TRIFIDAL. 30 ? 



with a minute short hair. When younger the dorsal region 

 is of a darker brown ; but when quite full fed, the markings 

 become less distinct, and the larva nearly unicolorous. 

 (W. Buckler.) 



September until — probably — May, certainly till March, 

 but many appear to be full fed in December and January. 

 On lettuce, dandelion, knot-grass, and probably on many 

 other low-growing plants, more particularly those growing 

 in damp meadows. 



Pupa undescribed. Dr R. C. R. Jordan once dug up a 

 pupa in Devonshire, in April, from which he reared the 

 moth on May 1st. From this circumstance he deduced 

 double-broodedness in the species. In view of the great 

 rarity of such early appearances, it appears more probable 

 that they are produced by more advanced larva3, which have 

 fed up, as noticed by Mr. Buckler, early in the winter. 



The moth hides, like its congeners, on the ground among 

 thick herbage or dead leaves, and among rubbish, in the 

 daytime. At night it is very active, strongly attracted by 

 light, and often to be seen flying wildly round a gas-lamp. 

 It has even been known to fly to a light through the open 

 window, in the room in which I am writing. The female also 

 comes to light occasionally. Sugar is attractive to it, also 

 honey-dew and blossoms of the lime-tree. 



Formerly abundant in some seasons in the suburbs of 

 London, and not yet utterly driven out by the smoke. 

 More especially common in rather low, damp districts, 

 meadows, and slightly marshy places, all over the South 

 of England from Kent to Cornwall, including the Scilly 

 Isles ; and to Berkshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, and 

 the Cambridge Fen district ; less common in Norfolk and 

 Suffolk ; found also in Herefordshire ; and recorded, though 

 very rarely, in Cheshire, Yorkshire, and Cumberland ; but 

 apparently absent from the Midland district, and, so far as I 

 can ascertain, very local in Wales, where it bas been found 



VOL. III. U 



