194 LEPIDOPTERA. 



On the wing" at the end of March and in April. 



Lakva soft, cylindrical, incisions of the segments rather 

 compressed ; head romided, shining black ; body dull blue, 

 sometimes steel-blue, irrorated with deep black ; dorsal line 

 broad, bright yellow ; subdorsal lines similar, distinct but 

 more narrow ; spiracular stripe broad, yellowish, interrupted, 

 and containing above each black spiracle a white blotch 

 followed by a black spot ; between the subdorsal and spiracular 

 lines the sides are glossy black, slightly paler at the incisions ; 

 above the subdorsal line is a row of distinct black spots, and 

 the dorsal line separates a pair of deep black glossy blotches 

 on each segment ; undersurface greyish-pink, or pale greyish- 

 brown dusted with black ; legs and usual raised dots black. 

 (C. Fenn.) 



A curious variety of this larva found with the more usual 

 form in Yorkshire has been furnished by Mr. G. T. Porritt. 

 Its head is translucent greyish-white with numerous blackish 

 spots ; body pale brown rippled all over with fine irregular 

 greyish lines ; dorsal stripe broad, orange ; subdorsal line 

 slender, similar ; spiracular stripe broad, greyish-white, tinged 

 with orange-brown, and has at its upper margin on each 

 segment a large black spot shaded off above ; undersurface as 

 in ordiuar}' specimens. In the more typical larvpe from that 

 district the dorsal line is rather constricted on each segment 

 and divided into a series of vase-like markings. It is always 

 a handsome and conspicuous larva. 



April to the beginning of June on oak, especially the oak- 

 bushes in open woods, living at first gregariously under a 

 common web, and continuing in companies until well grown, 

 when the groups scatter and the larv99 feed apart, sometimes, 

 it is said, also attacking hawthorn, blackthorn, bramble, birch, 

 and herbaceous plants ; but showing no desire to leave the 

 oak when this food is plentiful ; indeed, it will devour the 

 soft substance of the young "oak-apple" galls if the leaves 

 beirin to fail. It feeds by day as well as by night, sometimes 



