A CI 1 1A I. IIP. A— .4 CI DA LIA. 21 



obscurely marked little species, yet bearing no great resem- 

 blance to any other found here. 



Underside of all the wings very silky, and without mark- 

 ings; fore wings whity-browu, browner toward the costa ; 

 hind wings whiter. Body and legs whitish-brown. 



Apparently not noticeably variable. 



On the wing in June and July. 



Larva elongated, tapering to the head ; colour brown, 

 more or less dark, or greenish-, or yellowish-brown dusted 

 with black ; plate on the second segment black with two 

 brown spots ; dorsal line black, doubled on the fourth to the 

 eighth segments ; subdorsal and spiracular lines evenly 

 black ; stigmata of the same colour, very small ; on the 

 ninth and tenth segments the dorsal and subdorsal lines form 

 a lyre-shaped marking, divided upon the tenth; the following 

 two segments are pale grey and devoid of markings ; under- 

 surface pale grey, sprinkled all over with short black streaks 

 lying longitudinally but not uniting into lines ; legs of the 

 colour of the body, and prolegs of that of the undersurface. 



August till May upon dried plants ; especially those 

 preserved for use as herbs ; and even those in herbaria. 



I'rPA undescribed. in a sliglit cocoon among the dried 

 plants on which the larva has fed. 



This moth is one of the most rare of our species, and 

 indeed inn /i not be genuinel_y domiciled here; its sole food 

 seems to be the dried leaves of preserved plants or herbs, 

 and since it is not known to occur regularly anywhere with 

 us there is room for suspicion that our few native specimens 

 may have been introduced, in the larva state, with imported 

 herbs. This, however, is quite conjectural, and the insect is 

 usually admitted into any British collection the possessor of 

 which is so fortunate as to secure a specimen. The first 

 record of it in these Islands apjiears to be that by the late 

 Mr. H. T. Stainton in the Untomo/ofjisf.'^ Annua/ i'or 1856. 



