SERICORID^—ANCHYL OPERA . 127 



confusion among authors about the food of this species ; some 

 suggest oak, others elm. 



This moth hides during the day in birch trees or neigh- 

 bouring oaks, but is not often taken— indeed, is extremely 

 local and usually rare. Mr. Charles Fenn states that it flies 

 in the sunshine from about 2 p.m. until an hour before sun- 

 set, also that its flight is very rapid over the tops of oaks, 

 birches, and neighbouring trees. Formerly it was taken in 

 West Wickhani Wood, not very far from the populous 

 districts of Croydon and South Norwood ; apparently it has 

 deserted that locality, but is still to be found, very locally, in 

 other parts of Kent and Surrey, and in Sussex, Essex, 

 Suffolk, Hants, Oxfordshire, and Bucks. This appears to be 

 the extent of its range in these Islands. Abroad it is 

 recorded from most parts of Central Europe, and from 

 Sweden and Western Kussia. 



14. A. Isetana, Fah. ; ramella, WiU;. Stainton ; har- 

 pana, ITmi.— Expanse i to | inch (13-16 mm.). Fore 

 wings moderately broad ; apex sharply hooked ; clear white 

 with broad blue-black marbling toward the dorsal and hind 

 margins. 



Antennfe brown beneath, whitish above ; palpi white ; head 

 white, clouded with brown; thorax white, spotted with 

 black ; abdomen silvery grey. Fore wings rather broad but 

 elongated ; costa gently arched ; apex shortly hooked ; hiud 

 margin refuse and fully rounded out below ; clear bright 

 white with the central margin faintly dotted with brown, but 

 toward the apex pale brown with oblique white streaks ; 

 dorsal margin spotted with black in a bluish black clouding, 

 above which is a large rounded blue-black cloud ; before the 

 hind margin is a large blue-black ocellus, shaded outwardly 

 with white ; above it are some cloudy black streaks ; apical 

 area chestnut brown ; cilia white, with black clouding. 



