122 LEPIDOPTERA. 



Pupa of the usual Nockia shape ; dull reel ; eyes, antennae, 

 legs and wings rather faintly defined ; anal segment ending 

 in two stout bristles, remote at their bases, approaching each 

 other near the middle of their length and bent outwards at 

 the tips to form hooks ; around them three or four shorter, 

 thinner bristles curled at their points. In a cocoon on the 

 surface of the earth, formed rather slightly of silk and fibre, 

 or moss interwoven in it. (W. II. B. Fletcher.) 



The moth hides in the daytime among the coarse under- 

 growth of reeds, grasses, sedges, sallow, Spircea, &c., in fens. 

 At dusk it flies more especially along the edges of alder-cars, 

 masses of sallow, and reed-beds, and is then readily captured. 

 In flight and appearance at that time it somewhat resembles 

 Leucania imjmra. As darkness comes on, it settles down, 

 sometimes on reed-leaves, often on the sallow-bushes of which 

 the leaves are covered with honeydew, and has been taken 

 in some numbers while so occupied. Towards 10 p.m. it 

 is again upon the wing, and from that time throughout 

 the night if the weather is warm and not foggy, and comes 

 readily to a strong light. It usually, however, does not 

 linger at the light but flies softly past it, and from the 

 darkness of its hind wings is not seen at any considerable 

 distance. 



The first known specimen was taken at Ranworth Fen, 

 Norfolk, by Mr. Charles Fenn (to whom I am indebted for 

 descriptions of so many larvae), on August 4th, 1864, flying at 

 dusk. From this example, a male, the species was described 

 in the Entomologists Monthly Magazine, vol. i., and also 

 figured in the Entomologists' Annual for 1865. For some 

 years it remained unique; but on August 16th, 1871, when 

 collecting in the same fen, with my friend and companion 

 Mr. (now Dr.) F. D. Wheeler, he pointed out to me a 

 nodua sitting upon a reed-stem which we at once recog- 

 nised as the female of this species. About the same time- 

 possibly in the previous year — a few specimens were secured 



