TRIFID.-E. 3 



Hardly ever variable, l)ut Mr. S. Stevens possesses a 

 specimen in Avliich tlie whole fore wings are suttused with 

 dark umbreous. 



On the wing in June and July, and occasionally as a very 

 partial second generation, in September. 



Larva stout, tapering o[f considerably in front from the 

 fourth segment : fifth, sixth, seventh, and twelfth seg- 

 ments swollen, and the latter raised; head small, shining ; 

 anal segment almost truncate behind. Dull greyish-brown, 

 mottled and dusted with blackish, especially so on the sides ; 

 dorsal line dai'ker, indistinct, with a yellowish spot on each 

 segment, those on the fourth and fifth large and prominent ; 

 subdorsal line whitish, passing beneath a row of large curved 

 black dashes, the lower edges of which are shaded with 

 ochreous, these dashes are most distinct on the fifth, sixth, 

 seventh, tenth, and eleventh segments ; spiracular line broad, 

 dirty ochreous, generally inconspicuous, but much paler on 

 the eleventh and twelfth segments. The twelfth segment is 

 broadly edged with ochreous behind, and has a yellowish spot 

 on the subdorsal line. Head dark brown ; spiracles and raised 

 dots blackish ; three white spots on the front edge of the 

 second segment. (C. Fenn.) 



July to October on Gdlinm molhigo, Ci/twr/Iossvw oficinalr. 

 Chenopodim/i, Lamhtm allmm, nettle, dock, j^lantain, lettuce, 

 and herbaceous plants generally; feeding at night, hiding 

 under the leaves or on the lower twigs of its food plant by 

 day. 



Pita short, stout, rounded ; anal extremity with two 

 minute bristles ; dull red with a grey dorsal shade. Sub- 

 terranean ; enclosed in a very brittle earthen cocoon, at the 

 roots of low plants. (C. Fenn.) In this condition through 

 the winter ; very often at the roots of trees. 



The moth hides itself among dead leaves, and on the ground 

 among plants in the daytime, flying at dusk, and coming 



