CNEPHA SIDJE—SCIA PHI LA . 269 



9. S. virgaureana, 7'; . ; wahlbomiana, L. (?). — 

 Expanse ^ to \ iuch (l.J-18 mm.). Fore wines moderately 

 broad, not elongated; pale grey abundantly darkened with 

 dark grey bands and black dotting. 



Antennte black-browu, dotted with paler ; palpi and head 

 brownish-drab ; thorax grey-brown ; abdomen pale brown 

 with an ochreous anal tuft. Fore wings moderately broad, 

 nearly ov^ate ; cosLa flatly arched ; apex rounded ; grej'-white, 

 thickly dusted with black dots ; markings much confused 

 and obscured by these dots, but the basal blotch though 

 imperfect is dark grey and extends almost to the central 

 band, or throws a brauch to it ; this last is oblique, cloudy 

 black-brown, and it throws off a similar cloud toward the 

 apex, crossed by a dappled line ; cilia j)ale grey. Hind 

 wings and their cilia dark smoky brown. Female similar. 



Underside of the fore wings pale smoky brown with a 

 yellow gloss ; costa dotted with pale yellovr. Hind wings 

 smoky brownish-white. 



Always variable in the extent and intensity of the 

 markings as well as of the black dots. In some parts of 

 Scotland black specimens may be found having deeper black 

 dots. There is also considerable variation in size, and this 

 species seems to form the basis of a considerable mixture, 

 known abroad under the name of >S'. vxtMhomiana. 



On the wing from June till August. 



Larva plump, pale bluish- or greyish-green, more yellow 

 beneath, dots small but distinct especially across the anterior 

 segments ; head pale brown ; dorsal plate pale brown with 

 black dots or a black bar ; anal j^late green, with black dots. 

 Variable especially in the colour of the raised dots, which 

 are sometimes paler than the ground-colour, in other cases 

 darker. 



May and June; on almost any herbaceous plant, drawing 

 the leaves together or folding them, and apparently having 

 no special taste, though preferring the young leaves of 



