TRIFID^. 215 



the plate on the second segment ; dorsal and spiracular lines 

 paler than the ground colour ; spiracles white ; other 

 markings as before described. (Chas. Fenn.) 



Other varieties are light brown, or purple-brown, with 

 similar markings, except that the velvety blotches and 

 streaks are of a deeper velvety brown. A remarkably 

 handsome larva, and from its oblique lateral velvety 

 markings, and the tubercle behind, very liable to be 

 mistaken by a novice for the larva of a hawk-moth. 



August, September, and October, on all kinds of low- 

 growing plants, and sometimes very common in gardens ; 

 feeding at night ; hiding in the daytime on the undersides 

 of leaves, or squeezed into interstices of large flower-spikes, 

 such as that of the hollyhock; or under herbage upon the 

 ground, sometimes in plenty under potato-haulm. Besides 

 herbaceous plants and all sorts of cultivated flowers in 

 gardens — where also it performs a meritorious action by 

 eating bindweed {Convolvulus scpium^ — this larva is ex- 

 tremely fond of elder, and is sometimes known to eat leaves 

 of plum, blackthorn, raspberry, oak, poplar, lilac, clematis, 

 and even ivy. 



Pupa rather stout, glossy, but sculptured with fine stride 

 on the back of the head-cover ; wing and limb-cases not very 

 prominent, shining dark claret-red ; abdominal segments 

 rather roughly sculptured on their anterior edges, dark 

 claret-brown ; anal segment suddenly rounded off and armed 

 with a short forked spike. In a thick but rather brittle 

 cocoon, of earth and silk, under the surface of the ground. 



The moth may occasionally be found by day sitting on 

 walls, posts, and palings, but is usually concealed among 

 herbage close to the ground and may now and then be 

 shaken out of bushy garden plants. It flies at dusk, comes 

 readily to flowers, and is very fond of those of the ragwort ; 

 also warmly appreciative of sugar, and found occasionally 

 attracted by a strong light. Principally a garden-frequenting 



