ARCTIID.E. 255 



On the wing at the eud of July and through August. 



Larva nearly cylindrical, but slightly tapering at each end ; 

 head rather small, rounded, notched above, black ; general 

 colour pale brown, dark brown or blackish, with the raised 

 spots paler or sometimes yellow, and each bearing a spreading 

 tuft of stiff pale brown hairs or bristles ; dorsal line paler 

 brown, yellow, or orange yellow, repeatedly constricted and 

 interrupted ; spiracular lines whitish, broken up into a series 

 of spots, many of them double, and delicately edged with black; 

 spiracles and legs black ; pro-legs very pale brown or grey, 

 with darker markings. 



September to July, hybernating, when very small, close to 

 the ground, and feeding up in the spring and summer. On 

 lettuce {Lctcticca), dandelion (Leontodon taraxacuni), Borago 

 officinalis, Lamium albuvi, Plantago, nettle, groundsel and 

 low-growing plants generally, especially those growing in the 

 shelter of bushes or on banks. 



Pupa of moderate thickness, rounded, rather blunt behind. 

 In a very slight cocoon of silk, with little or no admixture of 

 hairs. On the ground under loose moss or rubbish. The 

 hairs in this species seem to remain firmly attached to the 

 larva skin. 



Rather a sluggish species. Said to fly in the daytime, and 

 sometimes very active in the hot sunshine, yet certainly 

 prefers to hide itself in hedges or bushes, whence it may, in 

 in its very restricted localities, be occasionally beaten out. 

 Even then it does not fly at once but drops down, and if 

 unnoticed, will rouse itself after a few seconds and fly wildly 

 over the road or hedge. Said to have a special fondness for 

 sitting in hedges close to field-gates ; and also to be found in 

 corn-fields. Abroad it is reported to frequent stony places 

 covered with flowers, especially in hilly districts. Mr. G, C, 

 Bignell says that in bright sunny weather it flies so strongly 

 and so freely that it may readily be mistaken for a wasted 

 Argynnis Faphia. A specimen flying thus and seen to alight, 



