TRIFID.'E. 263 



with purple along the costa, aud more broadly along the 

 hind margin. Hind wings smoky-white dusted with purple, 

 and with smoke-colour, especially over the costal and hind- 

 marginal regions ; central spots faintly expressed, smoky- 

 black. Body and legs dark brown tinged with purple. 



Usually not variable, but in Dr. P. B. Mason's collection is 

 an old specimen of an ochreous colour ; it was from Haworth's 

 collection, and is labelled as that author's type of Phytometra 

 lutescens. 



On the wing in July. 



Larva much attenuated in front and behind ; sap-green 

 with yellow incisions of the segments, and single fine white 

 longitudinal lines. Lives on Serratula tinctoria and San- 

 guisorla, resting during the day on the stem or underside of 

 the mid-rib of the leaf. (Hofmann.) 



Doubtless it feeds up in the spring, but upon this point 

 the Doctor is silent. 



Pupa in a rounded cocoon of earth and silk. Not further 

 described. 



The moth hides during the day among the long grass in 

 damp places in and near woods, but when disturbed will fly 

 up if the sun is shining, and flit to a short distance, again 

 hiding at the roots of the grass. At dusk it flies naturally, 

 but, so far as I can ascertain, is not attracted by sugar nor 

 by sweets of any kind. Extremely local in this country, and 

 almost confined to grassy glades in the New Forest, Hants. 

 Here it was formerly rather plentiful, but from excessive 

 collecting became scarce, and was threatened with exter- 

 mination. Happily a favourable season in 1896 enabled it 

 to recover in some small degree, but there is still urgent 

 need of forbearance in collecting it until it has become more 

 decidedly re-established. Much is hoped from the good 

 feeling and public spirit of entomologists in this respect. It 

 has been taken in the Isle of Wight, and was recorded at 



