TRIFID^. 239 



of each dorsal and abdominal segment much more coarsely 

 sculptured with abundant small pits, forming almost thick- 

 ened bands ; general colour deep chestnut, abdominal bands 

 darker ; cremaster conical, stout, dark brown ; anal spikes 

 rather strong, slightly curved in at the tips, blackish 

 brown. 



In a slight earthen cocoon, just below the surface of the 

 ground. 



The moth appears to hide by day among herbage, but is 

 seldom seen at that time ; at dusk it flies vigorously, and is 

 much attracted by blossoms of Ragged robin (Lychnis flos- 

 cuculi), Silene, Red Valerian and sometimes Sweet William, 

 Campion, and other flowers ; moreover it does not utterly 

 disdain sugar, but will occasionally hover and buzz up and 

 down the patch upon a tree trunk, taking a sip of it, and has 

 even been known to settle down to the feast ; probably it is 

 not wholly indifferent to honey-dew, and I have known it 

 induced to sit upon the leaves of tall masses of reeds, in a fen 

 ditch, with other Nodxcc. 



Apparently found all over England and Wales, and in marshy 

 districts and the fen country of Cambridge and Norfolk, 

 rather plentifully. Very widely distributed in Scotland, and 

 in the south of that country ascending the hills to COO feet 

 above sea level ; recorded in Dumfries-shire, Roxburghshire, 

 Renfrew, Dundonald and elsewhere in the Clyde valley ; 

 also in the eastern districts to Aberdeenshire and Moray- 

 shire, where it becomes rare ; Perthshire, West Ross and the 

 Orkneys. It appears to occur throughout Ireland, and on 

 the coast plentifully. 



Abroad its range is wide— Central and Northern Europe, 

 North Italy, Eastern and Southern Russia, the mountain 

 regions of Central Asia, Japan, and Chusan. 



4. D. capsincola. Hub. — Expanse 1|- to 1^ inch. 

 Fore wings brown, marbled with deep brown and streaked 

 with white ; edges of the upper stigmata and subterminal 



