Il6 THE MOTHS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



insect is still found by those who know where to look for it 

 on the sea cliffs of its island home, but so far as appears to be 

 known at present, it does not occur in any other part of 

 Britain. For this reason, it does not seem desirable to 

 indicate the exact locality more definitely ; but it may be 

 added that the moth flies in July. 



Silky Wave (Acidalia {Pfychopoda) holosericatci). 



Somewhat similar to A. i7iterjecta7'ia^ but tinged with pale 

 brown, and even more glossy ; the front edge of the fore wings 

 is of the general coloration, and the only markings on the wings 

 are darker cross lines, the third on the fore wings, and the 

 second on the hind wings, being the most distinct. (Plate 45, 



Fig. I3-) 

 The rough and rather stumpy caterpillar tapers towards the 



small notched head ; general colour dusky reddish-brown, a 

 pale line along the middle of the back, finely edged with black. 

 It feeds from August to May on rock rose {Heliantheviiwi)^ 

 eating the withered and even mouldy leaves. Will eat knot- 

 grass, and, no doubt, dandelion also. 



Here, again, we have an ancient name brought forward to 

 supplant that which the species has borne for years, and by 

 which it is well known to entomologists. As I am not quite 

 certain that Hiibner's (Fig. 100) dilataria does represent this 

 species, Duponchel's name is here retained. 



As a British insect, it has only been known since 1851, when 

 the capture of a specimen in the neighbourhood of Bristol was 

 recorded in The Zoologist. Subsequently it transpired that the 

 scene of capture was Durdham Down, Gloucestershire, and 

 here it has been found annually, and in some plenty, among the 

 bushes and low vegetation covering the ground in that rugged 

 locality. Specimens have also been noted from Berkshire 

 (Newbury), Bucks (Chalfont St. Peter), Dorset (Halstock), 



