220 LEPIDOPTERA. 



shaped orauge spots, edged with wedge-like black streaks, 

 and interrupted by white dots ; spiracular line dusky-orange ; 

 body covered with very short light- brown hairs in tufts on 

 the raised spots. (Buckler.) 



September to May or June, sometimes on lichens, at 

 others on leguminous plants — Lotus cornieulatns, Anthyllis 

 vulneraria, and Trifolium repens ; and when it has taken to 

 one class of food it seems reluctant to change to the other. 

 Guenee says : " Principally, perhaps exclusively, on the 

 lichens which grow on the walls, and especially on the 

 tiles of roofs." On one occasion, at Bolt Head, Devon, 

 Mr. G. C. Bignell found twenty larv£e feeding upon 

 lichen on the rocks ; these refused to eat anything else, 

 and were reared upon lichens. On another occasion he 

 found larva? at Torcross, Devon, feeding on Anthyllis 

 mdncraria. At Howth the late Mr. E. Birch all found the 

 larvae lying upon stones in the sunshine on a bank among 

 Lotus cornieulatns, and reared them upon the blossoms and 

 leaves of that plant ; another time he obtained them from 

 orange-coloured lichen on the rocks. 



Pupa rather stout and short, slightly thickest in the 

 middle, very blunt behind ; eye-cases prominent, blackish ; 

 otherwise shining dark chestnut brown. In a slight cocoon 

 on the ground. 



The moth hides itself during the day in thick masses of 

 herbage at the foot of the sea cliffs or in overhanging 

 plants in their crevices, and may occasionally be beaten 

 out, when it drops. At dusk it flies freely, and is fond 

 of blossoms of Galium vcmm and Scnccio jacdboia, and is 

 also readily attracted to " sugar." Later at night it flies 

 higher and more generally, and comes readily to a strong 

 light. In the morning dusk it takes a third flight. 

 Abroad it is said often to frequent cities, its larvae feeding 

 on lichens on the roofs of the larger public buildings ; but 

 here it is only known as confined to the coast, and almost to 



