ARCTIID^. 259 



with rather short soft hair which is longest on the hinder 

 segments. Head dark grey ; body purplish brown with a 

 broad, even, white dorsal stripe containing a yellow spot on 

 each segment ; subdorsal and spiracular stripes dark brown ; 

 spiracles ringed with black ; below each of them a white dot ; 

 legs brown ; hairs brown. When younger the spots in the 

 dorsal stripe are crimson, and the spiracles are placed in 

 large black spots. 



July to May, hybernating small (except in those instances 

 in which a few in confinement feed up in August). On 

 plantain, dandelion, scabious, hawkweed, chickweed and 

 other low-growing plants. A very active larva, coiling itself 

 when disturbed but suddenly uncoiling and running with 

 great swiftness. 



Pupa elongated, rather rugose and augulated in front ; 

 segments ridged. Anterior portion dark brown with pale gi'ey 

 stripes at the back of the head and wing-cases ; hinder seg- 

 ments chestnut brown. In a slight silken cocoon at the 

 roots of plants. 



Almost confined to heaths, wild places among bracken, and 

 the open portions of heathy woods. The male is very active 

 when disturbed in the sunshine, flying up to a height of about 

 twenty feet in the air and then dashing off, but unless carried 

 further by the wind, settling again at a distance of twenty or 

 thirty yards, to rise with still wilder haste if followed. Yet 

 it does not fly freely of its own accord in the daytime. Late 

 in the afternoon the female may sometimes be seen flying 

 much more gently, and both sexes may be found sitting on 

 heather and heath-grasses at night. The natural flight 

 appears to be more particularly in the early morning before 

 daylight and at this time it will occasionally visit a strong 

 light. Common, though sometimes rather local, on heaths in 

 all the Southern and Eastern Counties of England and in 

 South Wales, but rather scarce in Devonshire. Formerly 

 plentiful in the fen district of Cambridgeshire and the 



