236 LEPIDOPTERA. 



The moth sits .in the daytime, conspicuously, on the trunk 

 of a poplar or aspen, or occasionally on that of some neigh- 

 bouring tree, or on a paling ; but is more restless than its 

 allies, and will readily fly if the sunshine is hot. It flies at 

 dusk round the poplars, and is readily attracted to sugar, on 

 which it settles down, and is easily captured. It is an insect 

 of ordinary occurrence in all the outskirts of London, and 

 common throughout the Southern and Eastern counties, 

 though but local in Devon and Cornwall. In the Midlands, 

 it is common round Birmingham, and in other parts of 

 Warwickshire, Worcestershire, and Staffordshire, also moder- 

 ately so in Leicestershire, Herefordshire, Derbyshire, Cheshire, 

 and South Lancashire ; scarce in the north of that county, 

 and rather local in Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, and Cumberland. 

 Probably in all suitable parts of Wales, since it may be 

 found, occasionally, in Pembrokeshire. Local in Scotland, 

 but found in the southern districts, and in the eastern and 

 northern portions to Ross and Moray. Always scarce in 

 Ireland, and apparently not found in the north, but recorded 

 from Dublin, Wicklow, Westmeath, Galway, Monaghan, and 

 the coast of Down. Abroad it is generally common through- 

 out the continent of Europe except the extreme northern 

 portions, also in Siberia and in Asia Minor. 



4, A. alni, L. — Expanse \\ to 1| inch. Fore wings 

 light grey with a broad black cloud along the dorsal margin 

 and across the middle ; hind wings white. 



Antennae of the male simple, grey in front, black a,t the 

 back ; palpi deep black with the final joint grey ; head light 

 grey ; thorax whitish-grey, with the collar and shoulder 

 lappets rather raised, and the latter edged outwardly with a 

 deep black stripe which extends from the back of the eyes 

 over the base of the wings ; at the back of the thorax is a 

 crest of two small tufts, each tipped with black ; abdomen 

 greyish-white ; on the back of the basal segment is a broad 

 fan-like crest of divergent, nearly erect scales, often tipped 



