420 LEPIDOPTERA. 



upon most large heaths, and sometimes in plenty ; easily to 

 be aroused in the daytime on hot afternoons, and swift in its 

 motions; but far more active in the late dusk and at night. 

 It is found in Surrey, Sussex, Hants, Dorset, Somerset, 

 Berks, Gloucestershire, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, 

 Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, Cheshire, Lancashire, Westmore- 

 land, Durham, and Northumberland, and is common on the 

 mosses in some of these more northern counties. In Scot- 

 land it seems to be very scarce, but Dr. F. B. White assured 

 me of its existence in the south-west. In Wales it seems to 

 be unknown or unnoticed, except that Dr. Freer took a 

 specimen — which I have seen — in the Isle of Anglesea ; and 

 in Ireland I know of only a single capture — at Howth, near 

 Dublin. Abroad it is widely distributed through Central 

 and Southern Europe, Western Russia, Western Asia. 

 Ceylon, and Northern Africa. 



Genus 3. NEPHOPTERYX. 



Antennas with the basal and second joints thickened in the 

 male, the latter joint having a strong ridge of raised scales 

 at the back ; palpi rather short, curved up, thick and bluntly 

 jjointed ; head rough ; thorax moderately smooth ; fore 

 wings elongated, the discal cell narrow ; hind wings ample. 



We have now two species, readily recognised, the ground 

 colour in N. gcnistcUa being very pale brown ; in N. simildla 

 glossy slate-black. 



L N. geuistella, Dup. — Expanse 1 inch. Fore wings 

 elongate, pale brown ; two slender transverse lines, a discal 

 dot, and a larger spot before the first line, black. Hind 

 wings shining smoky-white. 



Antennte of the male thickened at the base and second 

 joint, the latter edged with a black tuft of scales ; remainder 

 simple, pale brown, barred with whitish-brown ; palpi rather 

 broad, but pointed, upraised, whitish-brown ; head and thorax 



