ARCTIID^. 263 



red. Dr. Mason has two males of this var. hospita in 

 which the hind wings have no trace of the usual central 

 black markings, and Mr. S. Stevens one in which they 

 are reduced to a few marginal spots. 



On the wing in June, occasionally at the end of May, 

 or lasting into July, according to the season ; and in rare 

 instances specimens of a partial second generation have 

 been known to occur in August and September. 



Larva cylindrical with the segments slightly thickened. 

 Head round, deep black ; body smoky black, with the 

 tubercular spots bluish-black, bearing spreading tufts of long 

 black hairs ; on segments five, six, and seven, however, the 

 spots are orange and the tufts of hairs orange-red or red- 

 brown, forming a conspicuous broad reddish belt before the 

 middle. The hairs from the lowest row of spots are, more- 

 over, sometimes grey or orange-yellow, and those of the last 

 segment are longer than the rest. Legs and forelegs black 

 or grey. When very young it is of a dull pale green 

 with the hairs long. 



July to May, hybernatiug when nearly half grown, 

 among the food-plant on the ground. But — more es- 

 pecially in confinement — it occasionally happens that 

 some few larvae of a brood feed on rapidly, at once, and 

 produce perfect insects in August, September, or even 

 October. On plantain, especially Flanta/jo lanceolat,a, 

 lettuce, groundsel, Helianthemum vulgar e, Poteriwm sangui- 

 sorba, and doubtless other low-growing plants. Said to be 

 fond of sunning itself on plants ; also very active in its 

 movements. 



Pupa shining, dark red brown. In a loose cocoon among 

 its food-plants. 



A very lively species, the males flying actively in the 

 sunshine and assembling freely around a freshly emerged 

 female. Attached to open woods, heaths, hill-sides, espe- 



