PHYCITID^—SALEBRIA. 431 



of birch ; Wocke, whortleberry ; neither of which is satis- 

 factory. Probably it is in the larva state from August till 

 May. 



Pupa apparently unknown. 



The habits of this moth are curious, and, indeed, in some 

 degree puzzling. It frequents heaths, usually large heaths, 

 hiding during the day in the thick masses of Calluna and 

 Erica, and is not very easily disturbed from such a hiding 

 place, so that it seems rather uncommon ; but if any portion 

 of the heath has been burned oiT and charred sticks of 

 heather and furze remain standing in any plenty, all the 

 moths of this species seem to congregate there to sit upon 

 the black tops of the burnt sticks. I have often walked 

 into such a sjaot and seen them rise from the sticks, often 

 two or three at a time, and by scores, towering into the air 

 and flying wildly some distance before descending again to 

 a similar resting-place. The coal-black appearance of the 

 moth harmonises exquisitely with the colour of the burnt 

 sticks, so that, provided it remained still, hardly a speci- 

 men could be seen ; but this is by no means the case, its 

 activity under these circumstances seems to contrast most 

 curiously with its behaviour when hiding among the un- 

 injured heather. Its natural flight is at night, and it has 

 been known to visit a strong light. It seems to occur on all 

 extensive heaths throughout England, and more commonly 

 on those of midland and northern districts than in the 

 south ; in Durham even recorded, by Mr. J. E. Robson, on 

 sea sandhills ; also probably found throughout Wales, though 

 it seems to be recorded only in Flintshire ; and Mr. Kane 

 reports it generally distributed and common in Ireland. In 

 Scotland it is known in Roxburghshire, Fife, Perthshire, 

 Aberdeenshire, Inverness, and in the Outer Hebrides, and 

 exhibits the same preference for burnt heaths. Abroad it 

 has a wide distribution through Central and Northern 

 Europe, including Iceland ; also Catalonia, Northern Italy, 



