TRIFIDjE. 105 



Pupa plump and rounded, having in front a long con- 

 spicuous tongue case, the free end of which extends down 

 the front of the abdominal segments; back of the thorax 

 dull with abundant sculpture of minute pits ; a narrow band 

 of similar pitting on the front edge of each segment; re- 

 maining surface smooth and shining; cremaster short, but 

 of even breadth to the tip, there furnished with minute 

 hooks ; the wing, tongue, and limb-covers, with all the rest 

 of the front surface, green, and the skin thin and semi- 

 transparent ; dorsal surface or dorsal stripe abruptly pitchy- 

 black or reddish-brown with the skin opaque ; cremaster 

 of the same colour. The extent of black colouring, however, 

 appears to be irregular, or it is even occasionally absent, 

 In a beautiful elongated cocoon of soft strong silk, usually 

 of some shade of yellow or even ochreous colour, but varying 

 to white ; spun up among the leaves of the plant upon which 

 it has fed. This cocoon is singularly like those of some of 

 the Bombyces, even that of the silkworm {B. mori). 



I cannot find that this moth has been observed in the 

 daytime here, either on the wing or at rest, but it doubtless 

 hides among its food plants and other herbage. At dusk it 

 flies, and has been taken hovering at blossoms of monkshood, 

 larkspur, red valerian, carnation, sweet-william, foxglove, 

 and other plants, and later in the night at light, but hitherto 

 seems to be almost confined to gardens or their immediate 

 neighbourhood. So far as I can ascertain it was not noticed 

 in these Islands before the year 1890, and, indeed, was 

 looked upon as a species unlikely to occur in this country, 

 being, until recently, of rather Southern distribution; and 

 its appearance and progress here furnish one of the most 

 complete records of the immigration and establishment of 

 a species yet observed. The first specimen noticed in these 

 Islands was captured at Dover, at flowers in a garden; it 

 was brought to Mr. Sydney Webb to be named, and is now in 

 his collection. On July 2nd of the same year a specimen 

 was taken at light, near Reading, Berks, by Mr. W. Holland, 



