be seen throughout the summer, from May to September, but is most abundant in June and July. The caterpillar is extremely variable in colour, being either green, brown, or grey, or some intermediate tint; and is marbled and dotted with dark brown on the back. It feeds on the nasturtium (_Tropaeolum majus_), rape (_Brassica Napus_), and various other cruciferous plants; and may be found from April to August. _The Yellow Shell_ (_Camptogramma bilineata_) Passing over two smaller genera, we come to the beautiful little Yellow Shell. This moth is so abundant in most parts that we arouse it at almost every stroke while beating low bushes. All its wings are yellow, and crossed by numerous delicate white and brown lines. The most conspicuous feature is the two white lines, with dark brown edging, crossing the fore wings. [Illustration: FIG. 206.--THE YELLOW SHELL.] The caterpillar feeds by night, and is therefore seldom seen except by those who make special nocturnal searches with the aid of a lantern or sweep net. It devours various grasses, and hides itself among the roots or under stones during the daytime. It is full grown in April or May. The colour is dull pale green, with a dark green dorsal line, and two white stripes on each side. _The Small Ph[oe]nix_ (_Cidaria silaceata_) Again passing over a few small and less important genera, we select the small Ph[oe]nix as the last example of this very extensive family. [Illustration: FIG. 207.--THE SMALL PH[OE]NIX.]