TRIFID.-E. 365 



two-thirds the size of ordinary examples, and with propor- 

 tionately narrower fore wings. This variety has a curious 

 parallel in Triphcena pronuba. 



On the wing in June, July and August, and very casually, 

 as a probably second generation, in September, more certainly 

 so in October and November of years in which the autumns 

 have been very warm. 



Larva stout ; its skin shining, smooth ; head very glossy, 

 black-brown, black, or purplish-red ; dorsal and anal plates 

 similar; usual raised dots large and conspicuous, brown or 

 black, each with a single fine hair ; upper lip greyish-brown ; 

 body grey, brownish-grey, or reddish-grey, or even pale grey, 

 faintly banded with darker, or with reddish-grey, on each 

 segment ; within the area of the trapezoidal dots on the back 

 of each segment from the fourth to the twelfth are six pale 

 grey marks— namely, a pair of transverse, short, curved and 

 pointed streaks, with their broad bases separated only by a 

 mere line on the middle of the back, and rather close behind 

 them four round dots which range in a transverse row between 

 the hinder pair of the usual raised dots ; below the spiracular 

 region the general colour is paler ; spiracles black, or grey 

 outlined with black ; legs greyish-brown, spotted a,nd tipped 

 with black ; the black spots on the side of the third and 

 fourth segments sometimes vary both in number and shape. 



Another \'ariety has the dorsal surface dark purplish-grey, 

 changing gently along the spiracular region to dingy 

 brownish-red on the undersurface, the head purplish-red. 

 (W. Buckler.) 



August or September to June on grasses, eating the grass- 

 stem just above the roots; inhabiting a small chamber among 

 the grass roots in the daytime, in the same manner as X. 

 lithoxi/lea ; feeding at night. 



Pupa very similar to that of A", lithoxylca, but stouter, and 

 having a broader and shorter, rather tapering cremaster. 

 (Buckler.) Subterranean. 



