LAREMTID.E—MELANTJUA. 1 13 



erect, on the tree; I have seen it so resting upon tall reeds. 

 When at rest in the daytime its wings are laid down, the 

 fore wings nearly covering the hind, as is the manner of its 

 allies. 



Not very plentiful in the South of Sngland, though doul)t- 

 less to be found in every county in spots such as above 

 described, also along water-courses where alders abound, and 

 even in the lanes in damp districts ; but becoming more 

 plentiful wherever there is an alder swamp in the Midland 

 and Western Counties, as well as in the fens of the Eastern ; 

 in all these districts maintaining its more typical colouring, 

 though there is a single record of a smoky-black specimen in 

 Devon. But from Yorkshii'e and Lancashire northward 

 there is an admixture of dark forms, though the whiter 

 continue still to be plentiful in suitable places. Doubtless 

 the same local abundance may be observed in Wales, though 

 the only records that I have are ilr. Vivian's for Glamorgan- 

 shire and 7ny own for Pembrokeshire. In many parts of Scot- 

 land it is very plentiful, the dark form appearing in Perth- 

 shire and Aberdeenshire ; and the specie.s extending to 

 Moray and West Eoss. In Ireland it is generally distributed 

 in suitable i^laces and often abundant ; and I have never 

 seen greater multitudes than in the woods occupying valleys 

 between the hills near Belfast, in tlie north of that country. 

 Abroad it has an extensive range through Central Europe, 

 the temperate portions of Northern Europe, Northern Italy, 

 Bithynia, Eastern Siberia, Tartary, the mountainous regions 

 of Central Asia, Yesso, and Japan ; remaining (jiiite tyjiical 

 in colour and marlvings, but in the last-named countries 

 increasing in size. 



2. M. ocellata, L. — Expanse 1 to 1] inch. Fore wings 

 creamA'-white ; basal blotch and a complete, rather narrow, 

 central band blue-black mottled with yellow-brown ; beyond 

 the latter is a black dot. Hind wings white. 



Antennae of the male simple, ciliated, light brown ; palpi 



VOL. VIII. H 



