40 BEITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS 



(Sedum acre) and G-. Fischeriella hovering over and 

 settling on the flowers of Umbelliferao ; whilst the 

 larger G. Thrasonella we are sure to see amongst rushes 

 flying from tuft to tuft, and then pausing awhile to fan 

 itself, as though the heat of the summer's day were 

 almost insupportable. Merry little day-fliers are the 

 brilliant and shining species of Antispila and Tinagma. 

 In the genus Gracilaria we may often see that garden 

 pest Syringella flying freely in the daytime, and some 

 of the genus Or nix are sure to be seen active on the 

 wing as we walk along a hedge in early summer. 

 Though most of the genus Coleophora are quietly at 

 rest during the day, some of the tree-feeding species 

 may be observed flying on the sheltered side of trees 

 during the daytime ; and in the genus Elachista many 

 of the more brightly marked species may be noticed 

 sporting in the afternoon sunshine, whilst those of 

 more sober colours are freely on the wing before 

 sunset. Few can have been so unobservant as not 

 to have noticed as they walk along a grassy lane in 

 the evening at the beginning of May, little white 

 moths threading their way amongst the grass close 

 to the hedgebank, pausing on a grass blade for a 

 moment, and then going forward again ; these are the 

 males of Elachista rufo-cinerea flying in search of their 

 partners. Early in the morning in May and August, 

 many of the species of Lithocolleti* and Nepticula may 

 be noticed flying in the sunshine along hedges and near 

 trees. 



Very many species, however, of the Tine inn, repose 

 during the day, sitting on trunks of trees, palings, in 

 grass, or among bushes, and only come forward to 

 gambol of their own accord in the dusk of evening. 



