NYMPHALIDM. i+i 



the anal angle ; hind wings with the hind margin slightly more 

 scalloped, a short blunt tail or point in the middle, and another, 

 extremely short, nearer to the anal angle. All the wings of 

 a velvety, rich, dark purplish-chocolate, with two, somewhat 

 triangular, yellowish costal spots beyond the middle of the 

 fore wings. The entire hind margins occupied by a broad, 

 creamy, pale yellowish or whitish band, edged within by a 

 black stripe, in which is a row of blue spots, those on the 

 fore wings somewhat crescent-shaped, those on the hind nearly 

 round. The point of the large projection of the fore wings is 

 clouded with blackish-brown from the tip, and sometimes 

 other portions of the marginal band are dusted with the 

 same. Female similar. Under side dark brown, set thickly 

 with blackish streaks and lines, and with the pale margins 

 and costal spots as above. 



Hardly variable, except in the colour of the margin, which 

 in this country is usually whitish, but occasionally yellow and 

 dusted with brown atoms. 



August, September, and, after hybernation, in April or 

 May. 



Larva, nearly 2 inches long, moderately stout, tapering a 

 little towards the head, which is black, slightly glistening, and 

 rather bristly. On each segment, beyond the third, is a row 

 of from four to seven shining black spines, slightly branched. 

 Body dull black, thickly clothed with a shining pubescence 

 of a greyish-drab colour, exactly like a coat of velvet. Dorsal 

 line black, passing through a naked red spot upon each seg- 

 ment from the foui'th to the eleventh. Legs black ; pro-legs 

 reddish -green. When young, however, the pubescence is 

 more dense and shaggy, and the naked dorsal spots are of a 

 dai'kish green. (Buckler.) 



On willow, sallow, and birch, in June and July. 



Pupa closely resembling that of V. polychloros in all 

 respects, except that the spiky points are larger and sharper. 

 (Buckler.) 



