SERICORIDM—PA^DISCA. 1 37 



purple-browD, but the dorsal area 'irliitc to the hind margin 

 and apex, and the white portion throws off projections into 

 the dark colour and produces a very pretty variety of this 

 otherwise monotonous looking insect. A rare vai'iety is wholly 

 of a deep rich red ; one or two such have been found in 

 North Wales. In some other hill districts specimens are 

 found far smaller than the type and of a pale and faded 

 appearance. In all the peculiarlv shining appearance of the 

 fore wings, which distinguishes this species from its allies, is 

 fully observable. 



On the wing from June till August, and, possibly in a 

 restricted second generation, in September and October. 



Larva rather flattened ; dorsal region slate colour, whitish 

 green at the sides and below, and also on the last three 

 segments ; raised dots white, furnished with bristles ; head 

 dark nmbreous, eyes paler, dorsal and anal plates whitish 

 green. When younger pale blue-green, with distinct, minute 

 black dots ; head and plates black. 



April and May, and even to July, on sallow, feeding in 

 drawn-together shoots and rolled leaves ; also on sweet gale 

 {Myrica gale). 



Pupa light chestnut brown, sjDun up among dead leaves of 

 sallow. 



This moth is especially abundant in fens and marshes, also 

 in the north in mosses, attached apparently to the wettest 

 spots, and hiding during the day in the thick growth of 

 grass, sedges, and fen plants with which the bases of the 

 sallow bushes are then crowded. It is not readily aroused 

 in the day time, but at dusk crawls up and flits about the 

 same bushes, or crowds about rushes and other low-growing 

 plants. As darkness comes on it flies freely, and then is 

 easily attracted by a strong light ; indeed, I have known a 



