312 LEPIDOPTERA. 



present species ; the larvae of Trij^luvna orbona, and T. pi-onuha 

 found with them did not appear to gnaw the linen. The 

 mischief was accordingly quite prevented by the very simple 

 means of placing all the linen brought in from the grass at 

 once in the dip, or shaking it so thoroughly that all the larvae 

 were dislodged. I have heard no further complaints of 

 the damage of linen from the cause in question. It may be 

 well to point out that it was only caused by the anxiety of 

 the hungry larvas, when night came on, to escape from con- 

 finement, and reach their natural food — not by any morbid 

 taste for the fabric. 



A curious point in the natural history of the larva was 

 incidentally discovered in the course of these experiments — 

 that submersion for the whole night, or for double that time, 

 in the weak solution of chloride of lime had no injurious 

 effect upon them ; although they had not done any mischief, 

 they were all alive. 



Pupa of quite ordinary form, reddish-brown ; in the earth 

 in a small ovate chamber. 



Probably the most abundant of all our Noducc in fields 

 and woods, and even suburban gardens. It comes in crowds 

 to sugar, sometimes covering the sweet attraction to the 

 exclusion of better species ; it is also abundant at flowers, 

 and especially fond of those of the red valerian (Ccntmntlms 

 ruber). .Honey-dew, lime blossoms, the flowing sap of 

 wounded trees, the sweet aphis-secretions on nettles, all 

 available sweets, are greedily absorbed. The male is also 

 keenly sensitive to the influence of light, and in dark nights 

 in June may be seen wildly whirling round every gas-lamp, 

 or sitting upon, or in it, or buzzing about the ceiling of a 

 room into which it has made its way through an open 

 window. 



Probably everywhere in England, Wales, and Ireland, one 

 might almost say in every field, and in Scotland throughout 

 the mainland to Moray in the east and Argyle in the west. 



