TRIFID.^. 277 



Mr. E. Newman noticed that larvee which he reared, cut 

 a number of blades of grasses upon which they happened to 

 liave been feeding, into short lengths of an inch or an inch 

 and a quarter, and then spinning a cocoon, generally between 

 two principal stems of the grass or reed, thatched it with the 

 small cut-off pieces, leaving no part of the silk visible. 

 In the pupa state through the winter. 



This moth differs altogether in appearance from those 

 of the preceding genus. Its colour and markings, like 

 those of so very many other fen-frequenting species, being 

 accurately suited to its habit of hiding in the daytime among 

 the dead leaves of reed, sedge, and marsh grasses. Yet its 

 larva and pupa so closely agree with those of one section of 

 that genus that Dr. Chapman includes it with them, as already 

 stated, in the section Viminia. It flies at dusk, and at night, 

 and may occasionally be taken flying, or at a strong light, 

 but does not appear very susceptible to the attractions of 

 sugar. Sometimes it may be found at night sitting upon the 

 upper parts of the reeds. Strictly a fen-frequenting insect, 

 widely distributed in those of Norfolk, and tolerably common 

 in Wicken Fen, Cambridgeshire. Formerly in all the Cam- 

 bridgeshire fens, and doubtless at one time throughout that 

 extensive region in which Hereward so long kept the Norman 

 Conqueror at bay. Abundant at Whittlesea Mere, when that 

 grand preserve of the fen insects still existed. Also recorded 

 from St. Ives, Hunts ; Wisbech ; and in some small remains of 

 fens in Suffolk. This appears to be the extent of its present 

 range in these islands. Abroad it is found in similar situations, 

 in Holland, Germany, Northern and Eastern France, Hungary, 

 Bulgaria, Central and Southern Russia, and in North America. 



Genus 4. AGROTIS. 



AntennaB either pectinated in part, notched, or naked ; eyes 

 naked, lashes prostrate ; thorax crested, though in some cases 

 but faintly so ; abdomen smooth, usually rather flattened ; fore 



