63 LEPIDOPTERA. 



and directed forwards ; it sometimes tucks in its head when 

 annoyed, the anterior part of the body assuming a graceful 

 curve ; but more commonly falls from its food-plant, retain- 

 ing its straight rigid position, in which it exactly resembles a 

 twig of ling. (E.Newman.) 



August and September, hyberuating when well grown, but 

 again feeding in the spring till May ; on whortleberry, sallow, 

 and in confinement on chickweed, knotgrass, and wild straw- 

 berry ; very probably also on heather, sweet-gale, and the two 

 common species of heath, Eriai tetralLc and E. cinerca. 



Pupa apparently undescribed. 



The moth hides during the day among whortleberry, 

 sallow, fern, and heather, also among other bushes and trees 

 on elevated heaths, and on hill and mountain sides ; it is 

 easily disturbed in the day time, and flies vigorously of its 

 own accord at dusk, and sometimes late in the afternoon. 

 Usually a northern species, and in this country its best 

 known southern locality seems to be on the Quantock Hills 

 in Somersetshire, but it is very likely to occur also upon 

 Exmoor or Dartmoor, Devon, and there are records of stray 

 specimens iu South Devon, Dorset, and even at Durdhain 

 Down, Bristol. In Nortli Lancashire, Westmoreland and 

 Cumberland it is abundant in mosses and heathery marshes, 

 and in Staffordshire upon the hills, and at Chartley Moss; 

 also found in Dovedale, Derbyshire, and in Teesdale, 

 Durham. In Wales I have found it in plenty on the slopes 

 of Preselly Mountain and other hills in Pembrokeshire, 

 and it occurs also in the North of the Principality. In 

 Scotland it is found in Wigtownshire, and the hills of the 

 Clyde District, and is abundant on the mountain heaths of 

 Perthshire, Inverness-shire, Aberdeenshire, Dumbartonshire, 

 Moray, West Ross, and probably in all suitable localities ; 

 iu Ireland le.ss widely distributed, but taken in the counties 

 <if W'aterford and Kerry. Abroad it has a considerable 

 raage, principally iu mountain districts, through Northern 



