^74 J.EPID(WTKKA. 



■J. ir'-lliii^,) A rare variety lias l)eeii t'oimd to sbow a 

 piirplisli-))iiik siib-.-;piraciilar stripe when liecoiiiiiig full 

 grown. 



March or Ai)ril till -luiie or sometimes July; ou wild 

 strawberry-, sallow, birch, ami whortleberry. 



The winter is passed in the egg state ; and it ma}- lie well 

 to draw attention to the extreme delicacy of the eggs, and 

 the necessity for keeping tln-m moist and exposed to the 

 atmos])liero out of doors. The Kev. J. Hellins found that 

 nearly all the eggs laid in chip-boxes, pill-boxes, or on the 

 gauze covering of the rearing cage shrivellecl up and pro- 

 duced nothing, and it was only when he induced the parent 

 moth to dejwsit upon the living food ])lant, or else sprinkled 

 the eggs into tufts of living moss, and kept them out of doors, 

 that he eould rely u]iou their hatching. 



I't TA slender, thick-skinned, tapering graduall}- ; wing 

 covers and thorax transparent yellowish-brown ; eyes black ; 

 abdomen i)ale greenish-yellow, with a few short stifl' brown 

 bristles, especially noticeable on segments 11 and li'; anal 

 pnijection llattened, reddish-brown, terminating in eight 

 stitf brown hooks, (^[iss M. Kimber.) 



I'sually a wood-fretpu'iiting species, sitting during the 

 day u[)on tree trunks, especially those of a dark colour, such 

 as alders; most plentiful in those woods which occupy 

 hollows among high hills, where it may be found sometimes 

 sitting three or four specimens on every tree. In moorland 

 districts, which it also frecjuents, it sits on the rocks, or upon 

 the stems of heather. At dusk it Hies in a lively manner, 

 and remains on the wing great part of the night. In Scot- 

 land it has been found at this (ime to freipient rush-bloom, 

 sitting upon these unattractive-looking llowers in extra- 

 ordinary numbers, half a dozen on a Mower-head. In this 

 manner .Mr. Louis I!. I'rout tells me he has collected tlirm with 

 the greatest ease. Locally common in woods, and to be 

 found in all suitable places tiiroughout England ; and [)ro- 



