96 LEP/DOPTERA. 



occasionally it is nearly obliterated or reduced to small spots. 

 In the opposite direction consolidation of the bands takes 

 place, along with increase in their breadth, until the insect 

 is black with two narrow whitish stripes. This last form is 

 strikingly exhibited in a specimen in Mr. Sj'dney Webb's 

 collection, and is closely approached by some of those 

 received from the Shetland Isles. 



On the wing at the end of May and through June, and a 

 partial second generation in August. 



Lakva rounded ; rather attenuated and flattened in front ; 

 head round, tlat, and bristly ; anal segment bristly ; body 

 with numerous inconspicuous bristles. Colour ochreous- 

 brown, j^ellowish-brown, hazel-brown, or pale chocolate : 

 dorsal line dark greyish-brown ; subdorsal, and a threadlike 

 line below it, pale ochreous minutely edged with brown ; 

 spiracular stripe broad, of a paler shade of the ground colour, 

 sometimes pale orange or ochreous, its lower side ill-defined 

 in the lighter varieties ; usual raised dots paler than the 

 ground colour, edged with brown ; spiracles black, distinct ; 

 undersurface pale yellowish or reddish-brown, with a broad 

 paler ventrtal stripe, edged on each side with grey, and 

 divided by a grey line ; between this stripe and the spiracular 

 is an ochreous line edged on each side with brown ; legs 

 reddish-brown ; head bone-colour with two dark bands on 

 the inner side of the lobes. A broad grey lateral shade 

 frequently occurs between the spiracular strijje and the pale 

 thread above it. (Chas. Fcnn.) 



July and August, and a partial second generation occasion- 

 iiUy in September, but those larva3 which do not produce 

 moths in August feed more slowly and furnish a large pro- 

 l)ortion of the May and June emergence. On d'alium ; 

 apjiarently upon 6*. snxatilc (smooth heath bed-straw) 

 naturally : l)ut the larva is rarely, if ever, found, and those 

 reared from the egg oat with equal readiness thegreat bed-straw 

 ((>'. iiiolhigo), feeding at night ujion both flowers and leaves. 



