TRIFII\E. 21 



slightly flattened, dark reddish-brown ; there is a small pale 

 reddish-brown plate each on the second and anal segments ; 

 ground colour a yellowish flesh-tint, each segment barred by 

 three transverse bands, the widest in front, of dull mottled 

 reddish or dingy pink, very distinct on the back but paler 

 on the sides ; through them run the dorsal and subdorsal 

 stripes of a clear ground colour ; spiracles minute, black ; 

 legs dark brown, prolegs tipped with the same colour. As it 

 becomes full grown its markings fade away, until it appears 

 of a uniform yellowish-white with a dark grey pulsating vessel 

 showing through some of the anterior segments. (W. Buckler.) 

 April and May — but probably from the autumn — on 

 FcshLcaarmidinacca,Airaco:s2ntos(r^Arr]icnatJicruiiiavcnacxiLm, 

 and probably other coarse grasses growing in rough fields, feed- 

 ing within the grass-stems, eating all the internal substance 

 but avoiding the silicious skin. 



Pupa undescribed, in a very slight yet strong silken 

 cocoon, spun within the hollowed sheath, or among dried grass- 

 leaves close to the ground. 



The moth doubtless hides during the greater part of the 

 day among grass, but late in the afternoon the male flies 

 vigorously, and sometimes continues its flight till dusk, in 

 rough sandy or chalky fields near the sea, dashing about in 

 numbers, either headlong tritli the wind or tacking from 

 side to side against it, and producing a very lively appear- 

 ance. At this time the female sits quietly on the grass, and 

 sometimes assembles a numerous court around her. Mr. J 

 Gardner says : "I have seen a dozen or more males runniug 

 about the grass stems close to a newly-emerged female, with 

 the most reckless disregard to their own personal safet3\" 

 Both sexes fly after dusk and come sparingly to sugar on the 

 coast, also to the blossoms of grasses, sometimes in abund- 

 ance. I have even found them sitting at night upon the 

 leaves of tall reeds, to which they must have resorted from 

 the neighbouring fields. Not usually found in woods, nor 



