NOTODONTID^. 165 



principal ribs, so that the bunch is not at all conspicuous. 

 When about to cast their skins, a common silken carpet is 

 constructed by them conjointly, and so little are they incon- 

 venienced by close proximity that Mr. Stainton has seen one 

 moulting while two others were lying across its back. When 

 nearly full fed the companies break up and each larva takes 

 its own course — and as this is, not uncommonly, across a 

 frequented path, the result is often disastrous. 



Pupa thickish in the middle, rounded in front, abdominal 

 segments tapering, deeply divided, the last with two con- 

 spicuous black points in a sunken scutcheon ; shining dark 

 purplish-red. Placed just beneath the surface of any soft 

 loose earth, often close to the roots of a tree, but not in any 

 cocoon. In this condition through the winter. 



A curious instance of vegetable parasitism upon this pupa has 

 been met with by Mr. E. W. Lifton, near Gloucester. The 

 pupa was at a depth of about two inches in the ground beneath 

 some moss, and from it were growing three upright spikes 

 of a fungus — Coi'diceps militaris — just visible above the moss. 



The moth flies tolerably swiftly at night but is rarely taken 

 on the wing, probably from keeping about the higher 

 branches of trees. In the daytime it sits about on the 

 ground or on a stone or very frequently upon grass under 

 trees, with wings folded closely down and almost rolled into a 

 cylinder. In this state its resemblance to a broken bit of 

 rotten wood is marvellous, both the yellow tufted thorax, and 

 the large yellow blotch on the hinder part of the wing, 

 looking exactly like the ends of a clean broken stick, or else 

 a patch of yellow lichen, while the general colour of the wings 

 singularly imitates smooth bark. 



Very abundant in the London district, and in many other 

 parts of the South of England, and, at rare intervals, increasing 

 in numbers to such a degree that the larvae strip the trees of 

 their leaves. Fairly common in some seasons all over 

 England an^ Whiles except the hill districts of the Midlands 



