68 LEPIDOPTERA. 



from April to June, or even July. The imago state in this 

 species seems sometimes to last for nine or ten months. 



Laeva, two inches in length. Cylindrical, except that the 

 anterior segments taper slightly to the head, which is rather 

 small and rounded ; segments smooth, not swollen, puckered, 

 nor retractile. On the twelfth segment is a rather short 

 straight rough horn, pointing obliquely backward and 

 tapering to a sharp point. The skin of the segments is 

 faintly divided, as in other species, by slight parallel trans- 

 verse wrinkles. Colour either greyish green or dull brown, 

 usually the former, darkest along the middle of the back, 

 and profusely set with minute white dots. Sub-dorsal line 

 whitish, dark-edged above ; spiracular line yellowish ; spiracles 

 black ; horn bluish at the base, yellow at the tip, 



July, August, and sometimes September, on Galium vei^tii 

 and G, mollwjo, occasionally also upon IliLhia pcregrina^ and 

 in confinement has been known to eat Galium aiJarine 

 (Common goose-grass). 



Pupa rounded, rather slender, but thickest in the middle, 

 with a blunt, flattened, slightly projecting tongue case ; last 

 segment with a short sharp anal spike. Skin thin and 

 delicate, dull yellowish-grey or drab, with dark brown 

 spiracles, and the wing cases and lower surface veined with 

 the same colour. In an open loose silken cocoon among 

 rubbish, or amidst the stems and roots of the food-plant, near 

 the surface of the ground. In this stage only a few weeks. 



The moth flies in the daytime, usually in the sunshine, and 

 especially late on a bright afternoon. Its swiftness and 

 power of flight are extraordinary. It appears, suddenly, 

 poised in front of a flower, and glides round from flower to 

 flower, extracting honey with its long flexible tongue, but is 

 never known to settle upon a blossom. If disturbed it is 

 instantly gone, high into the air, and passing over the trees 

 with a speed which the eye can scarcely follow. From these 

 peculiarities it is known as the Ilumming-bird moth, and has 



