52 THE MOTHS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



Stated to thrive in confinement on goose-grass or cleavers 

 (G. aparine). When full grown a loosely woven cocoon is 

 formed on the ground beneath the food plant, or other herbage, 

 and therein the caterpillar changes to an ochreous grey or 

 brownish chrysalis. This is marked with darker brown on the 

 wing covers and aroimd the spiracles ; the " tongue " case forms 

 a small beak-like projection. 



Like the Bee Hawks, referred to presently, the moth is a day 

 flyer, and delights in the sunshine, although it has been several 

 times seen on the wing quite late in the evening, and has also 

 been observed hovering in front of flowers and probing them 

 with its long "tongue" even in the pouring rain. Blossoms of 

 very many plants, both wild and cultivated, seem to receive its 

 attention, but it is perhaps most partial to those of the jasmine 

 where available. In the south of Europe the species is generally 

 abundant throughout the year ; but there would seem to be at 

 least two distinct broods, one appearing in June, and the other 

 in October. Possibly there may be an intermediate brood in 

 August, as the period from ^g% to moth is known to be less 

 than two months. In the British Isles, so far as one can gather 

 from the records, caterpillars have only been found in July and 

 August. Single specimens of the moth have been seen in the 

 earliest months of the year, as for example, January 31, 1898 

 (Bath), January 3, 1899 (S. Wales), February 2, 1900 (London) ; 

 it has also been observ^ed several times in December. These 

 facts and others connected with this species in Britain certainly 

 lend colour to the oft-repeated statement that the moth hiber- 

 nates in this country. The insect is known to enter houses, and 

 to examine holes and cracks in walls, dry banks, etc., in the 

 autumn. Mr. J. P. Barrett, in a note, written in November or 

 December, 1900, states that six or seven moths came into his 

 house at Margate in October, and that one was still hidden in 

 his bedroom. However, if it be granted that the moth does 

 hibernate here, the instances are so rare and isolated that, 



