TRIFIDyE. 219 



of each sej^ment ; subdorsal lines also double, each even more 

 slender, dusky black and rather waved ; between the dorsal 

 and subdorsal lines is a row of black dots, one or two on each 

 segment ; spiracles deep black ; spiracular line threadlike, 

 dusky-black; undersurface paler, pinkish-brown or yellow- 

 brown, with the legs and prolegs similar. 



Or otherwise dull olive-green, brownish-green, or yellowish- 

 green, with similar markings, and the undersurface paler- 

 green or almost greenish-white, and the head dark olive- 

 green, marbled with darker. 



July and August on the blossoms and seeds of the cultivated 

 lettuce in gardens, also on the flowers of Crqns^ Laduca 

 sativa (wild), L. saligna and L. virosa, resting in the daytime 

 quite exposed on the flower stems of such lettuces as have 

 been allowed to go to seed, feeding mainly at night and 

 devouring buds as well as blossoms, so that when it is 

 common the prospect of seed is sometimes quite destroyed. 

 It is much protected by its close resemblance to the flower- 

 stems on which it rests by day. 



Pupa apparently undescribed ; subterranean ; in this state 

 through the winter. 



The moth seems rarely to be found in the daytime in this 

 country. Mr. J. J. Walker noticed it sitting upon stones or 

 rocks at Gibraltar. It flies at quite early dusk, and comes 

 freely to flowers, especially delighting in those of the common 

 red valerian {Centranthus ruber)^ but also visiting those of 

 orange-lily, candytuft, and other garden plants. Its haunts 

 seem to be almost entirely gardens, arable land, and weedy 

 places ; and thirty years ago it was one of the most reliable 

 — and quite the most welcome — of visitors to the valerian 

 flowers in London suburban gardens, its gentle though swift 

 flight, and soft grey colouring, rendering it instantly 

 recognisable, since it would visit the blossoms at one's very 

 feet while the sunset colour was still glowing in the sky. 

 In gardens at Norwich it was — and probably still is — equally 



