CATALOGUE OP MOTHS. 185 



This beautiful insect is decidedly rare here, Mr. Finlay being 

 the only collector who took it at all regularly. He got a few 

 every year, and was occasionally successful in obtaining eggs 

 from which he reared some grand specimens. The only other 

 records are that the late Edw. Pearson took it at the Dovecote 

 near Wallington ; Mr. Backhouse took one many years ago at 

 Darlington, and Mr. Maddison got one much more recently, in 

 his garden at Durham, and still more recently Mr. Lofthouse 

 took one in Mr. Pinlay's locality near Morpeth. 



171. P. Festucae, (Linn.). Gold Spot. 



Plusia Festucc^. Staint. Man., vol. i., p. 307. 



,, ,, E'ewm. Brit. Moths, p. 453. 



,, ,, Barr. Lep. Brit. Is., vol. vi., p. 112. 



„ ,, Meyr. Hdbk. Brit. Lep., p. 157. 



Larva. Buck., vol. i., pi. cii., fig. 5. 



A scarce insect with us, possibly because it has not been 

 looked for in the right places. The larva feeds on various marsh 

 plants, and the imago will be found where Sparganiu7n and 

 Carices abound. The only record I have from what may be 

 called a natural habitat, is that Mr. Sang met with the insect 

 at Hell Kettles near Darlington, in July, 1880. The species is 

 given in the Twizell list, and Mr. Finlay, found it in Meldon 

 Park in July and August, " not at all plentiful." About Hartle- 

 pool I have taken three — one in Crimdon Cut in 1864, another 

 on the railway side on 17th July, 1883, and the last in July, 

 1887. This was flying in the evening sun to Campion flowers, 

 and mistaking it for L, conigera, I watched it from tuft to tuft 

 till I thought its flight peculiar and netted it. 



172. P. pulclirina, Haw. Beautiful Goldeit Y. 



Plusia pulchrina. Staint. Man., vol. i., p. 307. 



,, ,, N"ewm. Brit. Moths, p. 454. 



,, „ Barr. Lep. Brit. Is., vol. vi., p. 



,, ,, Meyr. Hdbk. Brit. Lep., p. 158, 



Laeya. Buck., vol. vi., pi. cii., fig. 7. 



