322 LEPIDOPTERA. 



larvEe hvbernate in a thin silken web in a fork of a branch of 

 their food-plant, three or four commonly occupying the same 

 nest, which they protect with a few dead leaves drawn closely 

 around them. In the spring they feed openly and conspicu- 

 ously, but are extremely difficult to rear in confinement, 

 unless placed upon a growing plant, and allowed plenty of air 

 and sunshine. 



Pupa shining black, densely covered with tufts of brown 

 hairs ; in a tough soft silken cocoon, in which the larval hairs 

 are interwoven, among rubbish and leaves close to the 

 ground. 



A sluggish species, sitting on its food-plant in the day- 

 time, with extended legs, and looking like an entangled downy 

 dark grey feather. It flies at night, but is seldom captured 

 on the wing. In England usually found near the coast, but 

 occasionally also on heaths. Very rare in the South, though 

 the larva has been taken on heaths in Dorset ; also at Crow- 

 thorn, Berks ; and there is a single record in Sussex. In the 

 Eastern Counties larvse have been found, in Suffolk and 

 Cambridgeshire upon broom, in Norfolk on hawthorn on 

 sheltered banks, and at Skegness, Lincolnshire. Also at 

 Llandudno, North Wales ; much more commonly on the coast 

 of Cheshire, Lancashire, and Cumberland, aud more locally in 

 Yorkshire. In Scotland it is much more generally dis- 

 tributed, being found in Koxbui'ghshire, Clydesdale, near 

 Loch Long, Aberdeenshire, Kincardineshire, Perthshire, and 

 abundantly in Sutherlandshire, especially on heaths and 

 moors. In Ireland it is recorded in King's County, and 

 from the Bog of Allen. Abroad it is found throughout 

 Northern and Central Europe, in Piedmont, and in Western 

 Siberia. 



Genus 7. DEMAS. 



Antennae of the male of moderate length, rather shortly 

 pectinated ; of the female simple ; fore wings elongated, ovate ; 



