96 LEPIDOPTERA. 



blunt, and extremely rugose, armed at the tip with two fine 

 hooked spines and several curled bristles. In a tough semi- 

 transparent silken cocoon between fallen leaves, or in moss ; 

 but often underground, when the cocoon is thickened with 

 earth. 



In this condition through the winter. 



The moth hides by day in thick hedges and bushes, and if 

 disturbed falls to the ground, so that it is not very frequently 

 observed at that time. At dusk it flies freely along hedges, 

 in lanes, and at the edges of woods, and may be then readily 

 captured, sometimes in plenty. It is somewhat attracted by 

 light, and may often be seen sitting on a gas-lamp. When 

 so sitting, and when in repose in the daytime, the wings are 

 raised quite perpendicularly, and all pressed closely together 

 over the back in the manner of a butterfly, so that the prettily 

 marbled underside becomes the only portion visible. In this 

 it diff"ers greatly from our other species in this group. Found 

 all over England, usually in plenty, but less abundantly in 

 the Midland Counties ; also doubtless in all parts of Wales, 

 since it is common in Pembrokeshire and in the Isle of 

 Anglesey. In Scotland it seems to be more local, and in the 

 West does not seem to extend beyond the Clyde Valley ; but 

 it is found in Perthshire, and in the East to Aberdeenshire 

 and Moray. Widely distributed in Ireland, extending from 

 Cork to Donegal and Derry, and in some districts abundant. 

 Abroad it has a wide range through Central and Northern 

 Europe, Northern Italy, Lapland, Southern and Eastern 

 KuRsia and Tartary; also there seems little doubt of its 

 extensive distribution in North America, where the first 

 brood is apparently known as alcipltaxtria, and the second as 

 hentaria. It should be observed, however, that in the latter 

 form the central lunules of all the wings seem to be visible, 

 although usually absent in our summer brood. 



