48 LEPIDOPTERA. 



ragwort [Scnecio j'acoha'a, S. vulgarU and S.mirifoUa'),go\(!ieVi- 

 rod (Solida/jo) both native and cultivated, yarrow, hemp- 

 agrimony, knapweed, Pimpinclla magna and P. mxifraga, 

 Silavs j)n(t(:iiKi% Cicuta virosa, Campanula glomerata, Scahiosa 

 columbaria, Clematis, the seeds of Plantaga major, and the 

 blossoms of other plants, both wild and in gardens. Very 

 often to be seen sitting in the middle of the disk of the 

 flower. 



Pl'PA short and thick, wing-covers thickened at the edges, 

 veined and abundantly sculptured with minute, irregular 

 incised lines, and not glossy; limb-cases similarly sculp- 

 tured, lying very close ; eye-covers protruded; dorsal portion 

 of the thorax dull from minute pitting, and segments, both 

 dorsal and abdominal, similarly pitted, with the exception of 

 the hind baud of each, which is smooth ; anal segment rather 

 embossed; colour pale ochreons-brown; abdominal segments 

 red-brown ; cremaster darker — a broad thick spike, covered 

 with rough points and small spines. In a cocoon of silk 

 and earth, in the ground. In this condition through the 

 winter. 



The moth may be seen at almost any time through the 

 summer, in the daytime, sitting on posts, fences, rails, or 

 ■walls in gardens, in town or country, its white wings fully 

 outspread and its abdomen rather curled up, yet it doubtless 

 escapes ordinary observation from its accurate resemblance 

 to a bird's dropping. Often it will sit in the same manner 

 on the stems and leaves of thistles and other coarse plants. 

 If disturbed it will not fly far, and often will just lift its 

 wings and run a short distance, to again press itself close to 

 any surface. At dusk it flies gently, and usually frequents 

 flowers, especially those of ragwort, wood-sage, or garden 

 flowers ; later it will come to light, or to the sugar used for 

 attracting Noduw. 



Common in the gardens of the London suburbs, and of 

 other cities and towns, also tolerably plentiful throughout 



