ZYG^NID^. 119 



distinct species in lists and collections, and as an additional 

 distinction it was stated that in the form called Minos the 

 scales or hairs of the body were shorter and smoother than 

 in Nuhigena and of a greenish tint. This, however, was soon 

 shown to be fallacious, the smoother appearance being only 

 caused by the lying down of the hairs, and it was readily 

 demonstrated that one form varied perfectly into the other, 

 leaving no distinctive characters, and that all were to be 

 found living together, without indication of anything but 

 the most absolute identity of habit and species. Neverthe- 

 less the name nuhigena is still in not uncommon use in this 

 country. 



The semi-transparent appearance of the wings of this and 

 the allied species is caused by the fact that the scales do not 

 overlap as in other species, but lie separate. Under a strong 

 lens they appear, in the present species, like great shoals of 

 the fry of fish in the act of swimming. 



Larva three-fourths of an inch long. Soft, plump, cylin- 

 drical ; head black, retractile ; collar whitish ; body rich 

 dark olive-green, with the dorsal line dirty white, expanding 

 at the front of each segment ; on each side of it a row of 

 eleven round, velvety, black spots, placed on the third to 

 the thirteenth segments ; below these a row of eight yellow 

 spots on the fourth to eleventh segments, placed nearly 

 alternately; each segment with a transverse row of eight 

 fascicles of stiff white hairs ; spiracles black ; legs and 

 prolegs grey. 



When very young brownish, hybernating when quite small, 

 at which time it is of the size and shape of a dry leaf of 

 thyme, so that when stationary upon the plant, it is 

 perfectly concealed. In March, after moulting, blackish- 

 green with the black and yellow spots visible, but becoming 

 paler with growth, yet again darker at each moult, 



July to April or May, on Thymus serpyllum^ eating the 

 leaves ; feeding most freely in the sunshine. (Buckler.) 



