DESCRIPTIVE NOTICES OF CONSPICUOUS SPECIES 245 



large and shining greenish-black ; it feeds in the 

 spring in the moss growing on walls, thatch, trunks of 

 trees, etc. 



The perfect insect appears in June, July, and August, 

 and may often be observed sitting on the trunks of trees 

 or on palings ; in repose it forms an elongate triangle, 

 the fore-wings overlapping one another and maintaining 

 a flat position. 



There are many species of this genus, all very similar 

 in markings ; in some the X-like mark passes more into 

 the form of a figure 8. 



FAMILY XV. 

 ACROBASIS CONSOCIELLA. 



(Plate XIII., Fig. 1.) 



This species is not at all uncommon in the south of 

 England, and occurs northwards as far as Birkenhead 

 in Cheshire ; it has not been observed in Scotland or in 

 Ireland. 



The expansion of the wings is about f inch. The 

 fore-wings are of a delicate reddish-grey, with a whitish 

 band near the base, followed by a black transverse line ; 

 immediately beyond this is a wedge-shaped dull orange 

 spot, broadest on the inner margin ; nearly in the centre 

 of the wing, placed in an oblique paler cloud, are two 

 small black spots, one above the other ; beyond them is 

 a sinuous, dark, transverse line, followed by a whitish 

 line, and then a slender dark grey band. 



The larva is sulphur-yellow, with slender brownish 

 stripes ; the heads and second segment are pale brownish- 

 yellow, spotted with darker brown ; it feeds in May and 

 June on the leaves of the oak, preferring bushes growing 



