200 



LEPIDOPTERA. 



From September to May, liybernating ; feeding upon 

 lichens, especially those which grow upon stone walls. Mr. 

 E. Birchall found it in plenty in the West of Ireland on 

 the oranofe coloured lichens with which the stone walls are 

 there profusely decked. In Wales it is equally common on 

 the similar lichens upon tiled roofs. Also on the green 

 lichens and confervoid growths on old gates and palings in 

 damp situations, and upon the trunks of trees. Sometimes 

 to be found feeding in the sunshine, at others hiding 

 under stones or other cover in the day, and feeding at 

 niaflit. 



^to' 



Pupa short and stumpy, pale green or yellowish. In a very 

 slight gauzy network cocoon, through which the pupa is plainly 

 visible; in any sheltered place among stones or on walls. In 

 one case in which the larvas had fed on the lichens upon the 

 roof, I found numerous cocoons containing pupas or un- 

 changed larv£e on the wall on the inside of the building, they 

 having crawled in through an open window. Neither larvae 

 nor pupae were discommoded by the careful removal of the 

 cocoons, and all emerged as moths. . 



The moth is inconspicuous and is rarely seen in the day 

 time. It flies gently at dusk, and more generally towards mid- 

 night, when it also comes readily to light. The female, however, 

 is seldom seen at large. Common and generally distributed in 

 the South of England in woods and lanes, though not j)lenti- 

 ful ; formerly quite common at Sydenham on the south side of 

 London. Scarcer in the Eastern and Midland Counties, and 

 rather rare in fen districts ; local but pretty common in Wales 

 to I'embrokeshire ; and not uncommon in Yorkshire, Lan- 

 cashire, Cheshire, and Herefordshire. In Scotland found in 

 Roxburghshire, at Garelochhead, Dunoon, Ardrossan, Renfrew 

 and other Western localities ; in the East at Craigie and 

 Annateburn. In Ireland commonly in the rocky limestone 

 district of Gal way, and in Donegal and Londonderry. Abroad 



