336 I.EPinOPTERA. 



wlieretbe species is single broodetl. feeding till June or later: 

 oil Tortilla iiiiiralif, T. rrnihitu and other wall mosses, 

 especially those which form thick rounded cushions; living 

 in a silken gallery and eating the solid substance of tht- 

 moss, yet avoiding the surface. 



I'UPA pale brown, in a slight cocoon among the moss. 



The moth sits during the day upon mossy walls, and is 

 sluggish, allowing itself to be boxed as it stands, or if disturbed 

 Hying only a short distance ; Hying naturally at late dusk, 

 and then fond of the flowers of Golden-rod (^Sdlidayo cana- 

 (fcusis) and of ivy-bloom ; also very much attracted by light, 

 so that it is by no means uncommon to see specimens oi; 

 every street lamp at night, in suitable localities. Abundant 

 on the walls of sunken fortifications on the South coast — 

 where it begins to emerge in Ajjril or -Maj- — and sometimes 

 common on sea sandhills where the sand is sufficiently con- 

 solidated to allow of the growth of moss-tufts. ]\Iost plentiful 

 and most generally distributed on the coast, more local inland, 

 but to be found in suitable places throughout England and 

 Scotland, from the Scilly Isles and Kent to the Orkne\"S and 

 Shetland Isles. I'robably common throughout Wales, but 

 only recorded from Pembroke, where it was very abundant. 

 In Ireland common around Dublin and Belfast, also found 

 in the counties of Cork,. Fermanagh, Armagh, and Derry. 

 Abroad it is common in Southern Europe, with Corsica ; in 

 Asia Minor; the Canaries and 3Iadeira, and in Northern 

 Africa. 



14. S. alpina, Sfn. — Expanse f to 1 inch (18-2-3 mm.). 

 Thorax rather robust ; base of fore wings very narrow, 

 broadening out with rather straight margins ; but in the 

 male broadly rounded behind. Markings obscure, and the 

 lines very faint ; hind wings shining grey-white. 



Antenna' of the male simple, glossy, brown ; labial palpi 

 slender, f»ointed, porrected, daik brown outside, whitish- 



