CATALOGUE OF MOTHS. 53 



The larva of this species has a peculiar habit of hybcrnating 

 in any stage of growth, or of ceasing to feed for a while and 

 then going on again. After emerging from the egg it hyber- 

 nates, and in spring begins again to feed. Then it is quite 

 uncertain what will follow. In some years very few attain 

 maturity, and the next year they may appear in extraordinary 

 numbers. I speak of my own neighbourhood only, and was 

 long puzzled with the abundance of the yellow cocoons, after a 

 season when the insect had scarcely put in an appearance at all. 



The yellow form (Ceronus, Eobson), which Mr. Wailes men- 

 tions, has several times occurred at Hartlepool. We have also 

 reared specimens in which the brilliant scarlet of the spots and 

 of the hind-wing is changed to a dull reddish-pink. The 

 variety in which one of the spots is divided into two, by the 

 nervure which passes through it being coloured dark instead of 

 scarlet, is of ordinary occurrence. Specimens with any of the 

 spots confluent are very rare, but a curious and interesting form 

 sometimes occurs in which the upper spot of the central pair is 

 reduced to a mere dot. 



This species concludes the group of Sphingidae, and with it I 

 arrive at the termination of the list published by Mr. Wailes in 

 1857. I very much regret that, after every possible enquiry, I 

 have failed in obtaining any trace of papers left by that gentle- 

 man. The fact that after forty years I have only been able to 

 add a single species ( C. Nerii) to his list, and that only an acci- 

 dental visitor, is sufficient evidence of the value of his labours, 

 and makes it the more to be regretted that the information 

 he must have collected concerning other groups is lost to us. 

 Frocris Geryon of course is added, but the insect and its locali- 

 ties were known to him, but it had not then been separated 

 from Statices. There is really no other species in this group 

 likely to occur unless Sesia philanthiformis^ which feeds in the 

 root stock of Statice armeria (Thrift), should possibly turn up 

 on the rocks of the East coast, except of course a casual visitor. 



