378 LEPIDOPTERA. 



dead leaves ; by other observers it has been reared from the 

 pith of dead raspberry caaes ; and from decayed thatch. It 

 unites the dihrls of these materials together, forming tubes 

 of silk in which it lives. 



Pupa brown, nearly halt' an iuch long, stoutest at the 

 thorax ; anal point ended with a short spike. In a cocoon 

 which at first is soft and very flexible, and of silvery white- 

 ness, but after a day or two becomes firm and unyielding, 

 rounded at each end, convex on the upper and under sur- 

 faces, acutely ridged along the sides. (W. Buckler.) This 

 cocoon opens at one end to allow the escape of the moth, but 

 closes again and shows no sign of disturbance, and in the 

 case of the P]njto'ptu& bunches on birch-trees, lies long in the 

 same place. 



The moth hides during the day among dead sticks, vege- 

 table refuse, or in thatch, and occasionally may be seen 

 sitting on an old paling or fence. It flies at dusk and in the 

 night, and often comes to the sugar spread for Noctuce ; it is 

 also strongly attracted by light and often to be seen sitting 

 upon a gas-lamp. When so sitting or when at rest in the 

 daytime its forewings are deflected over the hind, and not 

 placed forward as in the last species. Not very scarce in the 

 subui'bs of London, frequenting the gardens ; and with the 

 exception of Cornwall, it seems to be found in suitable places 

 throughout the Southern, Eastern, and Western Counties of 

 England, and more sparinglj^ in all the Midland Counties, 

 extending northward to Yorkshire and Lancashire, but 

 apparently not further north, except that one specimen has 

 been taken in Durham. Neither is there any evidence for 

 Wales, though it surely must there be present. In Ireland 

 a single record for W^icklow is not confirmed, and seems 

 doubtful. Abroad it has an extensive distribution, through 

 Central Europe, the temperate portions of Northern Europe, 

 North Spain, Gibraltar, Italy, Corsica, Southern and Eastern 

 Russia, Bithynia, Persia, .lapan, and Northern Africa. 



