TRIFID&. I79 



enclosing the dorsal line of brighter red ; on the fifth seg- 

 ment are two irregularly-shaped lateral spots, either white or 

 reddish-orange, and on the sixth two smaller spots, black ; 

 the subdorsal line is blackish and very faint, except on the 

 eleventh and twelfth segments ; ventral surface dusky-grey. 

 (Rev. J. Hellins.) 



July and August on the blossoms of Tormcntilla reptans 

 and T. officinalis, and occasionally upon those of bramble and 

 Potcntilla anserina. 



Pupa undescribed, except that it is small and red-brown ; 

 in a cocoon in the earth. 



The moth hides in the daytime in masses of tangled fern 

 and bramble, or among heather, and in warm and very favour- 

 able weather may occasionally be disturbed and induced to 

 fly a short distance in the daytime, but quickly darts down 

 and hides itself close to the earth. It flies freely for a short 

 time at early dusk, or even at sunset on a very calm evening, 

 but is hardly to be seen at any time on the wing if the 

 weather is in the least wet or chilly. Its flight is only for 

 short distances over the heather, or along glades or paths in 

 woods, and it quickly settles, to fly again a short distance, 

 but if struck at with the net and missed darts down at once 

 to the ground. It does not seem to be attracted by flowers 

 or any of the usual means of obtaining Noctucv. Excessively 

 local in this country, and confined to large woods or heathery 

 forests. The first known specimens with us appear to have 

 been two captured in 1792 in Epping Forest, Essex, by the 

 late Mr. James Francis Stephens, author of the " Illustra- 

 tions." In that work he mentions two more, taken about 

 the same date in the same place. No further examples seem 

 to have been noticed for over fifty years, but in June 1845 

 the late Mr. H. Doubleday, when walking through a heathy 

 part of Epping Forest, observed several specimens flying over, 

 and alighting upon, the common fern. Returning the next 

 day fully prepared for collecting a series, he was unable to 



