202 LEPIDOPTERA. 



lias the transverse lines slenderly black. A very curious 

 phase of variation in this species seems to be confined to 

 the north. Mr. Porritt has met with it in Yorkshire, Mr. 

 Fletcher and others in Sutherlandshire. In it the margins 

 of the two large stigmata approach closely to each other, 

 or in many cases actually coalesce, while in a very few the 

 junction is so complete that the margins at that point have 

 broken, and the two stigmata become a constricted loop having 

 the figure of a prostrate cottage-loaf, of which the reniform 

 is, of course, the base. This complete coalition of the two 

 stigmata is so unusual as to be es]3ecially worthy of notice. 

 On the wing in March and April. 



Larva rather stout, rounded ; head rounded and shining, 

 pale green ; body bright pea -green irrorated with yellow 

 dots ; dorsal line distinct, pale yellow ; subdorsal lines 

 yellow, threadlike ; spiracular stripe most conspicuous, slightl}^ 

 broader than the dorsal line, and of a brighter yellow, with a 

 fine edging of black above ; divisions of the segments, and 

 front edge of the second, pale yellow ; a brighter yellow line 

 or bar joins the ends of the spiracular stripes across the anal 

 prolegs ; spiracles white, edged with black ; prolegs tipped 

 with brownish-pink. 



April to June on oak, beech, elm, Viburnum apidus, and 

 probably other trees and shrubs ; feeding by day as well as 

 at night, and always conspicuous, often crawling upon the 

 trunks of trees by day. (C. Fenn.) 



Pupa stout, rounded, shining ; anal extremity with two 

 diverging bristles ; mahogany-red with a greyish dorsal 

 shade ; sometimes dark purple-brown. Subterranean in a 

 hard brittle earthen cocoon. (C. Fenn.) Like its allies, 

 the moth is perfected many mouths before its time of 

 emergence. Occasionally also, when it does emerge, its 

 wings are not ready to expand, but remain for many hours 

 or till the following day in an immature condition, or even 

 are unable to expand at all. 



