A CIDALIID.E—A CI DA LI A. 5. 



Lakva slender, rather thicker behind, and regularly taper- 

 ing ; head notched, grey or Ijlackish-grey ; skin rough ; 

 general colour grey, ocbreous-grej', or greenish-grey; dorsal 

 line black, or reddish-grey, slender, sometimes swelling out 

 broader toward the middle of each of the middle segments,, 

 sometimes reduced to a double grey-black thread ; subdorsal 

 lines black or grey-black, distinct on the second to fourth 

 segments, then vanishing or appearing only as spots at the 

 incisions of segments; spiracular line jiale grey, drab, or 

 greenish-grey, edged above with black; spiracles black; sub- 

 spiracnlar stripe smoky-black ; undersurface, legs and pro- 

 legs a little paler than the ground colour. When disturbed 

 it twists itself into almost a double coil. 



August till May, and another generation at tlie end of 

 June and in Jaly; on knot-grass (I'vl ii(j(mi'm aciculuir), 

 Lotus riirniculi-'tus, McdUvgo hipvlina, Trifuliaiti mlnus.^ and 

 other low-growing plants. Probably not one of those named 

 being its selected food when at liberty. Hofmann, to the 

 plants mentioned, adds Thyme and Oonvolvtilus ; and in 

 favour of the latter plant it is noteworthy that the ground 

 upon v,-hich I have found the moth in plenty abounds in 

 Coil rill culiix arreitsls. 



Pita brown, the cremaster furnished with a few fine 

 bristles. In a slight cocoon in the earth. 



The moth hides during the day among the herbage in 

 fields, more esjiecially that growing rankly in fields lett 

 fallow ; or, where there is cover enough, in those under 

 cultivation ; it is readily distnrljed by walking through the 

 herbage, when it Hits hastily around, being not too easy to 

 perceive during flight, from its dark colour, and hides again 

 in a similar situation. Towards sunset it may be seen ou 

 fine hot days sitting on the top of a plant of C'cnfaurea or 

 .scabious, or on a rye-stalk, apparently enjoying the sun's 

 more level rays, but Hitting hastily away when noticed. 

 When found upon open heaths it shows a greater disposi- 



