172 LEPIDOPTERA. 



Soutb sometimes even in April ; also in a second generation 

 from July to the beginning of September. 



Larva five-eighths of an inch long, and fairly stout in 

 proportion ; head and second segment horny and glossy, the 

 head the narrower, and having the lobes rounded ; body 

 cylindrical, but tapering a little toward the extremities ; 

 segments well defined ; spiracles conspicuous. Colour dull 

 smoky brownish-black ; head and second segment wainscot- 

 brown, freckled with darker brown ; dorsal stripe similar, 

 enclosed between two grey lines ; a dingy ochreous stripe, of 

 varying intensity in different specimens, extends along the 

 spiracular region ; raised dots polished, black, finely but 

 clearly encircled with grey ; spiracles black with minute 

 white centres ; ventral surface and prolegs rather paler and 

 browner than the dorsal area ; the anterior legs tipped with 

 darker brown, and encircled with black at their bases. 

 When younger tinged with olive. (G. T. Porritt.) 



August and September (and probablj- another generation 

 in June or Jul}-) ; on Plantago Janccolata, P. major, and P. 

 media, feeding at night on the undersurface of a leaf and 

 resting during the day in companies, in a web, toward the 

 base of the leaf, or on the undersurface of one which lies 

 flatly on the ground. (W. H, B. Fletcher.) Gartner says 

 that it feeds also on Salvia, and eats into the crown of the 

 root. 



Plpa about one-third of an inch long, plump and glossy ; 

 thorax, head, and wing-covers dark sienna-brown ; abdominal 

 divisions dark orange. In a cocoon compactlj" formed of 

 closely-woven snow-white silk, in a corner. (G. T. Porritt.) 



The moth frequents grassy places on heaths and hillsides, 

 more particularly chalk, oolite, or limestone hills, especially 

 those along the coast, and may be found in all sorts of dry 

 sandy places. It is readily disturbed at any time in the day, 

 but flies most freely about sunset. In such places fairly 



