LA RENTID.-E —E UPITHECIA . 73 



■those specimens which emerge uniformly black, showing no 

 trace of markings, rcma'Di black ; but that those specimens in 

 which the markings are perceptible, however faintly, under 

 the black shade, on emergence, gradually fade and soon 

 ■become merely dark typical specimens. To all appearance 

 the melanic tendency in this species is of quite modern 

 development — probably within the last ten years. 



On the wing in May and June and sometimes as a partial 

 second generation, in August. 



Lakva long, slender, and tapering ; ground colour pale or 

 dusky olive, or reddish-brown; with a chain of dusky lozenge- 

 shaped dorsal spots, becoming confluent on the anterior and 

 posterior segments ; segmental divisions reddish ; on the 

 nndersurface is a central blackish or purplish line running 

 from the head to the anal tip ; body thickly studded with 

 minute white tubercles and clothed more sparingly with short 

 bristly hairs. (Eev. H. H. Crewe.) 



August, September and October ; almost omnivorous. Mr. 

 Crewe says " feeds promiscuously upon almost every descrip- 

 tion of tree, shrub, and flower." I have found it even in a 

 capsule of Lijchnis, and on Scdum tclcphium, and it is re- 

 corded upon brake-fern and the seeds of rush. 



Pupa. Thorax and wing cases yellow, the latter more or 

 less suffused M'ith green ; abdomen slender and tapering, 

 reddish or greenish-yellow. In an earthen cocoon. (Rev. 

 H. H. C.) 



In this condition through the winter. 



The moth especially loves to rest during the day on the 

 underside of the branch of a tree, especially of a large tree, 

 and may sometimes be so seen in scores, specimen after 

 specimen in following order, almost touching each other. 

 When noticed they will move a little way, one at a time, in a 

 restless fashion, but will not fly unless reallj^ disturbed. 

 'Often however it hides in a hedge or any bush, when it may 



