58 



THE BRITISH NATURALIST. 



[March 



outside these stripes on each side of the first two abdominal segments 

 are two conspicuous black spots, one on each side, and there is a faint 

 indication of similar spots also on the other segments. As in the larva, 

 each tubercle emits a tuft of grey hairs " (" Entomologist," Vol. 

 XIV., p. 118). 



Time of Appearance — The larva may be found in April and May, 

 and the moths appear in June. In confinement the moths from the same 

 brood seem to appear almost simultaneously, and I have never taken 

 specimens at large later than the first week in July; the latter month is 

 that given in the " Manual." 



Habitat — This species is rarely tound in abundance in thick woods, 

 but it abounds in the clearings of woods in Kent, where the burdock 

 grows sometimes to an enormous size. I have also found it on plants 

 growing on the chalk hills at some little distance from the woods, but 

 plants quite on the borders of the woods are most productive. Captain 

 Robertson found the larvae in abundance in Hampshire, and I have taken 

 it at Maidenhead. I have no notion how far north it extends. Stainton 

 gives: — "Bristol, Cambridge, Kingsbury, Pembury and Tenterden " 

 (" Manual," II., p. 444). Mr. W. F. de V. Kane records this species 

 from " Wicklow ' J {in lit t.) ; Mr. Cambridge from " Wareham 

 (common)"; Mrs. Hutchinson, from "Leominster — larvae occurring in 

 May and sometimes into July, on burdock; " Mr. Porritt, from "Barn- 

 well Wold (abundant)," etc. Drs. Standinger and Wocke give 

 " Germany, Hungary, Southern Russia and Armenia " as its range. 



Aciptilia pentadactyla — This, supposed to be the most common of all 

 our British species of " plumes," is certainly the most beautiful. Its 

 sheeny whiteness, without a single dark spot or marking, is hardly to be 

 compared in any other species of the moths, whilst its larger size, throw- 

 ing up the feathered characters ol the group in the most striking 

 manner, attracts even the eye of the uninitiated, and compels admiration 

 by its quiet beauty. 



Synonymy — Pentadactyla, Linn., ' Sys. Nat.,' X., 542 ; ' Faun. Suec.,' 

 No. 1457 ; Tr., IX., 2, 249 ; Hb., 1 ; Haw., ' Lep. Brit.', 475 ; Stphs., 

 « 111.,' IV., 371 ; Dup., XL, 314, 8 ; Zell., ' Isis ' (1-841), 844, 862 ; 'Linn. 

 Entom.,' VI., 397 ; H.-S., V., p. 385; Frey, 419 ; Sta., ' Man.,' II., 444. 

 Aldus, Geoffroi, 2, 91. Tridactyla, Scop., 'Ent. Carn.,' No. 675. 



Imago — The fore-wings are divided into two lobes, the apices 

 pointed, rather falcate ; the colour pure sheeny white, without any 

 markings whatever. The hind wings, divided into three plumules, 

 also pure white. Stainton's diagnosis is: — " 1" 1 ' — 1"' 2"'. F.-w. 

 white, sometimes sparingly dusted with grey ; h.-w. entirely 

 white. VI — VII." (" Manual," II., p. 444). The original description of 

 this species is as follows : — " Alucita alis patentibus fissis quinquepartitis 

 niveis : digito quinto distincto " (" Systema Naturae," Xth., p. 542, No. 



