TRIFWJE. 65 



Lakva rather broadest on the third and fourth segments, 

 tapering thence a little to the head and in a very slight 

 degree to the anal segment, which is rounded off behind ; 

 head shining, warm pink, mouth dark brown ; dorsal plate 

 pale orange-brown, thinly outlined with blackish-brown, but 

 thicker at the front margin, where it is wavy within ; anal 

 plate similar in colour and edging ; general colour light 

 greenish-pink ; dorsal stripe broad and, with the subdorsal 

 and spiracular stripes, pinkish-grey ; spiracles oval, black, 

 rather surrounded by black -brown dots, of which a large one 

 lies at the back of each spiracle ; remainder of the raised 

 dots brown-black ; undersurf ace and legs of the pale ground 

 colour. 



When rather younger the colour is brighter crimson-brown 

 with the stripes greenish-drab. When first hatched ivory- 

 white, striped longitudinally with purplish-crimson ; the 

 head white, with black ocelli and dark-brown mouth, but 

 darker ground colouring is soon assumed. (Adapted from 

 Buckler.) 



May to August on Foa maritima and other grasses, more 

 especially those growing in salt marshes and other wet 

 situations ; feeding on the bleached portion of the stem of 

 grass close to the earth, spinning itself there, as a habita- 

 tion, a case of whitish silk closely and firmly placed among 

 the food plants, and in most instances under a stone. 



Pupa rather stout, of the usual Noctua form, the abdomen 

 convesly tapering from the movable segments to the anal 

 tip, which ends with two very fine projecting points ; on the 

 anterior portion of each dorsal segment is a band of punctate 

 roughness, while all the other parts are smooth and shining, 

 and the colour is deep mahogany brown. Under the surface 

 of the earth in an earthen cocoon of weak cohesion. 

 (Buckler.) 



The moth usually hides in the daytime at the roots of 

 grass or under heather or low herbage, but occasionally may 

 VOL. V. E 



