198 LEPIDOPTERA. 



Pupa glossy, of a deep rich brown. In an oval cocoon 

 of closely-spun silk, with the hairs of the larva woven in. 

 Probably among dead leaves on the ground. 



Entirely confined to wet fen-land and marshes. Hiding 

 among the grass and low herbage during the day, and so 

 sluggish that it cannot be disturbed ; crawling up, on mild or 

 warm evenings, to fly at dusk for a few minutes, after which 

 it sits about on the low herbage and grass blades, hanging 

 down exactly like a little bit of dead leaf. About midnight 

 it rouses itself and flies about near the ground, and may then 

 easily be attracted to a strong light ; but even then will 

 hang on to grass blades around, and simply bask in the rays 

 of the lamp. Altogether an extremely sluggish and secret 

 species, and easily overlooked, yet widely distributed in 

 marshes, and sometimes making its appearance, on an especially 

 favourable evening, in most unexpected places. I have found 

 it even in a little bit of marshy ground enclosed by sea sand- 

 hills. Like many other fen insects it will fly after rain and also 

 during fogs. Abundant in the fens of Norfolk and Cambridge- 

 shire and has been seen in multitudes at lamps in Wicken and 

 Ranworth Fens. Fairly common in Suffolk, and found less 

 commonly in boggy spots in Sussex, Berks, Hants, Dorset, 

 Devon, Somerset and Glamorganshire. Also tolerably com- 

 mon in marshes near York and Scarborough, and therefore 

 most probably in suitable places in the intermediate counties. 

 In the year 1825 it was abundant at Whittlesea Mere, and was 

 found in Battersea Fields, close to London ; in the neighbour- 

 ing Hammersmith marshes it maintained itself till 1860 or 

 later, but these last localities have long been built over. I 

 hear from Dr. F. Buchanan White that he has seen a speci- 

 men said to have been taken at Crieff, Scotland ; and a single 

 specimen was captured last year (1893) by Colonel l^artridge, 

 near Enniskillen, Ireland. Abroad it is common in the Alps, 

 and widely distributed in the Northern half of Europe ; also 

 in the Ural range. 



