TRIFID.-E. 321 



greenish-black markings of a rough diamond form, or alter- 

 nate angnlated streaks which reach the spiracular stripe, 

 which is also dark but edged beneath with paler ; raised 

 spots white, uudersurface and legs pale grey-green. 



The Rev. J. Hellins says that the newly-hatched larva has 

 the head, and a plate on the second segment, shining black, 

 and the body dingy drab with a paler spiracular line. At 

 this time (March and April) it bores its way into an unopened 

 oak-bud, eating out the interior and lodging in the chamber 

 thus made. This condition appears to last till the beginning 

 of May, when, after its second moult, the head is black, the 

 body whitish, with a pattern of eight broad dorsal diamonds 

 in black freckles, darkest on the sides, and mixed with dull 

 orange ; dorsal line white, but broken into short streaks ; 

 spiracles and usual raised dots black. At this time it begins 

 to feed without concealment on the opening buds, and from 

 this the adult colouring is gradually assumed. 



March to June on oak, feeding as already described, but 

 after ceasing to feed in concealment it hides itself during the 

 daytime in a chink of an oak-trunk, where it is sufficiently 

 protected by its extraordinary resemblance to the bark of the 

 tree. 



Pupa apparently undescribed. In a brittle cocoon under- 

 ground, usually at the foot of an oak-tree, immediately below 

 the surface, often among the roots of a sod of grass growing 

 in the angle of the base of the tree. 



The moth conceals itself in the daytime so as to be very 

 seldom seen ; but apparently not upon the gi'ound, therefore 

 most probably upon the branches of oak-trees. It is wonder- 

 fully like a piece of the loose lichen which grows so freely 

 upon oak-trunks in woods, yet does not often sit on the 

 trunks. Its succession of protective resemblances has been 

 pointed out by the Rev. J. Hellins, who says that the eggs 

 are ribbed, and reticulated with black and white, so as closely 

 to resemble small specks of lichen ; while it requires a keen 



VOL. IV. X 



