LARENTID.-E—HYPSIPETES. 371 



black ; below them a broad streak of the pale ground colour, 

 and then a fine interrupted black line ; raised dots black, 

 each emitting a hair ; undersurface of the ground colour ; 

 prolegs tipped with blackish. 



In other examples the ground colour is pale pink, ochreous, 

 or flesh-colour, and the markings are brown and much paler; 

 the black wedges are almost, or even entirely absent ; and the 

 dorsal line is interrupted at the beginning of the segments. 



The usual position in repose is a curve, the head being 

 turned sideways round to the middle of the body ; but when 

 it is exposed, by being ejected from its dwelling, it loops 

 with activity, pausing occasionally and stretching out its 

 head in all directions in a most impatient manner, as if in 

 search of another retreat. It is onlj- when so stretched out 

 that its actual length can be momentarily observed. (W. 

 Buckler.) 



June or July, till September or Octol^er, on alder (A/nu$ 

 ghUinosn), but some few feed up rapidly in July, and produce 

 the very partial second generation of moths. Whether the 

 descendants of these last feed up in the season does not 

 seem to be establislied, but larva? of the nsual .slow-growing 

 generation remain long without changing to pupa, often till 

 December, still inhabiting the curled and dead leaves in 

 which, or between which, in a habitation of silk, they have 

 lived. 



Pupa rounded at the head, thick in the middle, dark 

 greenish -brown or brownish-black, the surface dull and 

 minutely sculptured or punctured ; segments rather rapidly 

 tapering ; their interstices pale brown ; cremaster short, 

 wedge-shaped, armed with fine hooked spikes and bristles, 

 which hold to the silk. In its larval habitation or amonsr 

 dead leaves on the ground. I have also found it in plenty 

 spun up in the tufts of flood-refuse left in the branches of 

 alder-bushes. 



In this condition during the latter portion of the winter. 



