l6 LEPIDOPTERA. 



spiracles conspicuous, antenna-cases very distinct ; back 

 covered with minute bristles ; colour dull dark brown. In a 

 firm spindle-sliaped cocoon, which is enclosed in a looser outer 

 silken envelope; the inner cocoon being abundantly supplied 

 with a yellow powder produced from the intestine of the 

 larva, the use of which is not understood. The cocoon is 

 placed in a curved leaf or on the bark of a twig, branch, or 

 trunk, or on some neighbouring fence, wall, or other con- 

 venient place ; always in a chink or corner, and the less 

 conspicuous as it is not very unlike the egg-covering of a 

 large spider. 



The moth does not seem to fly at dusk, but late in the 

 evening the male not unfrequently enters at an open window, 

 attracted by a strong light, and, when in, goes at once to the 

 ceiling, where it performs the wildest vagaries of flight. It 

 is also a frequent visitor to the gas lamps in suburban roads, 

 but, except for this, is rarely seen on the wing. Most 

 irregular and uncertain in its appearances ; abundant in 

 some years, very scarce in others, and rather apt to continue 

 abundant or scarce for several consecutive seasons. No 

 explanation can reliably be given for this, and there is no 

 reason whatever to suppose that it remains in cocoon to 

 succeeding seasons. When abundant it is most destructive 

 to trees, fruit trees especially being defoliated. Formerly 

 the larvse were to be seen by thousands in the outskirts of 

 London, and the almond trees suffered greatly ; but, so far 

 as can be judged, there is a permanent change for the better 

 in this respect ; certainly no such abundance has recently 

 been observed. 



Usually plentiful throughout the South, Bast, and West 

 of England, with South Wales, and often in North Wales ; 

 but scarce or absent in the Midland Counties, and apparently 

 not observed north of Lancashire and Yorkshire, where it is 

 very local or rare. Also found abundantly in some parts of 

 the South and West of Ireland, but apparently very little 

 north of Dublin and Gal way. Abroad it is abundant and 



