LA RENTID.E—SCO TOSIA. 3 ' 5 



at difFereut ages, and the remarks of Mr. A. E. Atmore are 

 worth quotino-. "At the end of August or beginning of 

 September tlie larva is oue-third or more grown, and is then 

 to be found in a silken web feeding on the upper surface ot 

 leaves of sallow. It feeds within this network, and only 

 quits it when the leaf is nearly consumed, nothing but the 

 principal veins, the midrib, and the petiole or leaf-stalk being 

 left. Sometimes, and indeed most frequently, after a meal, 

 it fills up the space occupied by the portion of the leaf just 

 consumed with silken web. Several leaves are treated in 

 this manner, so that the larva is not difficult to find. As it 

 advances in life, and invariably after the last moult, it is 

 even easier to detect, as it then spins two or three leaves 

 together. It now feeds principally upon the apical portions 

 of the leaves it has spun up, but so far as I have observed 

 allows the end of its habitation to remain perfectly open. It 

 is always sluo-oish, and is full-Ln'Own here toward the middle 

 of September.'' 



Plpa stout, squared in front, or the head a little protruded ; 

 general surface shining ; limb and wing-covers faintly sculp- 

 tured with minute incised lines, and the nervures upon the 

 latter rather thickened ; dorsal and abdominal segments very 

 glossy, and pitted rather faintly ; cremaster thick, conical, 

 bristly, finished off with a straight spike bifurcated at th 

 tip. General colour bright red-brown, segments of the 

 abdomen deeper red ; cremaster black-brown. In a com- 

 pact and rather strong cocoon of silk covered with earth, on 

 the surface of the ground, under either moss or the dead 

 leaves of the food plant. 



The winter is passed in this condition. 



The moth is a lively restless creature. It hides during the 

 day among thick masses of sallow, whortleberry, or bramble, 

 particularly selecting spots in which these are further shel- 

 tered by holly bushes, yet as soon as approached flies up to 

 seek some other similar concealment, and if further dis- 



e 



