312 LEPIDOPTERA. 



forms, but some of them are not infrequent, and every pos- 

 sible grade and combination of intermediate variation is found. 

 In Scotland there is a tendency to somewhat deeper black- 

 ness of colour and marbling, some examples being very nearly 

 black. 



On the wing from the end of August to the beginning of 

 October, but in Scotland it sometimes begins to emerge as 

 early as the first week in August. 



Lakva cylindrical, stout ; head dull brown, front of collar 

 yellow ; body green freckled with yellow ; dorsal line primrose 

 yellow; raised dots green, not distinguishable, each emitting 

 a very fine hair. 



When just hatched the head is large, shining black ; body 

 faint violet-grey ; the usual dots inconspicuous ; after a time 

 the body becomes brown, with the head and collar black ; 

 the dorsal and subdorsal lines pale brown ; raised dots minute, 

 black ; after another interval the head is brown, the collar 

 edged in front with yellow, the second segment greenish, the 

 body ochreous mottled with dull green, the dorsal line prim- 

 rose, the subdorsal and spiracular lines mere yellow threads, 

 spiracles green, ringed with black and the dots still black ; 

 but as it reaches full growth the dots lose their blackness, 

 the subdorsal and spiracular lines disappear and the adult 

 colouring is assumed. (Adapted from Rev. J. Hellins.) 



March to June, the winter being passed in the egg-state. 

 When newly hatched the larva bores into a bud of oak, and 

 lives and feeds therein ; in May when the oak-buds are opening 

 it spins tosrether the young leaves with a good deal of silk 

 and so forms a habitation ; but after the last moult it feeds 

 openly upon the leaves of oak, and may very easily be shaken 

 from them into an umbrella. It is advisable when rearing 

 this larva to remember that if the sprays of the oak on which 

 it is fed are placed in water, it will, if it can possibly do so, 

 force its way down into the vvater, and so commit voluntary — 

 or involuntaiy — suicide. 



