BOARMID^— ABRAXAS. 261 



species has somethino- well worthy of" mention. Possibly it 

 may be desirable to point out that in this species, as in Ardia 

 caja, the widest range of variation seems to accompany the 

 absence of definite transverse lines and other patterns as 

 usually found in the groups to which they belong. One 

 more extraordinary specimen must be mentioned ; it has a 

 large piece of additional wing placed abnormally in an 

 irregular lobe upon the costa ; it was reared near London by 

 the Eev. J. fS. St. John. 



On the wing at the end of June and in July and August ; 

 in very rare instances a second generation has been reared in 

 the winter. 



Larva stout, cylindrical, body furnished with a few short 

 black hairs ; head and second segment much smaller than 

 those following ; head black ; body yellowish-white ; dorsal 

 line composed of a series of roughly-shaped black squares 

 alternating with pairs of black dots, a square and two dots 

 on every segment ; subdorsal Hue indicated by a row of 

 black dots ; spiracular line broad, dull earth-red, placed 

 between two rows of irregular black spots ; on the under- 

 surface are two parallel black lines running from the legs to 

 the first pair of prolegs, the latter being tinged beneath with 

 red and tipped with black ; legs also black. In repose sits 

 in the position of the Greek letter i2. (C. Fenn.) A variety 

 of this larva nearly suffused with black has been observed in 

 Northumberland and elsewhere. 



August till May or June on black currant, gooseberry, 

 red currant, and blackthorn; feeding ])rincipally at night; 

 also occasionally on Ribcs (ilpinum ; in city gardens and 

 elsewhere, on Eiioiii/rnus Japan ieus ; in certain wild localities, 

 as on Ailsa Craig in the estuary of the Clyde, and in Corn- 

 wall, on Cotyledon umhilicus ; in some southern localities on 

 ^<ediim telepliium, and even, if other food fails, upon ivy. 

 On the Continent it is said to feed freely upon bird-cherry. 

 Its vagaries of taste do not usually appear to result from 



