50 LEPIDOPTERA. 



extremity, which are smooth, as also is a band at the hinder 

 edge of the rest ; general surface only moderately glossy ; 

 colour red-brown, the wing- and limb-covers and incisions of 

 the segments darker ; cremaster thick at the base, and very 

 rugose beneath, tapering to a point, on which is a fine spike 

 attended by a few minute curled bristles. In a strong silken 

 cocoon between draw-n-together leaves, in crevices of bark, 

 or under moss. In this condition through the winter. 



The moth has a curious method of sitting during the day- 

 time ; its fore wings are so thrown back as to cover the hind, 

 but both are raised, not erect, but a little above the level, the 

 dark purplish-brown abdomen curled up and exactly fitting 

 between the purple-brown blotches near the anal angles, and 

 thus simulating in an extraordinary manner a crumpled 

 brown leaf. It sits thus among leaves in bushes and the 

 branches of trees, and clings tightly so as not to be readily 

 beaten out, or if disturbed drops almost instantly to another 

 branch. If aroused it will fly swiftly away. Its natural 

 flight is at night, and it is attracted by a strong light, and 

 also by the sugar daubed upon trees to attract NociuK. But 

 it is seldom seen in the moth state, most of the specimens 

 in collections having been reared from larvae obtained by use 

 of the beating-stick. Principally found in or near woods, 

 yet not confined to them ; never very common, but it appears 

 to have been obtained in almost every county in England, 

 though rarely in the North — apparently once only in North- 

 umberland and once in Durham. Probably generally dis- 

 tributed in Wales, since it is recorded from the north of 

 that Principality, and from Glamorganshire, Carmarthenshire, 

 and I*embrokeshire in the south. In Scotland, Mr. W. Grant 

 Guthrie has taken a specimen at Goldielauds, near Hawick ; 

 and there is a single record at Dumfries. In Ireland, casual 

 specimens have been met with near Dublin, in Kerry, Galway, 

 Sligo, Westmeath, Monaghan, and Fermanagh. Abroad it 

 has a considerable range through Central Europe, the tem- 



