243 LEPIDOFTERA. 



The moth is a very lively and active species, basking in 

 little companies on oak leaves on the trees, in bright sun- 

 shine, or dancing about them like little black flies ; in- 

 different even to a cold rough wind if a sunny sheltered 

 corner can be found. Apparently in oak woods throughout 

 England to Cumberland and Westmoreland, but hardly 

 noticed in the Midlands. In Wales very local but common 

 in Pembrokeshire ; and in Scotland found in Stirlingshire ; 

 but I have no record from Ireland. Abroad it seems only to 

 be recognised in France. 



15. S. trauniana, Bchiff. — Expanse \ inch (12 mm,). 

 Fore wings brown-black with a broad, rather flattened spot- 

 less pale yellow dorsal blotch and five to seven sharply 

 defined yellow costal dots. 



Antennae, palpi, head, thorax, and abdomen black-brown. 

 Fore wings of rather even breadth, costa gently arched at 

 its base, else nearly straight, apex squarely angulated, 

 hind margin perpendicular ; velvety black-brown ; a large, 

 flattened, bright pale yellow blotch occupies the middle of 

 the dorsal margin, and reaches nearly half across the wing ; 

 on the costa are five to seven or even eight distinct and 

 definite pale yellow dots; ocellus faintly indicated by 

 obscure bluish shades ; cilia smoky white. Hind wings 

 brown-black with smoky white cilia. Female similar. 



Underside of the fore wings leaden black with five or six 

 white costal dots, and a yellow cloud along the costal area. 

 Hind wings leaden brown. 



On the wing in June and July. 



Larva apparently undescribed. Sorhagen says that it 

 may be found in the spring under the bark of majjle (Acer 

 campestris). The inference is that it may feed on the seeds. 



Mr. Wilkinson says that it is found in Kent flying around 

 the tops of maples. It has however become now a rare 



