A cm A IJfD.E—If ) 'RfA . 33 1 



black ; nndersuri'ace darker than tLe back, with a pale 

 central line, and between it and the spiracles some curved 

 oblique dark streaks ; also a row of hue black dots just below 

 the spiracles on segments five to nine ; ventral and anal pro- 

 legs tinged with blue. One larva had also a strong bhick 

 spiracular stripe beginning at the fourth segment, and ending 

 at the anal pair of prolegs. 



When young dusky brown, with the anterior segments 

 pale ochreous on the back, and the middle segments having 

 pale diamond marks enclosing a central dusky spot ; but 

 that of the northern variety at this time was ver^^ dark 

 brown, almost black, all over; but \vith a lens a slightly 

 paler subdorsal line can be discovered, as well as some black 

 central dorsal spots placed in a slightly paler space. (Rev. 

 J. Hellius.) 



August till May or June ; on Pol i/yoiiv in acindarc (knot- 

 grass), and other low-growang jilants. So far as I can 

 ascertain the actual ordinary food-plant of this species is 

 not known ; doubtless it is some plant which grows especially 

 in wet boggy places, for which, in confinement, knotgrass 

 serves, as in so very many species of Geometridte, as a 

 substitute. 



Pupa slender, cylindrical, very smooth, with the wing-cases 

 short and distinctly marked ; colour dull pale ochreous ; wings 

 finely outlined in black. In a mere apology for a cocoon — a 

 few bits of moss and grass, just drawn together with the 

 greatest economy of silk, between which the \M\^n, can be 

 distinctly seen. (Rev. J. Hellins.) 



The moth sits during the day in the wettest spots, close 

 to, or upon, the ground, in boggy places, and is not easy to 

 disturb, though it may now and then l)e trodden up in the 

 warm sunshine. It flies naturally at dusk, and far more 

 freely at about four o'clock in the morning, soon after which 

 it hides itself. There is a record of its being seen to fly 

 swiftly by day in the New Forest, close over the tops of long 



