94 LEPIDOPTERA. 



tansy ; indeed it is a constant companion of the second 

 generation of Is. ruhi at the ragwort bloom, inland as often 

 as on the coast ; where the limes blossom late it also greatly 

 affects their flowers, and in the fens loves to sit on the leaves 

 of the tall reeds at night or to attend the honey-dew on the 

 sallow bushes; also freely attracted by a strong light. It 

 especially frequents damp meadows, damp woods, marshes, 

 fens, and boggy hollows, and in such situations is common in 

 most parts of England, though it is said to be scarce in 

 Dorset, and I find no record of its occurrence in Cornwall. 

 Moreover, it seems almost to have deserted the London 

 suburbs, where formerly it was common ; probably also 

 common throughout Wales, since it is frequent in Pembroke- 

 shire. Very frequent in the South of Scotland, and on the 

 Eastern side extending northward to Morayshire, but appar- 

 ently absent from Argyle and from the Scottish Isles. In 

 Ireland common and widely distributed, extending to Donegal 

 and Londonderry. Abroad it seems to be somewhat local, 

 but is found in Central and Northern France, Holland, 

 Belgium, great part of Germany, and the north of Italy. 



18. N. xanthographa, Fab. — Expanse 1| to If inch. 

 Fore wings oblong, rather broad behind ; pale brown, drab, 

 red-brown, or dark brown ; stigmata usually yellowish ; hind 

 wings whitish bordered with grey-brown. 



Antennae of the male rather stout, simple but densely 

 ciliated with minute hairs, dark brown ; palpi broadly tufted, 

 pale chocolate, paler in front, terminal joint short ; head and 

 thorax red-brown, grey-brown, purplish-brown, umbreous, or 

 brownish-drab, always agreeing in colour with the fore wings ; 

 collar rather erect ; at the back of the thorax is a small crest of 

 long scales drawn together into tufts ; fascicles dusky-white ; 

 abdomen dull smoky-brown, whitish-brown, or grey-brown ; 

 lateral and anal tufts similar. Fore wings short, rather 

 oblong but broadened a little behind; costa very faintly 

 rounded ; apex and hind margin also rounded and the latter 



