TIUFID^E. 139 



and the cilia very dark ; hind wings whitish, the costal 

 region broadly dusted with brown ; a slendei- smoky -brown 

 transverse stripe near the hind margin, which also is a little 

 clouded with the same colour; body and legs purplish- 

 brown. 



Very rarely variable, except in size. A very hot summer 

 apparently having the effect of producing small specimens. 

 This has been rather conclusively proved by Major A. 

 Ficklin who has secured this autumn (1896) after two or 

 three months of heat and drought, small specimens only, 

 on a spot in which he usually finds them of very full size. 

 A series of remarkably dwarf specimens is in the collection 

 of Dr. P. B. Mason. In the cabinet of Mr. Sydney Webb is 

 a specimen having the subterminal line of the fore wings 

 broadened out into a white stripe. 



On the wing in August and September. 



Larva stout, rounded, tapering to each extremity, but 

 especially behind ; head rounded, dull hazel-brown reticu- 

 lated with black ; skin shining, bronze-brown faintly mottled 

 with pale brown ; dorsal and subdorsal stripes very con- 

 spicuous, brownish or yellowish-white, edged with a dark 

 shade of the ground colour; spiracular stripe broad, dull 

 whitish, less distinct ; undersurface pale brownish, the space 

 between the prolegs darker, a black dash on the outer side 

 of each proleg ; spiracles black ; plate on the second segment 

 dull pale brown ; anal segment similar. (0. Fenn.) 



The Eev. J. Hellins says that the infant larva is very 

 dingy, but after a moult or two puts on the gayest dress 

 worn in the whole of its existence, becoming of a clear full 

 green, with white dorsal, subdorsal, and broader spiracular 

 lines ; as it grows the green becomes tinged with olive, and 

 the adult colouring is gradually assumed. 



April to July on grasses. Mr. Hellins says all kinds of 

 grasses, but showing a preference for Aiixi ccsintum. Also 

 sometimes on Airajlcxuosa, but Major Ficklin finds Nardus 



