DELTOID ES. 303 



Pupa slender, rather widened at the shoulders, but other- 

 wise cylindrical and tolerably uniform throughout, the last 

 segment of the abdomen tapering to a blunt spike which is 

 grooved or fluted, in two steps as it were, and its tip set 

 with several small spines having curved ends ; colour rich 

 dark brown ; the edges of the wing-cases and the segmental 

 divisions of the abdomen of a lighter reddish-brown. In a 

 long oval cocoon, extremely slight, being a very open network 

 of silk, with bits of moss drawn in, but still with interstices 

 left through which the pupa can be seen. (Rev. J. Hellins.) 

 Doubtless placed among dead grasses, or at the bases of tufts 

 of Carex, or some similar shelter, on the ground. 



The moth seems to be wholly confined to fens and very wet 

 marshes. It is a retiring insect, hiding during the day among 

 the dead sedge-leaves or thick herbage of the fens, and 

 difficult at that time to disturb ; but at dusk it flies gently 

 and in a noticeable manner about, or sometimes clings con- 

 spicuously to a grass or sedge-blade, and is very easily 

 secured. Occasionally it will come to a strong light, but 

 it does not seem to be attracted by any kind of food. My 

 own acquaintance with it is in the fens of Norfolk, where it is 

 widely distributed though not very plentiful. It is sometimes 

 much more abundant in Wicken Fen, Cambs, and at Chip- 

 penham and Fordham in the same county, where formerly it 

 had a wider range through the fens round Whittiesea Mere, 

 at Burwell and elsewhere. Still to be found in Suffolk, and 

 in Essex to Southend and Shoeburyness, always in similar 

 spots ; at Deal, Kent ; in Sussex, and the moors of Somerset ; 

 but this seems to be the extent of its range with us, unless 

 the single record in Cumberland should be confirmed, which 

 appears unlikely. Abroad it is found in Holland, Germany, 

 Switzerland, Hungary, Southern and Eastern Russia, and 

 Tartary. 



