34 LEPIDOPTERA. 



order from the topmost shoots, which it strips ; hiding in the 

 thicker parts of the bush in the day. Also found occasionally 

 on lilac, holly, laurustinus, dog-wood, ash, Gueldre-rose — 

 wild and cultivated varieties — mealy-Gueldre-rose, hop, 

 snowberry, mountain ash, evergreen oak, PhyUyrea, and even 

 once on teazle. 



When at rest it raises the front segments high, in the 

 sphinx-position, with head and legs drawn close in, and is a 

 very striking as well as handsome object, and in this country 

 the most familiarly known and noticed of the group. 



Pupa very large and stout, elongated, with deep segmental 

 divisions, and a blunt, rounded, closely-joined tongue-case in 

 front of the thorax ; reddish or purplish-brown. Subterranean, 

 enclosed in an earthen chamber. 



The moth flies at late dusk, but is seldom seen on the 

 wing. It comes occasionally to tubular flowers — jasmine, 

 rhododendron and honeysuckle, but rarely while there is 

 light enough to see it. In all probability its principal time of 

 activity is after midnight and in the morning twilight, indeed 

 there is a record of a dozen specimens being secured at three 

 o'clock in the morning, drawn together by the presence of a 

 reared female. It is also seen sometimes in the night at 

 lighthouses far at sea. when, possibly, migrating. In the 

 daytime it sits on posts, palings, or walls near the ground, 

 and, with its wings closely shut obliquely to its sides, looks 

 as much like a discoloured chip of wood as a moth. 



Common in the southern half of England, but becoming 

 rare in the northern Midlands, recorded only once in Lanca- 

 shire, and very rare in Yorkshire. It has been taken in 

 Scotland, but only in the southern portion. In Ireland 

 larvae are said to have been formerly taken by Mr. Haliday, 

 and there appears no reason whatever why it should not 

 occur there, but I know of no other record. It is common 

 through the greater part of Europe, in North Africa, and 



