358 LEPIDOPTERA. 



with green, a very little paler below tlie spiracular region ; 

 under-surface faintly tinged with dull green ; dorsal pulsating 

 vessel of a deeper tint of the ground colour than the back ; 

 upper lip rather dark fawn-colour ; the antennal papilte a 

 little paler ; anterior legs fawn-colour tipped with blackish ; 

 spiracles black. When very young jDinkish-brown, head, 

 plates and raised dots whitish. Very little change of colour 

 seems to take place for several months, but before its quite 

 settling down to hybernate the head, plates and spots become 

 black. From this there is but little alteration till full growth. 

 (Adapted from Buckler.) 



October to May on grasses such as Poa annua ; feeding 

 upon the whitish portions just above the roots at night, 

 hiding during the day in a chamber formed by itself, and 

 lined with silk, among the roots of the grass ; hybernating 

 in such a chamber but coming forth to feed whenever the 

 weather is mild. 



Pupa of the usual Nodua form, but elongated and very 

 blunt in front — almost flattened, and produced in the front 

 of the head into a slight knob ; wing and limb-cases brightly 

 polished and very smooth, with only faint traces of sculptured 

 lines ; antenna-cases sculptured with cross-channels ; dorsal 

 segments glossy but more distinctly marked with fine 

 punctures ; abdominal segments brilliant, but the front edge 

 of each sculptured with distinct pits in a narrow band, and 

 the hinder edge also banded, but smooth and hoop-like, 

 general colour red-brown ; cremaster rather large and long, 

 black, provided with two curled-down bristles. Mr. Buckler 

 gave no definite description of this pupa, but fortunately he 

 gave me the pupa-skin from which he had reared a moth, 

 and from this a description is supplied. It does not appear 

 whether any cocoon is formed, but the pupa state is assumed 

 among the roots of grass. 



The moth may occasionally be seen in the daytime sitting 

 with its wings drawn down into a very steep roof, upon a 



