TRIF1D&. 1 1 



a very different-looking insect from the type and decidedly 

 more rare. It occasionally varies more in the direction of 

 purplish-umbreous. 



On the wing in October and November. In its usual 

 haunts it hybernates and reappears in the spring, but I find 

 no record of such an occurrence with us. 



Larva paler or darker brown-grey or yellow-brown with 

 three slender paler dorsal lines, of which the two sub-dorsal 

 are often invisible ; raised dots on the dorsal region white ; 

 spiracles black ; undersurface pale grey ; dorsal plate pale 

 brown or black with two white or yellow lateral streaks ; 

 anal plate similar ; head black-brown. (Hofmann.) 



June and July on low plants; but Iiossler fed the young 

 lame at first on oak leaves, later upon snowberry and herba- 

 ceous plants, and it is not improbable that, as in some other 

 species, the leaves of trees are at first preferred, but after- 

 wards forsaken for low-growing plants. 



Pupa red-brown, in a thick cocoon in the earth. Not 

 further described. 



Very little is known here of the habits of this extremely 

 rare moth, but it has been taken at ivy-bloom, at sugar and 

 once at a gas lamp. The first specimen known to have 

 occurred in this country was secured in November 1847, 

 near Brighton, by Mr. H. Cooke ; this proved to be of the 

 var. glabra. In 1858 he met with a second, and one was 

 taken by the Kev. J. Image, both in the same neighbourhood. 

 In the meantime, in 1856, a specimen also of the var. glabra 

 had been taken near Plymouth by Mr. J. J. Eeading ; and 

 soon after (1859) one was secured near Marlow by Mr. A. H. 

 Clarke. Mr. S. Stevens, one of our oldest entomologists, 

 still active, and always willing to help me in this work, says : 

 " I have a fine series which I obtained from time to time, 

 taken under the South Downs between Brighton and East- 

 bourne, and again inland between Dover and Canterbury." 



