2o8 LEPIDOPTERA. 



Hind wings broad and rather long, with blunt apex and 

 rather sinuous hind margin ; dark grey, sometimes shaded 

 with whitish at the base, and with a whitish streak running 

 in from the hind margin below the middle ; cilia long, 

 yellowish white or pale yellow. Female decidedly smaller, 

 with narrower fore wings, and shorter, rather stouter body ; 

 otherwise similar. Underside of the fore wings dark grey, 

 with costal and hind margins and apex bright yellow ; dorsal 

 margin silvery-white ; of hind wings yellowish-white or 

 greyish-white, with the cilia broadly pale yellow ; thorax 

 dark grey ; abdomen yellowish, tinged with grey at the base ; 

 legs grey above, yellowish beneath. 



A form of the male is not uncommon which has the fore 

 wnngs shining pale yellow, faintly tinged with greyish or 

 whitish in the middle, and with a yellowish tinge upon the 

 hind wings. Beyond this, variation in this species is ex- 

 tremely rare, but Mr. S. Stevens has a yellow specimen 

 devoid of the usual black dots. 

 On the wing in June. 



Larva nearly one inch long, stout and cylindrical ; head 

 smaller, shining black, and a velvety black patch on the back of 

 the second segment; body velvety, blackish grey; usual tuber- 

 cular spots raised, and thickly tufted with blackish densely- 

 feathered hairs, so as almost to conceal the body, which is 

 plain ; legs shining black ; prolegs grey. When younger, 

 velvety black, with the hairs singularly spatulate. (Buckler.) 



August to May on lichens, a favourite kind being one of 

 immature form growing among moss on oak trunks ; but 

 doubtless one of the lichens which grow on the ground 

 among heather is also chosen, and sallow leaves, either gi'een 

 or decaying, are not refused. It has also been known to feed 

 on heather {Calluna vidfjaris). 



Pupa short and stout, pale brown, in a large, thin, semi- 

 transparent cocoon of greyish silk, spun in any convenient 

 Jiollow under moss or lichen. (Hellins.) 



