302 LEPIDOPTERA. 



Hampstead Ponds and in various other localities, though in 

 less numbers by far than the other sex ; yet within the last 

 year or two, in one at least of these localities, the most 

 careful search for them has been useless, altlioiigh the males 

 could be found in plenty. The natural time of flight is at 

 about 8 or 9 P.M. when tlie males may be seen in abundance 

 keeping close to the surface, and when the winged females, 

 if present, may be secured, but after dark a more vigorous 

 flight appears to be indulged in, since a specimen — usually 

 a male — is now and then found flying, late at night, to some 

 light situated far from any suitable water. I have even 

 known such a specimen enter the open window of a well- 

 lighted room and fly round it in the wildest and most 

 vigorous manner. Usually found about ponds, canals, slow 

 rivers, and the open broads of fens ; most plentifully in the 

 Southern and Eastern Counties ; more scarce in the Midlands 

 and apparently hardly noticed in the Western counties, 

 except that northward it has been taken in Westmoreland, 

 as in many other counties, only at light as I have described. 

 It is abundant on the Trent in Nottinghamshire, and is found 

 in Yorkshire. In Scotland it has been taken in two or three 

 localities in Fife In Wales there appears to be no record ; 

 but in Ireland it is found on Lough Oughter, Cavan ; Lough 

 Erne, Fermanagh ; and Lough Neagh, Antrim. Abroad it 

 is common in Central Europe and in Kussia, but the records 

 are somewhat tangled with those of, jwssibly, other species. 



Although one of the smallest and most insignificant look- 

 ing of our Pyralites, this species — and indeed genus — is of 

 peculiar interest from its strong divergence from the rest, in 

 the direction of relationship with the Order Trichoptera. 

 The vigorous controversy of thirty years ago, as to whether 

 it should, or should not, be included among the Lepidoptera, 

 is still pleasant reading. 



