32 LEPIDOI'TERA. 



also, rarely on those of LychnU dioica ; feeding; within the 

 large capsule, and apparently making this its constant resi- 

 dence. 



Pupa bright red, or shining yellow-brown, the cremaster 

 darker and furnished with numerous fine bristles ; in a slight 

 cocoon in the earth. Not more particularly described. In 

 this condition through the winter, sometimes through two 

 winters. 



The moth hides during the day among, or close to, its 

 food-plant, always among herbage, and is difficult to find at 

 that time, refusing to fly, and merely hiding more closely 

 among the herbage. It is scarcely ever seen while at rest. 

 It Hies at late dusk, but from its obscure tints is difficult 

 to see, so that although not at all scarce, it is rarely taken in 

 any plenty. Its larva, however, is collected with perfect 

 ease in the seed capsules ; and although much infested with 

 ichneumons, is the principal means by which the series in 

 our cabinets are supplied. Its favourite haunts are on the 

 chalk, and other cretaceous soils, on which its food-plant, 

 Bilene inflata, is plentiful ; and on the coast rocks, where Silene 

 maritima occurs in its great musses ; but the former plant 

 having a wide though more sparing distribution on other 

 soils, allows the insect to be widely distributed, so that it 

 seems to occur in almost every English county to Yorkshire 

 and Westmoreland. In South Wales it is found not uncom- 

 monly to Pembrokeshirp,and in North Wales on the mountains, 

 as well as along the coast ; and it seems to be common in the 

 Isle of Man. In Scotland it is found on the coast iu Kirk- 

 cudbright, and in Aberdeenshire, Inverness-shire, and Moray, 

 doubtless wherever there is suitable Silene-clad coast, and 

 certainly in the Hebrides, Orkneys, and Shetland Isles. In 

 Ireland it is widely distributed — probably everywhere in 

 suitable spots. Abroad it is lound over the greater portion 

 of the Continent of Europe, and in Syria, Pontus, and 

 Bithynia. 



