192 LEPIDOPTERA. 



points extending outwardly forward from the head ; colour 

 almost uniformly dark mahogany-brown. In a cocoon below 

 the surface of the ground, formed by drawing particles of 

 earth rather firmly together with silken threads. (G. T. 

 Porritt.) 



The moth sits during the day upon the trunks of birch 

 trees especially, but occasionally on those of other trees or 

 on fences, squeezing itself down as closely as possible to the 

 surface, or if the wind is cold or rough, getting as closely as 

 possible into the hollows and gashes of rough bark, and there 

 clinging tightly, or falling to the ground if roughly removed. 

 At dusk it flies, probably rather high, as it is seldom cap- 

 tured on the wing. Confined mainly to woods or heaths 

 where birch is plentiful, but in such situations common 

 throughout the greater part of England, and in the south 

 abundant ; in the north very local or scarce ; probably also 

 throughout Wales under the same conditions, but I only find 

 it recorded in the north. In Scotland local, but extending 

 to Argyleshire, Aberdeenshire, and Moray. In Ireland it is 

 found in Wicklow and Kerry, but is not plentiful. 



Abroad it is found throughout Central Europe, the tem- 

 perate portions of Northern Europe, Central and Northern 

 Italy, Eastern Si))eria, Tartary, China, and Japan, where it is 

 quite normal. 



Genus 35. BOARMIA. 



Antenna^ of the male pectinated, but the tip simple ; 

 palpi small ; head rather rough ; thorax tolerably robust, 

 covered with loosely raised scales ; abdomen moderately 

 slender, rather ridged with raised scales ; fore wings broad 

 and elongated, hind margin ol)lique and even ; hind wings 

 ample, hind margin only slightly scalloped. 



Larv^ large, elongate, twig-like, with small dorsal and' 

 lateral protuberances. 



PuP^ subterranean. 



