ARCTIID^. 273 



July to May, hybernating when partially grown, coming 

 out to feed in the middle of March and thence feeding up 

 rapidly. On dock, teazle, chickweed, groundsel, millfoil, 

 nettle, lettuce, strawberry, and low plants generally, and has 

 no objection to feeding upon young shoots of the common 

 furze ( TJlex Europceus). 



Pupa blackish, in a slight silken cocoon '.,mong weeds and 

 rubbish. 



This handsome moth loves to sit on hedge banks, rough 

 hill-sides and cliffs, starting up, if disturbed, and flying freely 

 in the sunshine. Its time of natural flight is, however, at 

 night, and it is readily attracted by a strong light. Most 

 common on the south coast of England, but not scarce through- 

 out the southern counties from Kent to Cornwall and 

 Gloucestershire. Formerly not at all scarce in the outskirts 

 of London, as at Dulwich, where larvee were regularly found 

 thirty years ago, and at Kensal Green. Scarce, though 

 widely distributed, in Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire ; 

 but hardly observed further north nor in the Midland coun- 

 ties. There is a record of its capture at Bowdon and 

 Delamere in Cheshire, but the circumstances, if correct, were 

 very exceptional. I know of no instance of its occurrence in 

 Scotland or Ireland, though it was at one time reported to 

 exist in the latter country. Abroad it is common all over 

 Europe except the extreme north ; also in Armenia and 

 Asia Minor. In some parts of Southern Europe the colour 

 of the spots of its fore wings is wholly yellow, and in some 

 cases they coalesce into yellow stripes. A dull yellow 

 variety obtained at Syracuse has received the name of 

 Konewkai. 



Genus 8. PHRAGMATOBIA. 



Antennge of the male with scarcely visible pectinations, 

 consisting of minute tufts of fine hairs ; fore wings rather 

 narrow, hardly broader towards the hind margin ; hind wings 



VOL. II. s 



