28 LEPIDOPTERA. 



the costal margin ; the bind margin is edged with a fine 

 carmine line ; cilia pink. Hind wings and their cilia smoky 

 white. Female stouter, but less in expanse of wing, and of 

 equally brilliant colour. 



Underside of the fore wings pale leaden-brown ; costa 

 paler brown ; cilia bright pink. Hind wings leaden-white. 



Apparently variable in colour, but this arises mainly from 

 the great rapidity with which its brilliant colour fades during 

 life toward dull drab or dirty buff. 



On the wing at the end of June and in July. 



Larva active, wriggling sharply backwards when dis- 

 turbed ; long and rather thin ; head small, reddish-brown, 

 mouth parts darker; body of yellowish-white, dorsal plate pale 

 ochreous ; pulsating vessel showing as a narrow darker dorsal 

 line ; raised dots small and very inconspicuous, each bearing 

 a very short, fine, dark bristle ; legs yellow ; ventral area 

 paler, prolegs concolorous. (W. H. B, Fletcher.) 



May, June and the beginning of July on the roots of 

 Sonchus arvcnsis and S. asjxr (sow-thistles), gnawing the 

 exterior of the fleshy root, and living underground in a 

 silken tube. Feeding also, in a similar manner, on roots of 

 dandelion. 



Pupa light red ; the abdominal segments furnished on the 

 back with two rows each of short teeth, those of the first 

 row the larger. (W. H. B. Fletcher.) In a tough white 

 fusiform cocoon, twice as long as the pupa ; just beneath the 

 surface of the ground. 



The moth sits all day among low-growing herbage and 

 is unwilling to fly, yet if roused goes away with great 

 swiftness. It is most easily obtained about sunset and 

 after, when it buzzes quietly about the herbage and will 

 sit conspicuously on the leaves of clover, where its great 

 beauty is especially visible. Its favourite haunts are rough 

 fields, railway banks, hill slopes and poor pastures generally, 



