230 • LEPIDOPTERA. 



(Jn the wiiii^r in . I line and Jnly. 



IjAUVa fat and sluggish, and when resting exposed on the 

 plant, is stretched out, with the head rather thrown back ; 

 head small, evidently two-lobed, shining brown ; on the 

 second segment is a horny brown j)late, and the anal seg- 

 ment, the j)rolegs of which are wide and spreading, is 

 similarly j)rotected : the dorsal line or band is broad and 

 distinct, but tapering to each extremity and is of a pale 

 colour ; dorsal area otherwise dull faint red, and has a few 

 shining hairs : skin of the sides gathered into a ridge, the 

 summit of which is the palest part of the larva and forms a 

 nearly white, irregular, lateral stripe; below this the reddish 

 colour a]ipears again as an irregular line, abruptly marking 

 oil' the middle ventral area, which is pale but has several 

 small, but distinct, pale brown spots on each segment, (llev. 

 (f. A. Smallwood.) 



When very young, yellow with a shining brown head, 

 ((i. T. i'orritt.) 



J uly, August, and even the beginning of September ; on 

 Li/chnls vcsj'crfino, and sometimes X. diuim, feeding within 

 the calyx upon the stamens of the male flower, or piercing 

 the capsule and devouring the unripe seeds, in the case of 

 the female llower ; as it grows hiding in the partially emptied 

 capsule ; when young it eats out the contents of the un- 

 opened flower bud. It seems to have been found, in Ireland, 

 to feed in seed capsules of Silnia inflo/u. 



Pupa apparently undescribed ; in the earth. 

 In this condition through the winter. 



The moth is a brisk- and lively creature, Hying in the 

 afternoon, before sunset, dancing over lanes, hedges, the 

 corners and margins of fields and woods, and wherever its 

 favourite food, the white campion, is allowed to flourish ; the 

 female continuing to lly at dusk and till dark. .Somewhat 

 local, but found in suitable spots throughout England, though 



