Insects. 7001 



however, I know they were exceedingly long and thin, of an ochreous- 

 gray ground-colour, and streaked and clouded with a little dusky black 

 at the segmental divisions and along the sides. 



O. Bradyepetes amataria. A brood, hatched on the 7th of July, 

 fed away so rapidly for about a fortnight on dock, that I hoped to see 

 the moths appear in August ; however, upon attaining about two-fifths 

 of their full-size they suddenly ceased eating, and are now hybernating 

 in most obstinate abstinence. I took the perfect insect again out- 

 doors on the llth of August. 



O. Corycia lemerata. I mention this species only to notice the 

 neat way in which the female laid her eggs along the ribs on the 

 under side of the sloe-leaf, which I gave her, instead of scattering them 

 all over it, as many moths would do. 



O. Lareniia olivata. As some of the summer species indulge some- 

 times in an autumn brood, so I am half-inclined to suspect does L. 

 olivata appear before its usual time in August ; at all events I took it 

 in good condition this summer at the end of May or beginning of June ; 

 but perhaps this has been, on account of the great heat, an exceptional 

 season. Larvae, hatched on the 30th of August, are now hybernating 

 small on Galium Mollugo. As far as I can see at present they much 

 resemble the next species, both in habits and appearance, having been 

 red when first hatched, and since become very much wrinkled and 

 dingy-coloured. 



O. L. pectinitaria. That this larva is not so well known as the 

 abundance of the perfect insect would lead one to expect need not 

 be wondered at : it is such a sluggish creature, and so fond of hiding 

 at the roots of its food, that I should think scarcely any one who has 

 not taken the trouble to breed it can have seen it : some I had given 

 me by a friend, who has helped me in the following description, would 

 remain motionless, as if dead, for hours ; in fact, I never once saw 

 them move, though 1 watched them often. When first hatched they 

 are bright red, but soon become dingy ; when full-grown they are 

 short, stout and wrinkled, with small black tubercles emitting bristles ; 

 ground-colour a dingy olive-brown, with a dark interrupted dorsal line, 

 from the fifth to the tenth segment a row of reddish V-like marks, 

 having the angle towards the head, and the side lines reaching almost 

 to the spiracles ; from the tenth segment to the tail is a broad stone- 

 coloured stripe ; subdorsal line light and wavy ; belly fawn-colour, 

 with dark patches above the feet. Will eat Galium mollugo, and has 

 also been reared on G. saxatile. 



XVIII. 2 E 



