SERICORID^—PCECILOCHROMA. J51 



anu;ulated, hind margin straight and a little oblique ; pale 

 umbreous or pale i-eddish brown ; basal blotch dark brown or 

 black-brown, its margin oblique and angulated, immediately 

 following it is a conspicuous dorsal blotch — white, orange- 

 brown, or brownish-white ; central band narrow, oblique, 

 deeply indented, dark olive-brown or black-brown, followed 

 by a large olive-brown cloud, a black dot in the apex, and 

 some faint brown costal streaks ; cilia brown. Hind wings, 

 and their cilia, smoky-brown. Female similar, equally 

 variable. 



Underside leaden brown, costal and hind margins dotted 

 with pale brown. Hind wings pale smoky brown. 



The extensive variation of this handsome species is in part 

 indicated above. In other forms the basal blotch is oblite- 

 rated, or partly so, or merged in the general ground colour — 

 which generally is umbreous, but sometimes dark brown or 

 black — while occasional varieties are found of a beautifully 

 irrorated orange-red, or a dull pale grey brown. 



On the wing in July and August. 



Larva active, cylindrical but rather tapering at each 

 extremity, and with well-divided segments ; shining dark 

 green or bottle-green, with faintly marked black raised dots 

 and stray hairs ; head pale horo-colour ; plates green. 



June and the beginning of July on oak, in rolled-up leaves; 

 often also in oak-apple — fresh galls of Cynics terriiinalis — 

 also abroad on hawthorn and bird-cheriy. 



The moth sits by day in the branches of oak, from which 

 it is readily disturbed hy the beating-stick, or on the 

 trunk, from which it may be dislodged by a sharp blow, or 

 may be blown off with the breath ; in either case it flies 

 sharply and vigorously away, unless detained by the net. 

 At sunset; it flies swiftly along the paths and borders of 

 woods, and around oak trees and blackthorns. Common in 

 woods, especially in the South, and to be found in suitable 

 places throughout England to Yorkshire and Lancashire, 



