DESCRIPTIVE NOTICES Otf CONSPICUOUS SPECIES 243 



appears to favour chalky soils ; it does not seem to 

 occur in the north of England, or in Scotland, and has 

 not been hitherto observed in Ireland. 



The expansion of the wings is about 1 J inch. The 

 fore-wings are pale yellowish, with two darker spots 

 towards the costa near the middle of the wing, and with 

 two slender, rather serrated, pale grey bands towards 

 the hind margin ; the hind-wings are whitish-yellow, 

 with a dark grey band towards the hind margin, and a 

 rather paler central band. 



The larva, which does not appear to have been hitherto 

 described, is stated to feed on broom in June. 



The perfect insect appears in July and August, and 

 may be started from its repose during the daytime, or 

 met with flying of its own accord towards dusk. 



FAMILY XII. CHOREUTID^E. 

 SIMAETHIS FABRICIANA. THE NETTLE TAP. 



This fussy little insect is generally distributed 

 throughout the country, and very abundant. 



The expansion of the wings is about J inch. The 

 fore- wings are dark brown, with a wavy blackish band 

 before the middle, and another beyond the middle, 

 edged externally with pale yellow ; the hind-wings are 

 dull brown, with a slender whitish streak towards the 

 anal angle. 



The larva is pale yellowish-white, with the head and 

 second segment pale greyish-brown ; the spots are also 

 pale greyish-brown ; it feeds on stinging-nettle and 

 pellitory (Par let aria), drawing together the growing- 

 shoots at the top of the plant, and may be found almost 

 continuously from April to August. 



