28 LEP/DOPTERA. 



black and distinct, followed by a parallel smoky-brown 

 line. Hind wings white ; central sjjot black ; followed by 

 two complete, equidistant, smoky-brown transverse lines. 

 Body and legs whitish-brown. 



Rather variable in the degree in which the ground colour 

 is obscured by purplish-brown or red-brown clouding, and in 

 the distinctness, or faintness, of the transverse lines ; this 

 last is probably a climatal distinction, Scottish specimens 

 being more strongly marked than those from the South of 

 England. There is also great disparity in size, some speci- 

 mens from the north, occurring in company with those of full 

 dimensions, being of less than one-half, or even one-third of 

 that size, but corresponding in a singular manner, in that 

 respect, with a closelv allied species, known as E. ahidaria, 

 which occurs on tbe Continent. But for the far longer, more 

 drooping palpi in the latter species, it would be difficult to 

 find a distinguishing character. 



On the wing in June and July, but occasionally at the 

 end of May. 



Labva very sluggish, short and thick, the skin wrinkled ; 

 dirty white or dull pink, clouded above with black ; raised 

 spots black, each with a distinct bristle ; head black ; dorsal 

 plate very dark brown ; dorsal, subdorsal, and spiracular 

 lines slender, white, verj- indistinct, sometimes hardly per- 

 ceptible. When younger more of a dirty brown colour. 



July and August in the cones of spruce fir, feeding upon 

 the unripe seeds ; extruding its excrement through a hole in 

 the surface of the cone. In the absence of cones it will feed 

 in the pith of the shoots or in a damaged shoot, and when 

 young hollows out the buds. 



Pdpa bright red-brown, in a tough cocoon in the earth. 



An exceedingly local species, only to be found in any reli- 

 able manner, or in any number, about large spruce firs ; but 

 apparently of a migratory habit, since single casual speci- 



