86 



The Naturalist. 



the IsLYYa, of olivalis ov prmalis from bramble, but I am not certain, 

 especially as the former is said to occur on ground ivy and other low 

 plants ; smd prunalis on sloe as well as low plants. Alpinalis is a 

 more local species, occurring on the Scotch mountains, especially in 

 Perthshire ; some of my own specimens were sent by Mr. J. J. King, 

 of Glasgow. It flies in July, and its caterpillar is said to be found 

 on ragwort in June. Ferrugalis is a common southern species, and is 

 one of the latest of its order in its time of appearance, being on the 

 wing from August to October ; its caterpillar is unknown. Decrepitalis 

 is found only in the north, Perthshire probably yielding most speci- 

 mens, though I fancy I have heard or read of its occurring in the 

 English Lake District. Its early history is also quite unknown. 



The next genus has only one species, Lemiodes pulveralis. It was 

 discovg'red at Folkestone several years ago, and although a fair 

 number of specimens are taken every year by Mr. Wm. Purday and 

 others (my own were taken by the collector above named), it has not 

 yet been detected in any other spot. The larva feeds on Mentha 

 aquatica ; the moth flies in August. 



Of the single species in the next genus, Mecyna polygomlis^ I know 

 nothing beyond that its larva is reported to feed on flowers of Ulex 

 nanus J on heaths ; and the only imago I know of is one taken by the 

 Kev. A. H. Wratislaw, on a railway bank, near the town of Bury St. 

 Edmund's, in September, 1868. 



Stenopteryx Jiybridalis^ the only representative in the next genus, 

 is a well known species nearly everywhere, though I have never seen 

 it in this neighbourhood. I fancy, however, I have heard Mr. Varley 

 say he has taken it here occasionally. I have been considerably 

 teased with it on the Southport sandhills, as when it gets up on the 

 wing it looks a much larger moth than it really is, and is consequently 

 very deceptive. It flies in a peculiar manner, and is a difficult thing 

 to get hold of, as (to quote Mr. Stanton's words) " after a careful 

 search at the very spot it appeared to settle, just as the collector 

 despairs of meeting with it, it suddenly starts up from under his very 

 nose, to settle a few yards further on." It is on the wing from May 

 until August or September, but although so very plentiful I believe 

 its early history is unknown. 



We now come to the last family in the Py rales — the EudoreidcBj 

 containing only one genus, Eudorea, but that the most extensive in 

 the whole dtder, as it contains no less than twenty species. Every 

 lepidopterist is perfectly familiar with the insects in this group, as 

 one species or another is almost sure to be met with in nearly every 



