TRIFID^. 247 



where the edging is conspicuous and terminates on the inside 

 of a curv^e running across the back and so joining the two 

 subdorsal lines. Spiracular stripe broad, whitish or ochreous 

 edged above with black and shading into the ground colour 

 of the undersurface below ; usual raised dots distinct, whitish ; 

 spiracles whitish surrounded by the black edging of the 

 spiracular lines; above the spiracle on the fifth segment 

 is a black blotch ; undersurface greenish-ochreous or green- 

 ish-grey, paler than the back, dusted with grey. The 

 markings are most distinct when the larva is half-grown. 

 (C. Fenn.) Those figured by Mr. Buckler vary in colour 

 from light bi'own with a broad pale yellow spiracular stripe 

 to slate-grey with the stripe white or yellow, and the dark 

 brown marbled with paler. 



August to ]May, on Centcmrea, Epilohium^ dock, primrose, 

 and low plants generally, also, when young especially, on 

 sallow, blackthorn, and other shrubs and trees, being at that 

 time gregarious and fond of gnawing the surfaces of the 

 harder leaves. Feeding only at night, concealing itself by 

 day in the lower portions of those plants which have dense 

 tufts of root-leaves, or under leaves on the ground, in crevices 

 of walls, or any dark shelter. 



Pupa stout, rather glossy ; eye-covers prominent, smooth, 

 and brightly shining ; limb-covers closely compacted, rather 

 roughly sculptured with cross incised lines ; wing-covers 

 tolerably ample, minutely and irregularly sculptured with 

 similar lines, as also is, more roughly, the dorsal shield ; 

 dorsal and abdominal segments smooth, with only an ex- 

 ceedingly narrow anterior belt of pitted sculpture, and an 

 equally narrow hinder band of more especially smoothed 

 surface ; the abdomen thick and but little tapering, but 

 the anal segment rounded off very suddenly, so as to appear 

 tumid ; cremaster very short, a mere flattened knob, armed 

 with two longer and two shorter hooked bristles. General 

 colour dark red-brown or purple-brown, cremaster black. In 



