PYRAUSTID^—PYRAUSTA. 165 



of spots — one triangular on the costs, below it one larger and 

 rather rounded, and a long crescent extends thence to the 

 dorsal margin ; — beyond this stripe is sometimes a faint yellow 

 subterminal line ; cilia purple tipped with white. Hind 

 wings elongated, rounded behind ; dull brown or black-brown, 

 with a large yellow central spot rather near to the costal 

 margin ; immediately outside it is a broad transverse band or 

 stripe of the same colour; usually this is followed by a purple 

 shade toward the hind margin ; cilia yellowish-white, shaded 

 or intersected with black. Female similar. 



Underside of the fore wings smoky-black bordered with 

 purple toward the costa, apex, and hind margin ; dorsal 

 margin and a cloudy extension from it dusky white ; discal 

 spot small, pale yellow, followed by a large conspicuous 

 similar spot and a partial transverse band of the same. Hind 

 wings rich purple, with the yellow spot and band of the 

 upper side well marked. Legs yellowish-white ; purple in front. 

 Usually not very variable beyond the limits above indi- 

 cated ; but Mr. B. A. Bower possesses a specimen in which 

 the fore wings are suffused with a curious glaucous or whitish 

 bloom, very conspicuous on the dark portions and causing the 

 yellow spots to appear almost of an orange colour. One in 

 my own collection, taken in the Norfolk Fen district, has the 

 yellow markings much enlarged. Some specimens from the 

 West coast of Scotland are not only very brilliantly coloured 

 but range up to nearly an inch in expanse. 



On the wing in May and June, and, apparently as a second 

 generation, in July, August, and even September. 



Larva grey with yellow dorsal and spiracular lines and 

 pretty-looking white-ringed black raised spots ; head brown. 

 (Hofmann.) 



June and July, and again in the autumn, on the various 

 species of mint. But Mr. W. H. B. Fletcher has found it in 

 September feeding upon Prunella vulgaris, forming a large 

 chamber of silk close to the ground and eating the radical 

 leaves. 



