TRIFIDjE. 79 



purplish -brown, widest in the middle segments ; down its 

 centre is a series of diamond and roundish oval shapes faintly 

 outlined in black, two on each segment, the diamond in front ; 

 an equally fine undulating black line runs on either side of 

 them so as to form another series of diamonds along the 

 segmental divisions, a little paler than those of the central 

 line ; subdorsal line a faint freckled line of purplish-brown, 

 followed by two others, very faint, sinuous and interrupted 

 so as to be but little noticeable ; spiracular line a longitudinal 

 thread of pale yellow freckles becoming whitish as it 

 approaches the head, on which it continues to the side of 

 the mouth; spiracles green, outlined with black, each 

 situated in a purplish-brown blotch or slash placed obliquely 

 along the side and pointing upwards and forwards ; legs and 

 prolegs green, the ventral prolegs each with a purplish- brown 

 spot on the side ; back of the anal pair similar, and their 

 basal hooks brown ; ventral surface green freckled with pale 

 yellow in seven longitudinal lines, the middle ones the 

 broadest and palest. It has a rough mealy look which 

 assimilates well with that of the stem of the plant. As it 

 reaches quite full growth the dorsal stripe becomes paler, and 

 the green and pale yellow freckles show more plainly through 

 it. (Condensed from Buckler.) 



. J u ty> August, and September on Solidago virgaurea (golden- 

 rod), usually feeding at night, lying closely during the day, 

 head downwards, on the lower part of a leaf, or on the stem, 

 and exceedingly difficult to find. Moreover, when found it 

 is terribly infected with ichneumon parasites. 



Pupa yellow-brown, hinder portion flattened to a broad 

 cremaster. (Hofmann.) In an earthen cocoon. 



We know little or nothing of the habits of this species 

 in the moth state. It is asserted that specimens have been 

 taken at rest in the daytime in Sussex, but whether sitting 

 upon plants, or on railings or gates, or how, has not been 

 specified. One example was undoubtedly taken, in 1892, 



