374 I.ErinOPTERA. 



above and beneath which is a cloudy blaclc-browu space 

 edged with white ; beyond the central baud is an in-egular 

 band of the ground colour, sometimes almost divided by a 

 projection from a black-brown blotch or cloud which almost 

 fills the apical and hind marginal area; cilia black-brown. 

 Hind wings and their cilia smokj- brown. Female similar. 



Undersides of all the wings pale leaden brown, with a 

 reddish gloss. 



On the wing from I\Iay to the beginning of July. 



Lakva apparently undescribed and doubtfully known. 

 The late Mr. H. Doubleday informed me that it feeds in 

 seed-heads of C'nitaurea nirjra ; Init Mr. W. Warren has 

 seen the moth apparently depositing its eggs on leaves of 

 Flantcujo lameolatn, and Hofmaun states that he has reared 

 it from the seeds of Fcdicularis. 



The moth is an obscure-looking insect and readily over- 

 looked ; it frequents dry banks, particularly railway banks, 

 sea cliffs, dvj stony hill-sides, quarries and chalky places, 

 flying up from the ground very swiftly at the approach of a 

 footstep, to alight again close to the ground a little farther 

 on. It is found on the southern and eastern coast-counties 

 from Kent to Cornwall and to Norfolk; and in Cambs, 

 Herts, Surrey, Middlesex, and Oxfordshire, also in North 

 Lancashire ; and in Wales in Pembrokeshire, but I find no 

 other records in Great Britain, though a far wider range is 

 probable. This is strongly illustrated by the fact that 

 although no previous locality was recorded in Ireland, the 

 llev. C. T. Cruttwell found it on a recent visit to Conne- 

 mara. 



Abroad it hardly seems to be recognised. 



13. P. gentianana, Tr.; gentiana, Stnwl. Vat. — Ex- 

 panse J inch (18-20 mm.). Thorax robust ; basal two-thirds 

 of the fore wings bluish black, enclosing tawny brown clouds; 

 hinder area reddisJi white with hiud margin grev. 



