154 CATALOGUE OJ" MOXSs. 



Only a chance visitor to our counties. Mr. Finlay took one 

 in Meldon Park ; Mr. Henderson took another at Jesmond. In 

 1875 I took one at Hartlepool and Mr. Gardner took several. 

 Probably the Northumberland specimens occurred in 1875 also. 

 I have never heard of the species since. 



HYDR^CIA, Gn. 



108. Hydraeci nictitans, Bkh. Eae Moth. 

 Sydrcecia nictitans. Staint. Man., vol. i., p. 197. 



,, „ Newm. Brit. Moths, p. 280. 



,, ,, Barr. Lep. Brit. Is., vol. v., p. 62. 



Hadena ,, Meyr. Hdbk. Brit. Lep., p. 135. 



Larva. Buck., vol. iv., pi. Ixii., fig. 2. 



A well-distributed species, occurring freely in many places, 

 perhaps more abundantly on the higher land and near the moors. 

 It is very partial to Bag wort, and sits also on the flowers of 

 Thistle, Scabious, Tansy, etc., etc., and may often be found long 

 before nightfall imbibing their sweets. My opportunities for 

 observation have not been very numerous, but I am inclined to 

 think that this day-flying tendency is confined to the higher 

 land. I have seen it as early as 3 p.m. near Cotherston and at 

 High Porce, but I never saw it before dark around Hartlepool. 

 There is a named variety, Erithrostigma, in which the ear-shaped 

 mark is white instead of orange. This appears to occur every- 

 where with the type. Another much slighter variety, which 

 Mr. Tutt has elevated to specific rank, also occurs here with the 

 normal form. 



109. H. micacea, Esp. Bosy Btjstic. 

 Hydrcecia micacea. Staint. Man., vol. i., p. 198. 



„ ,, ITewm. Brit. Moths, p. 282. 



,, „ Barr. Lep. Brit. Is., vol. v., p. 56. 



Caradrina ,, Meyr. Hdbk. Brit. Lep., p. 119. 



Laeva. Buck., vol. iv., pi. Ixii., fig. 4. 



A tolerably common species, occurring in most parts of both 

 counties. The larvae feed on the roots of Dock and other low 



