i6 LEPIDOPTERA. 



In this state through the winter. 



One of the most active and energetic of moths in the day- 

 time. The male i3ying all day long in the sunshine, or when 

 only moderately cloudy but warm, keeping usually high up 

 about the branches of the fir-trees ; not deterred by a strong 

 wind if the sun is out, but fluttering along the sheltered 

 sides, tumbling headlong at a sudden gust, struggling up and 

 beating against it again and again, or resting a little while 

 among the fir-needles, and then flying wildly as before. But 

 a heavy rain-storm will drive them to shelter beneath the 

 trees among the dried ferns or upon any long coarse grass or 

 sedge, on which they may sometimes be seen in hundreds. 

 All this time the females are usually sitting among the fir- 

 needles and when beaten out with a long pole will come aim- 

 lessly fluttering downwards. They may be secured, however, 

 before they mount to this elevation ; since emergence from 

 pupa takes place about 4 p.m. when both sexes may be found 

 tinder the trees, drying their wings on the grasses, and may be 

 secured with perfect ease. The male always sits with wings 

 quite erect and pressed together, but the female does not 

 always assun^e this posture, the wings being sometimes spread 

 rather obliquely. 



Abundant throughout the United Kingdom in fir-woods 

 only ; and in some districts found about scattered or single 

 fir-trees. The female appears to fly at night, and has been 

 taken, attracted by powerful lights, at such a time, at a 

 distance of many miles from fir-woods, apparently travelling 

 in search of some suitable place for the deposition of eggs. 

 Although so plentiful now, there are grounds for a belief 

 that it is a comparatively recent immigrant, at any rate, to 

 our Southern districts. Donovan, writing at the end of the 

 last century— and figuring the male— says : " This rare and 

 curious species has been for some time admitted to the 

 cabinets of English Natural History, but on the most 

 dubious authority," but he goes on to tell of its discovery in 



