TRIFID^E. 93 



anterior legs ; three broad stripes meeting at the end of the 

 anal flap ; all the rest blackish. 



Or, ground colour dull brownish-ochreous, visible as dorsal, 

 sub-dorsal, and lateral stripes, on the third and fourth seg- 

 ments with little interruptions, but on other segments only 

 the faintest traces of them, except the anal, which is marked 

 similarly to those previously described, and the dorsal stripe 

 merely as a triangular spot at the end of the intermediate 

 segments ; all the rest of the body dull brownish-black, and 

 each spiracle placed in a swelling blotch of intense and rather 

 shining black. (W. Buckler.) 



End of July to the beginning of September on various 

 species of sow-thistle and wild lettuce — Sonchus arvensis, 

 S. oleraceus, Lactuca virosa, L. sativa — feeding at night, 

 hiding itself by day under the lower leaves. When disturbed 

 it is said to fall to the ground and twist its head to right and 

 left in an angry manner, sometimes stretching it out in a 

 leech-like fashion. 



Pupa rather elongated, a little concave in front from the 

 projection of the tongue-case, which is large and distinctly 

 curled ; wing- and limb-covers extremely glossy and without 

 sculpture ; dorsal and abdominal segments also glossy but 

 not equally brilliant, hardly showing a trace of sculpture, 

 but having a faintly raised band at the back of each; aual 

 segment suddenly rounded off; cremaster a long and broad 

 smooth spike without a trace of bristles ; general colour red- 

 brown ; spiracles distinct, black ; cremaster dark brown. In 

 a strong tough cocoon of silk mixed with a little sand, not 

 so thick as in other species. In confinement Mr. Buckler 

 found that no proper cocoon was made, but only a loose 

 silken hammock among the leaves and buds of its food-plant. 

 This must have been quite abnormal, since the species passes 

 the winter in this state. 



The moth sits, in the daytime, upon fences, rails, gates, 

 and similar objects, to which its appearance closely assimilates 



