SESIID^. 87 



purple black with orange clashes. Wings transparent with 

 black nervures. Fore wings with the costal margin blackish ; 

 dorsal margin narrowly black ; apical and hind marginal 

 space filled with a blotch consisting of narrow lines of reddish 

 orange separated by broad black lines on the nervures ; 

 transverse bar broad, black. Hind wings with the hind 

 margin bronzy black. Cilia all dark bronzy grey. 



Under side of fore wings iridescent light blue ; costal and 

 dorsal margins yellow ; apical blotch orange divided by black 

 nervures ; cross-bar dark purple ; of hind wings iridescent 

 purple with the margin bronzy orange ; cilia all dark grey 

 with a golden gloss. Palpi bright yellow ; thorax black ; 

 abdomen black with yellow lateral spots indicating the belts 

 of the upper side ; legs yellow with blackish dashes. 



June, and, in its northern range, in July. 



Larva slender, smooth, shining, with a few scattered 

 bristles ; usual spots slightly raised ; divisions of segments 

 rather deep. Head reddish brown, with the mouth darker, 

 and the lobes outlined with whitish ; second segment with a 

 pale yellowish-brown horny plate ; body whitish-ochreous, 

 unicolorous, with very faint indications of a darker dorsal 

 line. In the pith of the stems of currant trees (Rihes rubrum 

 and a. nigrum) feeding downwards. (0. Fenn.) 



August to May, but possibly feeding two years. 



Pupa red brown ; placed head upwards, within the stem, 

 at the junction of two or more branches, close to a small 

 aperture prepared by the larva. (0. Fenn.) 



A common species in gardens about the currant bushes, 

 sunning itself upon the leaves, and hovering about around 

 them, but so little timid that it may be touched with the hand, 

 and has been known to be attracted by the blossoms of 

 aromatic plants such as thyme and marjoram. 



Very common in most parts of England ; abundant in the 

 south ; found in Yorkshire and South-west Lancashire, but 



