2o8 LEPIDOPTERA. 



On the wino- in March and April. 



Larva. Head and dorsal plate olive, the former reticulated 

 with bi-own, and shining, the latter dull with the front margin 

 darker; back and sides olive-green, thickly freckled with 

 blackish and sprinkled with some pale yellow ; undersurface 

 pale greenish-yellow ; dorsal and subdorsal lines very slender, 

 paler than the ground colour; spiracular stripe very pale 

 yellow, almost white ; raised dots pale, so small as only 

 to be noticeable with a lens; spiracles oval, white, finely 

 outlined with black. Towards full growth the colouring 

 on the back and sides becomes a rich velvety-brown and 

 just at last a crimson-brown, in strong contrast to the 

 undersurface, which is then brilliant greenish-yellow and the 

 spiracular stripe lighter yellow. 



When very young dingy slate-green with black head 

 and dorsal plate ; growing gradually paler. After the first 

 moult pale green, with the head green and the dorsal plate 

 black but small. After the second moult dingy dull bluish- 

 oreen, with paler dorsal, subdorsal, and spiracular lines ; head 

 and plate warmer shining green, both dotted with black. 

 At each following moult some change approximating towards 

 •the adult colour takes place, but it is not till the fifth that 

 the yellow spiracular stripe becomes distinct. (Adapted 

 from Mr. Buckler's very full notes.) 



A conspicuous variety has the whole dorsal surface down 

 to the spiracular stripe red-brown, with the dorsal and sub- 

 dorsal lines either yellow-brown or brighter red-brown ; the 

 head and dorsal plate pale brown ; a black stripe just above 

 the spiracles, and the undersurface pale yellow. 



April to June on sallow {Balix, fusca and other species), 

 osier, birch, burnet-rose (Rosa spinosissima), and even the 

 blossoms of Genista tindoria ; hiding by day under leaves, 

 feeding at night openly and voraciously, but very apt, in 

 confinement, to die oft' when full fed. 



Pupa apparently undescribed. 



