138 LEPID OP TEN A . 



lamp used for corecting iu a fen to be crowded to au incon- 

 venient extent by these moths. Probably in suitable places 

 throughout England, Wales, and Scotland, though in the 

 latter country I have no records north of Aberdeen. In 

 Ireland it is reported only from Cork County, Enniskillen, 

 and Sligo. Abroad it is found throughout Central Europe, 

 and iu Sweden, and South-west Russia, 



4. P. sordidana, Huh. ; stabilana, ^stqjh. WilTc.— 

 Expanse | to ^ inch (18-22 mm.). Fore wings elongated 

 but broad, nearly uniform, soft golden brown or reddish 

 brown, often with faint umbreous cloudy sjjots bordering a 

 rather paler dorsal space. 



Antennas thickly ciliated, dull umbreous ; palpi, head, and 

 thorax dark umbreous ; abdomen pale brown. Fore wings 

 elongated, but rather broad ; costa folded and rather strongly 

 arched, apex bluntly and squarely augulated, hind margin 

 straight ; velvety brown irrorated wdth darker brown ; basal 

 blotch faintly indicated by the dorsal half of what would be 

 its outer margin, which is curved, dark umbreous ; no other 

 markings except a faint darker cloud in the place usually 

 occupied by a central band, and some exceedingly fine brown 

 streaks toward the apex; cilia brown. Hind wings with 

 their cilia pale smoky brown with a faint purplish gloss. 

 Female similar, but without the central fold. 



Underside of the fore wings leaden brown ; of the hind 

 yellowish white. 



On the wing in September and October. 



Larva undescribed — on alder, folding the leaves, in June. 

 (R. South.) Pupating among rubbish on the ground. 



This species hides in alder bushes and trees during the 

 day, and may be readily beaten out, when it flies vigorously 

 a short distance ; in fen districts it is common, and flies at 

 dusk rather low down about the alder bushes, but is not very 



