242 LEPIDOPTERA. 



the apical patch of the fore wings and the marginal stripe of 

 the hind more yellow-brown, and the latter expanded into 

 dashes on the nervures. On the other hand, some specimens 

 are extremely dull and uniform in colour. In South York- 

 shire the blackening effect observable in so many species is 

 conspicuous in this, the outer half of the hind wings being 

 unusually black ; some examples furnished by Mr. G. T. 

 Porritt are extremely sombre, on the other hand, one of 

 them has all the .paler markings of a really bright yellow- 

 brown, strongly contrasting with the black ground, and is a 

 magnificent specimen. 



On the wing in July and August. 



I;ARVA stout, smooth, slightly enlarged behind ; head 

 rounded, polished, pale brown dotted with brownish-ochreous, 

 mouth dark brown ; body pale brownish-ochreous with a 

 series of large umber-brown dorsal diamonds ; dorsal line 

 represented by conspicuous pale ochreous spots on the third, 

 fourth, and fifth segments, afterwards as mere specks; sub- 

 dorsal line pale ochreous intersected on each segment by a 

 conspicuous diagonal whitish dash, shaded on each side with 

 black nearly to the spiracles, which are bright reddish- 

 orange edged with black, and joined together by the narrow 

 but distinct ochreous spiracular line. The diagonal black 

 markings above mentioned are united in a distinct manner 

 on the twelfth segment ; two conspicuous ochreous spots 

 are on the front edge of the second segment ; uudersurface 

 pale brownish-ochreous dusted with grey ; prolegs similar, 

 the anal pair extended back. (C. Fenn.) 



The colour varies in different larvte to greenish-grey or 

 purplish-brown, and the dorsal spots to white or reddish- 

 ochreous. 



September to May, hybernating when rather small. On 

 fruit trees, blackthorn, hawthorn, birch, sallow-shoots in 

 the early spring ; dock, lettuce, cabbage, and other low- 

 growing plants ; feeding at night and hiding by day on 



