TRIFID^. 



193 



dashes spreading at the outer edge so as to enclose a series 

 of rounded grey spots. Hind wings nearly uniform smoky- 

 brown, rather paler toward the base, but with the nervures 

 and central spot a little darker ; cilia white. Female 

 stouter, sometimes with slightly broader fore wings, quite 

 similar. 



Underside of the fore wings smoky-grey dusted with 

 white ; reniform stigma faintly dark-brown ; orbicular slightly 

 visible, yellowish ; just outside the former is a blackish cloudy 

 transverse stripe ; hind marginal space more dusted with 

 white ; cilia spotted as on the upper side. Hind wings white, 

 much dusted with brown ; central spot large, triangular, 

 smoky-black ; beyond it is a curved smoky -brown transverse 

 stripe ; margin edged with a black line. Body grey-brown ; 

 legs brown, barred in front with brownish white. 



Variable in the ground colour from pale silvery-grey or 

 dusky white to purple-grey or slate-grey ; still more variable 

 in the intensity and distinctness of the dark markings and 

 cloudings, which frequently extend themselves over almost 

 the whole fore wings ; all three stigmata usually conspicuous, 

 but the claviform is sometimes reduced to a mere white dot, 

 and more rarely the orbicular is obscured by dark clouding ; 

 sometimes the yellow subterminal line becomes distinct and 

 continuous throughout, in others reduced to three or four 

 dots, and in some cases it is white ; while in some individuals 

 the nervures are dotted and streaked with white, and more 

 rarely the dark markings are tinged with purple. Very dark 

 forms are obtained from the North of Ireland and the West 

 of Scotland, those from Arran being curiously dark, with the 

 stigmata also suffused and indistinct, but the transverse lines 

 conspicuously black. 



On the wing in May and June, and in early seasons even 

 at the end of April. 



Larva rather elongate, cylindrical, sides puckered ; head 

 rounded, shining, slightly bifid, pale reddish or yellowish 



VOL. IV. N 



