222 LEPIDOPTERA. 



with black and white; cilia grey-brown. Female similar, 

 or very often with the marking more distinct, sometimes 

 with white ground colour and large dark basal blotch, and 

 the ocellus very large and velvety. 



Underside of the fore wings leaden-black ; costa dotted 

 with white. Hind wings leaden white. 



Variable in size, specimens from the Irish coast being 

 sometimes very large, while those which occur where there is 

 no furze are often very small. There is also much variation 

 in colour ; our common dark race being to all appearance a 

 comparatively scarce form abroad. On the other hand, the 

 pale and bright varieties, which formerly seemed to be female 

 forms and confined principally to the north, have become 

 much more generally distributed, and the variation seems to 

 be extending to the other sex. Several such are recorded 

 in Dorset by Mr. Bankes. 



On the wing in multitudes in April and May, and in far 

 smaller numbers from July to September, but whether in 

 two generations, or in separate races, is as j^et uncertain. 



Larva short and stout, heavier in front than behind, 

 yellowish white ; head small, honey brown ; dorsal plate 

 ochreous, shaded behind with grey ; anal ])late faintly 

 greyish ochreous ; raised dots indistinct, small and grey. 

 (Dr. Wood.) 



April and again in June in seed-pods of furze {Ulcdi 

 curopcrus and U. gallii), clearing out one pod after another. 

 Also occasionally in pods of Genista anfjlica, G. tindoria, 

 Cytisus scoparius, 0. nigricans, and Lotus corniculatus, always 

 eating the unripe seeds, and spinning up in the earth or 

 among rubbish. 



The male flies all day long in the sunshine over its food- 

 plants, but especially furze, over \vhich its mazy dance is 

 almost incessant, and on which it rests for short intervals. 

 The female is not so active, but sits in the furze bushes and 

 flies toward sunset. Abundant throughout the United 



