56 LEPIDOPTERA. 



lines ; back of thorax with minute pits ; the usual baud of 

 pitting on the dorsal and abdominal segments confined to 

 the anterior edge, the posterior edge of each being blackened ; 

 anal segment thick, rounded off, cremaster short and broad 

 with two long slender parallel bristles and smaller hairs on 

 each side ; general colour deep purplish-red. In a rather 

 fragile cocoon of earth and silk beneath the surface of the 

 ground. 



The moth rests in the daytime upon hedge-banks on the 

 top of the plants, or on brambles, fern, shrubs, or lo^^■ plants 

 anywhere, and occasionally upon walls and fences. In such 

 situations it is usually so conspicuous that I have very often 

 seen it so sitting while driving along a road ; yet from the 

 peculiar form and crumpling of the wings it is said to be 

 protected by a resemblance to dead leaves of fern and 

 bramble. The shape which it assumes when at rest is so 

 singular that it deserves special mention : the fore wings 

 are pressed down to the sides, but with the subdorsal region 

 raised, leaving a wide channel down the middle of the wings, 

 somewhat as in the last species, but the head is not pressed 

 down into a corner, and the whole attitude of the moth is 

 suggestive of alertness (and in that respect rather decep- 

 tive), all the feet set wide apart beyond the wings and 

 the head well up. The most remarkable circumstance 

 about it is, however, that from the scalloping and excava- 

 tion of the hind margin of the fore wings and the length 

 of their tips, they form when the moth is at rest a 

 most charming imitation of the shape of a small Gothic 

 ivindow. It Hies gently at dusk and is rather conspicuous, 

 also comes eagerly to sugar, ivy-bloom, sallow-bloom, 

 honey-dew, ripe blackberries, or indeed any kind of 

 sweets. 



Abundant everywhere, except perhaps in the London 

 suburbs, fi-om the Scilly Isles to the Shetland Isles, and 

 generally in Wales and Ireland. Abroad all over Central 



