BOARMID^—BOARMIA. 207 



has a small projection, and a spike from it divided into 

 two sharp points ; abdominal divisions smooth ; the rest of 

 the surface finely punctate ; rather shining ; colour dark 

 mahogany-brown ; on the abdomen are a few extremely fine 

 short hairs pointing backwards. Without any appreciable 

 cocoon, at a depth of four inches, loose in coarse friable soil. 

 (W. Buckler.) 



The moth sits during the day upon the trunks of birch and 

 holly trees, but more frequently on heather stems. If dis- 

 turbed will often drop down and simulate death — which 

 among heather is perhaps the most effective and aggravating 

 method of concealment ; its flight is doubtless at night, but 

 seems to be rarely observed. An exceedingly local species,, 

 found on large heaths and in our more extensive forests. Its- 

 chief locality in this country is the New Forest, Hants, and 

 here it is usually common, and sometimes very abundant ;. 

 also found in other forests and wide heaths in the same 

 county, and Dorset ; at Tilgate Forest and near Brighton 

 and Battle, Sussex ; and in Berks. A record in Devon seems- 

 to be somewhat dubious; and Mr. Buxton's ancient statement 

 of a Scotch locality "amongst alders at Dalmally," which has- 

 never been confirmed, is surely erroneous. So far as can be 

 ascertained, it is confined, in Great Britain, to the four 

 counties first mentioned. In Ireland it is more widely dis- 

 tributed, and in the south is of rather large size and striking 

 markings, being abundant in some parts of Kerry ; taken at 

 Markree, Sligo ; Kells, Meath ; and even once on a mountain 

 at Glenveagh, Donegal. Abroad found throughout Central 

 Europe, the temperate regions of Northern Europe, Central' 

 and Northern Italy, the Balkan States, Tartary, and Japan. 



4. B. abietaria, &chiff. — Expanse If to 2 inches. Fore- 

 wings broad, satiny, dusky white, or pale olive-brown, dusted 

 and clouded with soft rich umbreous ; transverse lines black, 

 irrec'ular or fragmentary, but forming large black costal 

 spots ; hind wings more smoky-brown. 



