66 DORSET LEPIDOPTERA IN 1S92-3. 



in the middle of a shoot, the larva gradually burrows in the root 

 to the depth of nearly -^in., as it feeds on its substance. It spins 

 together the central leaves of the plant to conceal itself from view, 

 and changes to a pupa in its burrow, emerging towards the cud of 

 June. 



The most beautiful larva of these four species, which I have 

 fully described and differentiated from each other in my paper 

 above referred to, is that of Lita ocellatella, which is tinged with 

 brilliant crimson and feeds on Beta maritima, the wild form of 

 the beet root of our gardens. Many of these seaside plants have a 

 strong tendency to assume the red tinge which has been so 

 developed by selection in the garden beet, and it is not impossible 

 that this may account in some measure for the bright hues of this 

 caterjnllar, which either mines in its very thick massive leaves, or 

 spins up amongst its flower shoots. Still there are other larvee 

 which have equally brilliant tints, which do not proceed from this 

 cause. The ordinary form of the moth is cream-coloured with 

 darker markings, but a bright pink variety was figured in Vol. xii. of 

 our Proceedings, a colour which I have not noticed in the perfect 

 state of allied species. 



Mr. Bankes having taken the other species under his wing, I 

 leave them for the present. 



As I have said, I have been able to do but little collecting this 

 year, but we have been successful, after a protracted search of six 

 years, in finding and breeding the larva of Epischnia Banl'esiella, 

 of which we discovered the moth in 1887 at Portland ; and of 

 which, in spite of hard and continuous work in pursuit of it, we 

 had, up to 1892, only taken six specimens. It has not yet been 

 found in any other part of the world except this small locality at 

 Portland. There seemed to be no clue to the food plant, as the 

 moths were taken on flowers at night, except the first two, which 

 were flying at dusk, and the only thing was to examine the plants 

 generally — no light matter, as Portland has a varied flora. To Mrs. 

 Richardson belongs the credit of finding the right plant, of which 

 we had suspicions in 1892, which were confirmed this year by the 



