BOARMID^—CROCALLIS. 77 



colour and markings seem to have relation to those of the 

 twigs of its various food-plants, and the experiments of 

 Professor Poulton {Trans. Ent. Soc. London, 1892) show its 

 great sensitiveness to the colour of its surroundings. When 

 resting, and probably feeding, upon lichen it has been found 

 perfectly imitating it in pattern and colour. It has long 

 borne a bad character as a cannibal, but recent observations 

 have greatly tended to show that this habit is not indulged 

 in except when the larva is in straits, for want of moisture, 

 or food in good condition. 



The winter is passed in the egg-state. 



Pupa elongate, rounded, spiked ; antennae and limbs but 

 faintly indicated; purplish-red, with the abdominal seg- 

 ments paler red. On the surface of the ground, or only 

 slightly covered, enclosed in a loose cocoon of silk and earth. 

 (C. Fenn.) 



The moth seems to prefer, in the daytime, to sit on the 

 herbage or grass of a hedge-bank, almost under the hedge, 

 and is then quite conspicuous. I know no moth which more 

 readily catches the eye. When upon an open common or 

 moor it will, however, sit on the heather, and there looks far 

 more like a yellow fallen leaf. Its wings are in no case 

 raised in the manner of many of its allies, at this time, but 

 are quite deflected, the fore wings covering the hind and 

 forming a broad triangle. At night it flies and will come 

 occasionally to light. A rather common species in the 

 Southern, Eastern, and Western Counties of England, and 

 also in the Midlands, and not scarce throughout the remainder 

 of the country to Cumberland and Northumberland. Pro- 

 bably also throughout Wales, since it is recorded from the 

 northern portion, including Anglesey, and I have taken it 

 frequently in Pembrokeshire. In Scotland it seems to be 

 more local yet widely distributed, and recorded from Hawick, 

 Koxburghshire, the Edinburgh district, Wigtown, Renfrew, 

 Lanark, Argyle, Perthshire, Aberdeenshire, and Kincardine- 



