i 3 8 LEPIDOPTERA. 



covers of the tongue and limbs are also thickly sculptured 

 with rather coarse, cross, incised channels and lines, and the 

 \vino--covers more thickly and minutely ornamented with 

 irregularly-placed lines ; while the dorsal region and all the 

 segments are dull from close pitting of fine punctures, except 

 the hinder edge of each abdominal segment, where is a 

 narrow, shining smooth band, ridged behind ; colour chestnut- 

 red ; dorsal region a little darker ; cremaster also rather 

 darker, elongated, and tapering, but flattened and very 

 rough, the tip furnished with several strongly-hooked bristles 

 by which it fixes itself very firmly in the cocoon. This is 

 formed of tough silk, covered with earth, and is placed on, 

 or under, the surface of the ground. 



The moth sits during the day on palings or among herbage, 

 and is not known to fly except at dusk, and at night, when 

 it frequents the flowers of red valerian (Centranthus ruber), 

 the various species of Silcnc and Lychnis, nettle, honeysuckle, 

 and raspberry. Especially fond of garden-flowers, and 

 formerly to be taken in gardens in the outskirts of London ; 

 from these it has of late disappeared, but continues to be 

 found, though generally in but moderate numbers, all over 

 the southern half of England, including the Scilly Isles, and 

 is common in Norfolk and some other counties. In the 

 Midlands very local, but recorded in Leicestershire, Stafford- 

 shire and Derbyshire ; also in Herefordshire, Cheshire, York- 

 shire, rarely in Lancashire, more frequently in Durham, 

 Northumberland, Westmoreland, and Cumberland. The 

 only record that I find in Wales is at Barmouth ; but in 

 Scotland it has a wide range, being found near Hawick, in 

 Roxburghshire, near Bonhill in Dumbartonshire, Ayrshire, 

 Perthshire, Kincardineshire, Aberdeenshire, Moray, Ross- 

 shire, and the Orkneys; and in many other places in the 

 more southern portions of that country. In Ireland it appears 

 almost to be generally distributed, since it is recorded from 

 Dublin, Wicklow, Louth, Westmeath, Carlingford, Monaghan, 



