412 LEPIDOPTERA. 



upper lip, the latter with a paler front margin ; antennal 

 papilla? pale brown with dark purple-brown tips ; spiracular 

 region and ventral surface light pinkish-brown with a paler 

 freckling ; spiracles outlined with dull black ; raised dots 

 minute, black ; legs glistening dark jiurple-brown. (W. 

 Buckler — condensed.) 



May and the beginning of June on oak, living upon the 

 leaves and twigs under the protection of a silken web or tent. 

 Rather an active larva, and may easily be shaken or beaten 

 out of its habitation, with a stick, into a net or umbrella. 



Pupa without any peculiarity of form, the head, prothorax, 

 and thorax most distinctly defined ; wing-covers long, not 

 shining ; anal tip rounded and furnished with several minute 

 curly-topped bristles ; dark mahogany -brown, last four seg- 

 ments of the abdomen rather paler and shining. In a cocoon 

 of silk covered with earth, in the ground, or under a felled 

 log, or other suitable object. 



The moth hides during the day in oak-trees, among the 

 leaves, often of the lower branches, and may easily be dis- 

 turbed ; yet if the weather is not warm and still and the day 

 somewhat advanced, it drops to the ground like a bit of 

 bark. If, however, circumstances are propitious, it flies to 

 a similar hiding-place elsewhere. At dusk and in the night 

 it flies vigorously about the trees, but has been known to 

 come to heather-bloom, or to the sugar spread to attract 

 Noctuas, or even to a well placed light. It frequents woods, 

 large oak woods especially, but does not entirely avoid other 

 well-timbered districts, and is very common in the Isle of 

 Wight and the New Forest, Hants ; moderately so in suit- 

 able places throughout the South of England and the Eastern 

 and Western Counties, to Yorkshire and Cheshire — becoming 

 in the latter much more local — but seems to be scarce in 

 the Midlands ; once reared by Mr. Sang from larvje found 

 in Durham, and not noticed in the other northernmost 

 counties of England, nor in Scotland nor Wales. In Ireland 



