.V TIG MO NO riD ^E~ CA TOP TRIA . 20 1 



or three short deep black lines ; cilia smoky brown. Hind 

 wings smoky brown, rather paler at the base; cilia smoky 

 white. Female without the costal fold, darker brown, often 

 wholly mottled with dark umbreous, and with darker hind 

 wings. 



Undersides of all the wings leaden black with leaden? 

 white cilia ; costal dots of fore wings white. 



Rather variable in the depth and tone of colour, very so in 

 size. The small form, known as G. parvulana, seems to 

 differ in no respect, except in size, from this type, and is 

 indeed inseparable from the small specimens which appear 

 alo7ig with the larger. 



On the wing in June, July and August, in a single 

 generation. 



Larva short and rather broad, but attenuated behind, 

 wrinkled and hairy, upon each segment a posterior ridge ; 

 dull yellowish pink, paler beneath and between the segments ; 

 and with dorsal aud subdorsal lines of a faintly redder colour ; 

 hairs very short and inconspicuous ; head large, pale chest- 

 nut ; dorsal plate very large and broad, pale umber ; anal 

 plate dull red. 



August, on Gentaurea nigra, in the flower-heads, eating 

 out the immature seeds and the pith at their base ; feeding 

 up very quickly ; leaving the flower or seed-head to spin a 

 tough silken cocoon among rubbish on the ground ; remain- 

 ing in the larva state within the cocoon through the winter 

 aud till the following summer. 



This common species remains for rather a long time upon 

 the wing. It is always to be found where Gentaurea nigra is 

 plentiful, sitting upon that plant, but flying readily up when 

 disturbed ; flying in plenty of its own accord at sunset, and 

 then to be seen in plenty buzzing at the flower-heads, its 

 grey-white or yellow-white head becoming conspicuous 

 in the buzzing, fearless flight. Its curious little variety 



