ACIDALUD.K—ACIDAUA. J9 



the posterior segments ; ou the eleventh segment at each side, 

 between the dorsal and spiracular lines, is a black spot ; 

 usual dots minute, black, a slate-grey stripe extends along 

 the middle of the undersurface, gradually shading off into 

 the blackish ground colour. When at rest the body is 

 stretched out at full length, with the head raised to a con- 

 siderable height ; when disturbed it falls to the ground at 

 full length rigidly stiff and not attempting to roll into a ring. 

 (G. T. Porritt.) From Mr. Buckler's figures the ground 

 colour seems to vary from whitish-grey to grey-brown and 

 light brown ; also in some cases the dorsal and spiracular 

 lines are edged with short black streaks. 



June or July till September; ou sallow, knotgrass, dock, 

 Galium, and Asperula. 



Pupa slender, brown. In an earth-covered cocoon under 

 ground. Not more particularly described. 



The winter ajDpears to be passed in this condition. 



The moth fi-equents woods, especially those in which 

 sallow is common, and in them is usually plentiful in southern 

 districts. It hides in the bushes by day sitting flatly under 

 a leaf, but is readilj' disturbed by the beating stick, and 

 flutters lazily round, sometimes in dozens, but soon seeking a 

 similar hiding-place — though, indeed, it hardly cares to hide 

 but leaves a projecting edge of a wing often conspicuously in 

 view. It seems to be quite confident in its abundance, and 

 will sometimes settle even upon the clothes of the collector. 

 Its flight at all times is lazy and fluttering and it is very 

 conspicuous in the early dusk. In well wooded districts it 

 may be found among sallows in the lanes, but the woods 

 are emphatically its home ; in them it occurs apparently in 

 all parts of England and Wales, 3'et is scarce in Cornwall 

 and also in the extreme Northern English counties, and quite 

 local in those which are deficient in woods. In Scotland it is 

 local, in the Clyde Valley, Perthshire, the Edinburgh district, 

 Inverness-shire, Aberdeenshire and Moray. In Ireland it i.s^ 



