54 LEPIDOPTERA. 



In pupa through the winter, sometimes remaining so over 

 a second winter, or even longer. 



The male moth Hies in the morning sunshine, and till 

 about midday. At other times it and also the female sit 

 upon the birch twigs or on heather, sometimes among the 

 latter rather low down. Mr. W. Holland's remarks, from 

 personal observation, are well worth quoting: "They are 

 stupid, sleepy things, till the sun gets well up. Until about 

 10 o'clock or 10.30 a.m., I find the males hanging on the 

 birch twigs just as the females do, in a loose-looking way as 

 though trying to make themselves as much like dead leaves 

 as possible. If this is their object they certainly succeed. 

 They only appear, however, to hang loosely, for their legs are 

 clasped quite round the birch twigs with a firm hold, but 

 they allow me to pull them olf like dead things. After 10 

 o'clock they begin to fly, and are then very active, flying 

 swiftly in the sunshine, rather high, but in an undulating 

 manner which now and then brings them within reach of the 

 net ; if missed they dodge or hasten their pace. I never 

 netted one after noon, but found them at rest again on the 

 twigs as before, or occasionally on the heather. I have not 

 yet seen a female on the wing." 



Mr. W. H. Tugwell, writing a good many years ago, said : 

 " There is a peculiarity in the flight of this species which I 

 have not noticed in any other, at least to the same extent. If 

 struck at and alarmed they rise up in the air at a most 

 furiously rapid pace, nearly perpendicularly, and continue 

 their ascent till beyond the power of vision ; the first and 

 second time that I saw this I certainly was astonished." As 

 I have no personal acquaintance with this species in its wild 

 state, I quote the observations of those more fortunate in this 

 respect, with peculiar pleasure. In an admirable paper upon 

 this species in a very early volume of the Entomologist, by 

 Mr. G. Gascoyne, of Newark, which is far too long for repro- 

 duction here, details with regard to the larva are given, which 



