ZYG.'ENID.^. 131 



the fore-wings are pale, or semi-transparent, or of a golden hue 

 as though the blue colouring had been discharged— especially 

 towards the margins ; and from near York a local strain was 

 obtained some years ago, more thinly scaled and greyer than 

 usual with the lower central spot unusually large. Mr. G. T. 

 Porritt has one which has the dark portion of the forewings 

 of a rich blue shot with purple, and Dr. Mason a specimen in 

 which the same portions are wholly bronzy without a trace 

 of blue, the blue colour at the margins of the hind wings also 

 being absent. In Mr. C. A. Briggs' collection is one, taken 

 at Croydon, having the hind wings and the spots pink. 

 On the wing at the end of June and in July. 



Larva nearly an inch long ; head small and retractile, 

 black and shining ; mouth yellow ; body plump with rather 

 deeply divided segments, green, with subdorsal and spiracular 

 rows of velvety black blotches, divided by transverse pale 

 yellow bars, by which each black blotch is sejDarated into two, 

 one oval, the other reniform ; the usual tubercular spots green 

 with short whitish bristles (Buckler). 



Fi'om August to October and after hybernation to June on 

 Lathyrus pratcnsis^ Lotus corniculatus and clover ; but not 

 unfrequently refusing to feed in the sjDring and remaining 

 quiescent through the summer and a second winter. This 

 has been noticed by more than one observer. 



Pupa with the coverings, of the head, antennas, legs and 

 wings blackish brown, the back and abdominal portion dark 

 green or blackish green. In a fusiform, yellow or whitish, 

 silken cocoon, attached to culms of grass or the stems of plants, 

 often quite conspicuously visible. In pupa two or three weeks. 



Like the preceding in its habits. Abounding in its favourite 

 localities, which are rather various, comprising high limestone 

 pastures, damp woods, and even fens. Mr. H. Doubleday 

 records that he received from time to time hundreds of larvae 

 from Holme Fen, where they fed on Lathyrus pratensis, and 



