SESIIDJE. . 95 



transpai'ent with blackish nervures ; costal mai'gin of the 

 fore wings of a brilliant red shading into glistening mixed 

 blue and red ; dorsal margin similar ; hind marginal space 

 filled by a large blotch of rich deep vermilion divided by the 

 black nervures, and with the extreme margin black ; transverse 

 spot black with glistening blue suffusion ; hind wings narrowly 

 edged with black. Cilia all coppery grey. 



Under side with the transparent portions of the wings 

 iridescent purple-blue ; costal margin of the fore wings 

 broadly glistening golden yellow ; crossbar black, edged with 

 yellow ; tip vermilion divided by black nervures and edged 

 outwardly with black ; other margins of both wings, with the 

 cilia, bronzy-purplish black. Palpi brilliant red ; under surface 

 of thorax and abdomen black, except a large vermilion 

 blotch covering three segments of the latter ; legs black, tarsi 

 shining yellow. Sexes similar. 



Variation in this species seems t;) be rare, but Mr. Sydney 

 Webb has a specimen in which the red belt extends over 

 three segments on the upper side of the abdomen ; and one 

 reared by Mr. F. W. Frohawk has the belt and the apex of 

 the fore wings of a bronzy gold colour without any trace of 

 red. 



June, July, and August. 



Larva rather plump and of equal thickness ; head rounded 

 with the lobes rather prominent, brown edged with blackish ; 

 dorsal plate large and broad, light brown, with two oblique 

 lines ; body white faintly tinged with yellow ; dorsal line 

 faintly grey ; anal segment with an indistinct pale brownish 

 plate. 



In stumps of Osier {Salix viminalis) burrowing in the solid 

 wood and pith. September to June. 



Pupa slender, reddish brown. 



Usually in a chamber at the top of the stump of osier, where 

 it has been cut. 



A very local species, and seldom noticed. It sits upon 



