176 LEPIDOPTERA. 



pale greenish, with longitudinal whitish stripes, and the 

 oblique silvery lines visible ; hind wings white. 



Not very variable, but in some specimens the first oblique 

 silvery stripe bends back close to the costa, forming an angle ; 

 in other cases these stripes are broader or narrower. In Dr. 

 Mason's collection is a specimen in which the crimson edging 

 of the fore wings is brilliantly suffused along the costal 

 margin towards the apex and along the hind margin, also 

 broadly along the dorsal margin, invading the silvery 

 stripes. 



On the wing in June and July. 



Larva stout, tapering posteriorly, and with anal prolegs 

 extended behind ; head large, rounded, prolegs flattened out, 

 or clubbed. Pale pea-green dotted with yellow ; head dull 

 green ; subdorsal lines and front edge of second segment 

 pale lemon yellow ; upper surface of anal prolegs with a red 

 line ; belly whitish. (C. Fenn.) 



August and September, on Oak, Beech, Hazel, Birch ; 

 feeding on the leaves during both the day and the night. 



Pupa dull, elongate, incisions much compressed, tail very 

 blunt and rounded. Very lively. Bright purple or plum 

 colour on the back, shading into reddish-orange beneath ; 

 wing and leg cases much tinged with pale grass-green; tail 

 reddish-brown. In a compact, brown, wrinkled, shell-like, 

 boat-shaped cocoon, placed keel upwards, and with a ridge 

 at the top ; lined inside with silk, and placed either in a 

 slightly drawn-together leaf, in an angle of bark, or among 

 moss. It has the habit of making a rustling noise in the 

 cocoon. (0. Fenn.) 



In pupa through the winter. 



The moth sits in the daytime on the leaves of trees and large 

 bushes, and is readily beaten out into an umbrella, into which 

 it falls, feigning death. Most plentiful in woods, but com- 

 mon among the trees in hedges in a well wooded district. It 



