THE LABViE 



OF THE 



BRITISH MOTHS. 



Eremobia ochroleuoa. 

 Plate LXXXVII, fig. 1. 



On the 22nd June, 1870, in striking at a specimen 

 of Lycdena alsus in an old chalk-pit, I took in my net 

 by chance a very delicate-looking, active, Noctua larva, 

 which was quite a stranger to me. Believing I had 

 obtained it from Anthyllis vulneraria, I put some of 

 this plant with the larva into a box ; but, on looking 

 at it late in the evening, I saw it had not eaten any of 

 the vetch, and seemed eager to escape. 



As I could remember nothing but grass besides the 

 Anthyllis growing in the spot where it was taken, I 

 w^nt out in the twilight and gathered a little of the 

 first species of grass that came to hand, without 

 noticing what it was. 



Next morning I was very pleased to see that the 

 larva had partaken freely of the grass ; and having by 

 me at this time, potted, a growing tuft ofNardus striata 

 — a species I had noted on the dry grassy slopes 

 where I had been the day before, I too hastily 

 assumed this to be the proper food of my captive, and 

 placed it thereon, securing it with a glass cylinder. 

 As my attention at this time was fully taken up by 



VOL. vi. 1 



