32 THE MOTHS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



or October. In 1900 one specimen was taken at an Eastbourne 

 electric light, and one at Portpatrick in Scotland, both end of 

 August. There appears to have been an arrival of moths in 

 this country in early June, 1901. Captures were reported from 

 Portland (June 2), Bedford, and S. W. London. Larvct and 

 pupce were found in many parts of England, as already mentioned. 

 Then in August, from about the 14th to September, moths were 

 captured throughout the greater part of England ; in some 

 places caterpillars were also obtained in August, chrysalids in 

 September. After a lull towards the end of the latter month, 

 moths suddenly appeared again during the first week in October. 

 Several observers remarked that whereas the August to Septem- 

 ber moths were mostly females, large in size, and not in the 

 best condition, the later moths were chiefly of the male sex, 

 small in size, and fine in condition. It would seem therefore 

 that these late specimens were the descendants of the early 

 August moths and represented a second generation on British 

 soil and the grandchildren of the June immigrants. Or, 

 possibly, the August-September moths were fresh immigrants, 

 and the October specimens their offspring. 



The species was observed in several English counties 

 during August and September, 1911 ; and again in 1915. 

 in 1 91 7 it seems to have been more widely spread over our 

 islands, as specimens were reported from Ireland and even 

 Shetland. 



Plants with tubular flowers, such as those of petunias, and the 

 sweet-scented white tobacco {Nicotiana ajffinis) are its especial 

 favourites, but it also visits the blossoms of pentstemon, geranium 

 (chiefly the scarlet variety), etc. It does not settle on the 

 flowers but inserts its long " tongue " into the tubes aS it hov^ers 

 on the wing in front of them. Just at twilight it commences 

 operations, but it may be seen pursuing its investigations well 

 on into the night (see Fig. i, p. 2). 



Distributed over Europe, Asia, and Africa. 



