1 68 LEPIDOPTERA. 



chestnut, darker in front of the head. In a slight cocoon 

 just beneath the surface of the ground. 



The moth flies, like its congeners, at early dusk and till 

 nearly dark, but not swiftly. The male has a habit very 

 similar to that of H. hedus, of swaying like a pendulum over 

 a space of about a yard of ground, backwards and forwards ; 

 and not unfrequently two or three males swing to and fro 

 over the same spot, now and then two, or even three, coming 

 into contact and swinging off again, just like the flies when 

 at play in a room. They are extremely conspicuous from 

 their white appearance, and sometimes dozens may be seen 

 at a time swinging, either singly or in little companies, over 

 diff'erent parts of a field. The female never flies in this 

 manner, but takes a tolerably straight course with rather 

 heavy flight, and, evidently with intention, strikes, in her 

 course, against one of the swaying males, which instantly 

 leaves its station and follows her to where she alights at a short 

 distance off". This has been repeatedly observed, and is open 

 to no doubt. The male has a slight scent somewhat resem- 

 bling that of the larva of the Goat-moth, but very much more 

 faint and not disagreeable ; it is only noticeable in the freshest 

 specimens. The female, after pairing, flies rapidly over the 

 grass, shooting her eggs down among it, loosely, with a dis- 

 tinct projecting action. The eggs are small, perfectly 

 round, greenish at first, but quickly turn black ; they are not 

 in the least adhesive, but resemble tiny globular seeds. It is 

 a very abundant species, found apparently throughout the 

 United Kingdom, in meadows, marshy valleys, on hill sides, 

 and in rough places wherever there is a luxuriant growth of 

 wild plants ; very frequently in graveyards, whence, and 

 from the peculiar flight and whiteness of the male, the 

 popular name of Ghost-moth undoubtedly arises. Abroad it 

 is found throughout Central and Northern Europe and in 

 Armenia, but its range appears to be less extensive thau that 

 of oar other species in the genus. 



