DESCKIPTIVE NOTICES OF CONSPICUOUS SPECIES 281 



when we may often find it at ivy-blossoms, or see it at 

 rest on palings; it lives through the winter, and is 

 again met with in early spring ; its resemblance when 

 at rest on a paling to the letter T has been already 

 noticed (p. 41). 



ALUCITINA. 



ALUCITA POLTDACTYLA. THE TWENTY- 

 PLUME MOTH. 



(Plate XVI., Fig. 7.) 



This curious little insect is generally distributed and 

 common throughout the country. 



The expansion of the wings is rather more than \ 

 inch. The fore-wings are yellowish-grey, with two dark 

 grey bands obscurely edged with whitish, and the outer 

 fascia terminates on the costal feather in a single spot ; 

 the costal feather has besides three other dark spots, 

 two before the first band and one between the two 

 bands. 



The larva feeds in the unexpanded buds of the honey- 

 suckle in June and July. 



The perfect insect appears in August and September, 

 and hibernating, is again met with in spring ; it is often 

 found in houses and outhouses, and may be seen flying 

 of its own accord towards dusk. 



