366 LEPIDOPTERA. 



long, light brown streaked with white. Female a very little 

 larger and rather stouter. 



Undersides in all respects similar to the upper. 



A little variable in tone of colour and the degree of darker 

 dusting in the fore wings. Speciiiieus of the second genera- 

 tion, taken in August are cominonly paler and more smoothly 

 light fawn colour; those of the June emergence darkijr and 

 dusted ; these last seem to agree accurately with Professor 

 Zeller's 0. distans, the paler forms with his (l. /a'tus. Those 

 found on the south coast of Kent are especially soft in colour. 

 I think that Professor Zeller ultimately felt doubtful of the 

 distinctness of his 0. distant and 0. /«'<k.s. They seem to 

 be no moi"e than faint variations of this one species. 



On the wing in June, and a second generation in July and 

 August. 



Larva and Pupa uncertain. Milliere says of the pale form 

 — Icctus — " Larva spindlesliaped, bone colour, strongly bristly, 

 with small blackish head and a divided black dorsal plate. 

 In July on the flowers of Andryala simmta." This is not, 

 however, a British plant ; and long and close searching, by 

 myself and others, among the low growing plants in the exact 

 places where the moth is almost common in its proper season 

 has been hitherto devoid of result. 



The moth frequents open places among low herbage and 

 abundant wild flowers on the lower slopes of chalk or limestone 

 hills ; but its favourite haunt in this country is on the 

 " Breck " sands of the Eastern Counties, where it hides in the 

 daytime among lucerne, yarrow, Hijpochccris maculata, and all 

 manner of low-growing plants. At sunset it flies very quietly 

 about the same places; but is quite easily disturbed and induced 

 to flit to a short distance in the afternoon, especially in hot 

 weather. It was discovered in this country in July 1SG8 by 

 Lord Walsingham on his estate in Norfolk, and the following 

 year was found in both generations in some numbers on 



