TRIFIDjE. 231 



On the wing in June and July, but has also been taken in 

 September. 



Larva paler or darker grey, or reddish-grey, besprinkled 

 with numerous black dots ; on the back of every segment 

 four large, and on the sides six small, yellow raised dots ; on 

 the fourth and eleventh segments are two dark pointed eleva- 

 tions with paler tips ; on the fourth, seventh, eighth, and 

 eleventh segments on the sides are whitish or reddish obscure 

 pointed dots ; behind the head is a black dotted yellow 

 collar (dorsal plate) ; head rounded, grey with small pale 

 angulated markings. (Hofmann.) 



July and August on oak, frequenting oak-bushes. 



Pupa brown, with a bluish powdering ; in a light cocoon. 



This fine insect is one of our most excessively rare species, 

 and in all probability only occurs with us as a casual migrant. 

 There seems little reason to doubt that the present is the 

 species noticed by Haworth under the name of leucomelas, 

 whereof he says : " Mr. Francillon possesses an English 

 specimen, and my respected tutor in Entomology, Mr. Jones, 

 assures me that he has seen it in the British collection of 

 that great patroness of Natural History, the late Duchess of 

 Portland." The genuine leucomelas is a smaller species, 

 extremely similar, but having its eyes naked. Its far more 

 southern distribution renders its capture here very improb- 

 able. Stephens's notice of Francillon's specimen, which passed 

 into the cabinet of Mr. Haworth, seems to support my view, 

 since he gives its expanse of wings as one inch nine lines, 

 which is far too large for Anophia leucomelas, while it agrees 

 with that of the present insect. The point, however, is not 

 of great importance. The first intimation of its presence in 

 these Islands in comparatively recent times is that of the 

 capture of a specimen at sugar on an oak-tree in September 

 1858, in the Isle of Wight, by Dr. A. Wallace. This fine 

 example passed into Mr. Bond's collection, and is now in that 



