27S LEPIDOP TEE A . 



spiracular stripes greyish-white, edged above with smoke- 

 colour ; spiracles black, those on the second and twelfth seg- 

 ments very large and distinct ; ventral surface, legs and 

 prolegs uniformly dingy chestnut-brown. 



Or, ground-colour bright pea-green, with just a tinge of 

 yellow ; head of the same colour, but thickly freckled with 

 brown ; two lines of a darker green than the ground-colour, 

 enclosing between them a white line, form the dorsal stripe ; 

 subdorsal stripes white, finely edged with darker green ; 

 spiracular stripes white, edged above with smoke-colour; 

 spiracles black, and as in the other variety ; ventral surface, 

 legs and prolegs bright pea-green. (G. T. Porritt.) 



October to February or March, on grass, apparently not 

 particular as to the species of grass, feeding exposed at 

 night, hiding at the grass-roots by day, and apparently 

 active throughout the winter except during severe frost. 

 Possibly Air a cccspitosa is an especially favoured food. 



Pupa ochreous-yellow, with a darker dorsal line. In the 

 earth. (Hofmann.) The larva appears to spin up in February 

 or March, but not to assume the pupa state till June or 

 July. 



The moth hides during the day among grass and heather, 

 its favourite haunts being upon heaths and the rocks of the 

 seashore ; and the male may sometimes be disturbed and 

 induced to fly short distances in the sunshine. Mr. Kane 

 has recorded a flight of males on one occasion about mid- 

 day. It flies freely at late dusk, and then is rather con- 

 spicuous from the whiteness of its hind wings ; later it sits 

 on the heather, or on grass-stalks among it, or may occa- 

 sionally be taken at sugar, or the blossoms of heather, 

 wood-sage, or ragwort. More rarely it may be found at a 

 strong light. It is altogether an uncertain species, some- 

 times occupying a restricted spot on a heath, at others 

 scattered all over it ; very often scarce or even rare, but 

 in occasional, very favourable, seasons extremely abundant. 



