TRIFID^. 257 



surface of the ground. In this condition through the winter, 

 Mr. Fenn states that the cocoon is sometimes made among 

 heather, and in such a case is ornamented on the outside 

 with blossoms and fragments of heather. 



The moth may be found in the daytime sitting on railings, 

 if accessible, or on stones, or the bare ground in the mosses 

 and on the moors. It flies at dusk, and is readily attracted 

 by sugar ; but is more frequently taken in the larva than in 

 the imago state. Widely distributed in Yorkshire, Lan- 

 cashire, and the north of Cheshire and Staffordshire, on 

 mosses and heaths, and sometimes commons ; also found in 

 Cumberland, and probably in suitable places throughout the 

 North of England. The only instance which I know of its 

 occurrence farther south in England is the capture of two 

 larvae, one at Hickling, the other at Barton Turf, both in the 

 Norfolk fens, by Dr. F. D. Wheeler, twenty years ago. One 

 of these was reared, and so fully authenticated. There are 

 instances of the capture of the species in North Wales (by 

 Dr. Chapman and Mr. R. Newstead), but its favoured home 

 is Scotland, where it is common on heaths and in moorland 

 districts in Perthshire and throughout the West and North, 

 in smaller numbers in the East and middle districts, and 

 extends to Sutherlandshire, Moray, and Ross-shire ; on the 

 mountains ascending to upwards of 1000 feet. Much less 

 common and more local in Ireland, though Mr. Kane has 

 found larvas in plenty in Galway, and it is recorded from 

 Westmeath, Sligo, and Donegal. Abroad its range seems to 

 be somewhat restricted, but it is found in most parts of 

 Northern and Central Europe. 



9. A. auricoma, Sdiiff. — Expanse 1^ inch. Fore wings 

 pale grey, marbled with darker, lines cloudy black ; orbicular 

 stigma distinct, reniform stigma elongated ; an obscure dagger 

 at the anal angle ; hind wings pale grey. 



Antennse of the male simple, dark brown ; palpi dark 



VOL. ill. R 



