1 88 LEPIDOPTERA. 



colour is often continued ujDon the back, and there forms a 

 broad, ill-defined bar on each segment ; there is an indistinct 

 series of pale quadrate dorsal spots, one at the termination of 

 each segment, and a row of white or whitish subdorsal dots ; 

 the fifth and ninth segments are always transversely barred 

 with black-brown or dark ferruginous ; spiracles black, ringed 

 with white ; second, third, and anal segments tinged with 

 green ; under-surface hazle-brown, with a row of conspicuous 

 whitish or yellowish spots of unequal size, but that portion 

 between the second and fourth segments, and between the 

 prolegs, bright green. (C. Fenn.) Inconstant in colour, 

 varying from light green to dark brown. 



July and August, sometimes in September, on oak, birch, 

 sallow, osier, hazle, and alder. 



Pupa short and stout, the eye- covers prominent, head 

 sloping obliquely off at the back ; antenna-covers strongly 

 barred with small channels, and limb-covers very much more 

 minutely with incised sculpture ; wing-covers dulled by 

 extremely minute wavy sculpture of similar lines; all these 

 portions olive-green, and the wing-covers rather transparent 

 and tinged with yellow at their edges, which are swollen ; 

 dorsal and abdominal regions yellowish-brown, coarsely 

 punctured all over, except upon the narrow, smooth hinder 

 band of each segment; abdominal segments compact, but 

 tapering off rapidly ; cremaster broad, triangular, tipped with 

 a minute curved spike. In a loose but thick cocoon of silk 

 and earth or sand. In this condition through the winter. 



The moth rests during the day on the trunks of trees, 

 especially upon Scotch fir, but often on oak or birch, and is 

 timid and restless, often flying off the moment that it is 

 approached, and hurrying away, frequently escaping through 

 thick undergrowth. Its natural time of flight is at dusk, but 

 it flies rather high, and seems to prefer travelling over tall 

 birch bushes. It is, however, strongly attracted by the 

 sugar placed upon the trunks of trees to tempt Noctuo', and 



