CATALOGUE OF MOTHS. 55 



in which it was confined, then through the lid of a piano on 

 which the box had been placed. I have little doubt that the 

 species is widely distributed in the district, though I have no 

 further records, except that Mr. Sang found a larva at Great- 

 ham. As the larva feeds internally it is rarely seen, and the 

 imago is very retiring. It has, however, one peculiar habit, 

 no satisfactory explanation of which has yet been suggested. 

 Though the insect is tongueless it comes to sugar, and may be 

 occasionally taken flying about sugared trees, or sitting on the 

 patch of sweets. Those who sugar where there are plenty of 

 old trees should be on the look out for the Goat Moth in June 

 and July. 



HEPIALUS, Eab. 



2. Hepialus Heclus, Och. Goldei^ Swift. 



Hepialus Hectus. Staint. Man., vol. i., p. 110. 



,, ,, ^N'ewm. Erit. Moths, p. 19. 



,, ,, Barr. Jjcp. Erit. Is., vol. ii., p. 152. 



„ „ Meyr. Hdbk. Erit. Lep., p. 799. 



Laeva. Buck., vol. ii., pi. xxx., fig. 1. 



This pretty little Moth is probably common in most of the 

 wooded parts of our district. It is often very local and its flight 

 is of short duration, while the larvae, feeding under-ground, 

 help to conceal it from general observation. It is in the Twizell 

 list, and has been found in South Northumberland, at Jesmond 

 by Mr. Henderson, and Kenton by Miss Eossie. In Durham Mr. 

 Maling took it in Chopwell Wood, and Mr. Hedworth found it 

 at Thornley, on the Derwent, flying at sunset among ferns. The 

 late W. Eackhouse found it at Hoffall Wood. Mr. Eoss recorded 

 it as very local around Eishop Auckland. Dr. F. A. Lees re- 

 ported it as being very abundant in Upper Teesdale. About 

 Hartlepool we find it common in all the woods and denes. The 

 male flies about sunset for a short time, generally selecting some 

 sheltered nook among the undergrowth. It flies gently back- 

 wards and forwards, diffusing a faint odour resembling over-ripe 

 pine apples, by which it attracts the opposite sex. In the 



