TRIFID.E. '99 



but in the abdominal very dull ; aual segment very blunt, 

 almost squared off, with the cremaster hardly raised, but 

 armed with two short divergent bristles, and outside theui 

 two more ; below these the anal structure is so distinctly 

 represented as to present short nipples suggesting the anal 

 prolegs. Colour light chestnut-brown, with for a time the 

 wing-cases unusually translucent, but after some weeks 

 these become opaque ; incisions of the abdominal segments, 

 anal tubercles, and cremaster black-brown. Subterranean 

 in a hard, brittle, earthen cocoon. Dr. Chapman points out 

 that in this species the moth is fully developed within the 

 pupa-skin in the autumn, although it makes no attempt to 

 emerge until the spring. 



The moth has been known, occasionally though rarely, 

 to fly in hot sunshine in the middle of the day and to settle 

 then on its favourite food ; but, as a rule, it is in hiding all 

 day among dead leaves upon the ground. At early dusk it 

 flies most eagerly to the blooming sallows, especially &dw 

 cctproM, and is usually the earliest in the group to visit them 

 in the spring. Moreover, such is its eagerness for this food 

 that it will brave the wildest storms of wind and rain, 

 clinging to the sheltered sides of the flower-laden branches 

 and allowing itself to be flung about and almost lashed by 

 the wind. On such a night, toward the end of March, I 

 liave seen it in hundreds. As the sallows fade it will resort 

 to blackthorn and plum blossoms, and may be taken occa- 

 sionally at light, but appears to be totally regardless of 

 the attractions of sugar. Like other species it seems to 

 become stupid after a time at the sallow-bloom, and /w/.s 

 been found thereon paired with a i^pring f/mmdra moth, 

 Hibernia 'progeminaria. 



Generally abundant in the woods of the South and East, 

 and much of the West of England, with large portions of the 

 Midlands ; but, so far as I can ascertain, only recently found 

 in Cornwall. Indeed, there is reason to believe that it has 



