CRA MIUDAL— CRA MB US. 1 09 



Variable in the extent of umbreous clouding, which some- 

 times almost obliterates the central stripe. On the other 

 hand a specimen in the collection of Professor R. Meldola is 

 of a smooth yellowish-white, having only the faintest possible 

 indications of the usual markings ; and one captured by 

 Mr. W. Purdey at Folkestone has the longitudinal stripe 

 between the transverse lines broadly vWdc. 



On the wing from -Inly till September. 



Larva three-quarters of an inch long and fairly stout in 

 proportion ; head narrower than the second segment, the 

 lobes full and rounded, highly polished, dark sienna-brown, 

 the depth of colour varying in different specimens ; dorsal 

 plate highly polished, paler ; body cylindrical, wrinkled, 

 dull purplish-brown varying to dingy greyish-green, but the 

 purple-tinted forms predominate ; the dark pulsating alimen- 

 tary canal forms the dorsal line ; raised dots large and promi- 

 nent, darker and glossy ; spiracles very small, black ; ventral 

 surface and prolegs of the ground colour of the dorsal area : 

 legs dark sienna-brown, paler at the base. (Ct. T. Porritt.) 



April and ilay — probably from the preceding autumn — 

 on the stems of common grasses, residing in a slight silken 

 gallery near the roots on the surface of the soil ; feeding only 

 at night. (G. T. P.) Schmidt says on Festura ovina. 



Plta api5arently undescribed. 



This species affects rough dry fields and hill slopes, and is 

 very common on grassy heaths and sandy places, sitting 

 on grass stems. Hying readily and quickly when disturbed, 

 but settling again on the grass, head downward, at once. At 

 dusk it flies freely and will come to the light of a roadside 

 lamp, or to " sugar " on the trunk of a tree. A common 

 species throughout the southern and eastern counties of 

 England, and in the west extending to Lancashire, but 

 apparently absent from lai-ge portions of the Midlands, yet 

 found on Cannock Chase, Staffordshire, and in Leicester- 



