58 LEPIDOPTERA. 



Pupa cylindrical, but rather thickest in the middle ; eye- 

 cases prominent ; tongue-case keeled ; anal spike rough, 

 triangular, flattened. Colour dusky ochreous, freckled with 

 black ; dorsal line and wing-cases smoky black ; abdominal 

 segments ringed with black. In an open network cocoon on 

 the surface of the ground, with bits of moss worked in 

 (Buckler). In the pupa stage through the winter. A larva 

 in the possession of Mr. R. Adkin, and fed up by him in a 

 gauze bag, spun up in the gauze, forming a cocoon like a 

 film of gelatine, apparently a curious modification of the silk 

 lining usually employed to bind together the rougher materials. 

 The moth in this case was duly reared. 



An active and lively species at early dusk, frequenting 

 flowers of Honeysuckle, Rhododendron, Lilium martagmi, 

 Ccntranthus, Silcnc rnflata, Sage, Pink, and other flowers. 

 I have even obtained it by cutting bunches of honeysuckle 

 blossoms and placing them in the open fields where Galiitm 

 was abundant. It is also occasionally taken at the " sugar " 

 used to attract Noctucv. In the daytime it sits among the 

 low herbage close to the ground, or on an open bank, or 

 hangs to a thistle. After its evening flight it may sometimes 

 be again found sitting on a bank or hedge. Its eggs are said 

 to be laid while hovering over its food plant. 



Widely distributed in chalk and limestone districts, and, 

 in the south, rather common — even plentiful in Devonshire 

 and Gloucestershire — fairly common in Norfolk and SuSblk, 

 and in all suitable localities south of these counties. At 

 Oxford and in Cambridgeshire it is scarce, and rare in the 

 ]\Iidlands. Rather common in Herefordshire, Worcestershire, 

 Lancashire, and Cheshire, and found in several localities in 

 Yorkshire ; at Witherslack, Cumberland ; and at Tynemouth. 

 In Scotland it is common in Perthshire, more especially at 

 Moncrieff' Hill, and is found in Roxburghshire and along the 

 east coast to Aberdeenshire. In Ireland very widely distri- 

 buted, and in the western districts is said to be the commonest 

 species of the whole group. Abroad it is found over the 



