TRIFIDjE. 145 



large black dots and a black hind border to each hemisphere ; 

 front triangle black ; dorsal plate also black, divided in the 

 middle by a yellow cross line ; anal plate yellow, dotted with 

 black. 



July and August, on the flowers and seeds of larkspur 

 {Delphinium consolida) on fallow laud. (Hofmann.) 



Pupa with a wart-shaped projection on the head ; red- 

 brown with greenish wing-covers. In an earthen cocoon 

 deep in the ground. (Hofmann.) 



The habits of the moth are not known to me, nor am I 

 aware of any instance of its capture in this country for a very 

 long period. Haworth (1803) stated that it was found in 

 gardens, and that five specimens had been recorded in Eng- 

 land. In the Transactions of the Entomological Society 

 (1807) he goes more into particulars. Treating of the work 

 of Benjamin Wilks (1773) he says, "He likewise delineates 

 in the most charming aud complete manner, giving ail its 

 phases from the egg to the wing, the lovely Noctua Delphinii, 

 Fab. (Pease-blossom moth), along with its favourite food the 

 wild larkspur ; and says that ' it has been bred in England 

 by the Honourable Mrs. Walters, and by Nathaniel Oldham, 

 Esq., but that it is very rare.' A wing of this beautiful moth 

 is said to have been found in a spider's web at Bulstrode, by 

 that great patroness of Natural History, the late Duchess of 

 Portland ; and another in St. James's Park ; and my friend 

 Mr. Jones, of Chelsea, has a very perfect specimen which he 

 captured in his garden a few summers since. Further than 

 the above instances the species is not known to us as British." 

 Donovan (about 1800) referred to the specimen taken alive in 

 Mr. Jones's garden at Chelsea as establishing the species as 

 British. Stephens (about 1830) stated that specimens in his 

 own collection, and in that of the British Museum, were 

 caught in the neighbourhood of Windsor, about fifteen years 

 earlier, in June ; and Curtis writing about the same date 

 confirms this statement. These appear to be all the records 



VOL. VI. K 



