TRIFIDJE. 



243 



abdominal segment next it and separate, containing the tip 

 of the very long tongue ; wing and limb covers exceedingly 

 smooth and shining ; abdominal segment rather full, banded 

 broadly with abundant sculpture in minute pits ; cremaster 

 rather short and broad, and furnished with a prong-like pair 

 of spikes ; colour bright red- brown ; spiracles distinct, darker ; 

 sculptured bands of the anterior abdominal segments dark 

 brown ; spikes black. Subterranean, with hardly any cocoon. 

 In this condition through the winter. 



The moth is rarely seen in the day time, usually hiding itself 

 among herbage. At dusk it flies vigorously, and is strongly 

 attracted by blossoms of Red Valerian, Sweet William, and 

 other flowers, as well as by those of Dianthua and Silene. 

 Usually it sips from them while hovering, but late at night 

 may be seen at rest with quivering wings upon the blossoms 

 of Lychnis. It is, however, possible that this may only be in 

 the case of the female when depositing an egg ; certainly it 

 is instantly on the alert and flies off. Apparently it rarely, 

 if ever, takes any notice of sugar. Formerly it was common 

 in the gardens of the London suburbs, but, like so many 

 other species, appears now to have deserted them. Other- 

 wise it seems to be more or less common over the greater 

 portion of England, Wales, and Ireland, and in Scotland to 

 Perthshire, Aberdeenshire, and Moray, and has been taken 

 in the Orkneys. Abroad it is found over the whole of Europe, 

 except the extreme north and south, and in the mountain 

 regions of Central Asia. 



5. D. albimacula, ^M. — Expanse If inch. Fore wings 

 dark purple-brown, marbled with black ; a white spot at the 

 base, and a large white blotch, including the stigmata, in the 

 middle ; hind wings dull brown, paler at the base. 



Antennae of the male simple, but ciliated with minute 

 tufts of fine bristles to the tip, dark brown ; palpi rather 

 small, but broadly tufted, dark brown at the sides, purple- 

 brown in front ; head umbreous, broadly and doubly barred 



