332 LEPIDOPTERA. 



the spiracles very distinct and the spiracles themselves 

 black. (Rev. J. Ilellins.) 



From April or ilay till September, in successive genera- 

 tions ; on knotgrass, persicaria, groundsel, heTiip-ajn'imony, 

 Convoli-ulufi, Ah/ssiuii, various species of ClirijSdiithniunn and 

 AnthemiA, and other low-irrowiiig plants; feeding u]) with 

 great rapidity, sometimes within fourteen days from the 

 hatcliing of the egg ; probably in all cases within a month ; 

 indeed so long as the weather is warm the whole series of 

 changes from egg to perfect insect takes place within about 

 thirty days, and the nundjer of generations in a year appears 

 to be mainly limited by tiie temperature. Feeding principally 

 at night ; remaining during the day on the stems and under- 

 sides of the leaves of its food plant, to which it clings tightly, 

 wht-n disturbed merely curling u]i the front segments. 



Pita small and rather slender ; head and eyes prominent, 

 rather dull; limb and antenna covers closeh' packed, not 

 very glossy ; wing cases full, swollen at the edges, very glossy, 

 and showing hardly a trace of sculpture ; dorsal and ab- 

 dominal segments roughened with plentiful pitting, excejit 

 on the smooth hinder rings ; anal segment swollen ; cremaster 

 conical, rather short, pointed, but with hardly any visible 

 bristle, rich brown, the segments more red-brown; cremaster 

 dark brown. In a slight cocoon of earth and silk, close to the 

 surface of the ground. 



The moth hides during the day in hedges and thick bushes, 

 or sometimes is found in low-lying swampy gi-ound, and has 

 even been found concealing itself under thatch. If beaten out 

 of its hiding place it flies swiftly to another. Its ordinary flight, 

 which is at dusk and at night, is hardly ever observed : but it 

 comes readily to light — indeed the majority of those captured 

 in tills country have been obtained at street-lamps — also has 

 been known to partake of the sugar ])laced to attract noctua;, 

 and like them to affect ivy-bloom. This is a species of very 

 wonderful, and even perplexing, economy. As before shown 



