ARCTIID^. 275 



sometimes even a rich ruby red, the hind wings being very- 

 rosy ; and the dark band near the margin of the hind wings 

 is broken up, in many specimens, into a series of separate 

 cloudy spots. In more inland and western districts the 

 band is uubroken though the bright colour is maintained, 

 but as one proceeds northwards a more smoky tint is gradu- 

 ally assumed until in Scotland, especially in mountain 

 districts, the fore wings are commonly darkened by an 

 admixture of brown or grey, and the hind so entirely suffused 

 with smoky grey that the sub-marginal band commonly 

 disappears, melting into the general smoky grey or blackish 

 colouring. Very often the only trace of the light crimson 

 colour left in the hind wings is in the cilia, or perhaps a 

 slight stripe down the dorsal margin ; the abdomen is also 

 blackened by extension of the dorsal stripe. These dark 

 specimens have received the varietal name horealis, but no 

 line of distinction exists ; specimens are found of every 

 possible intermediate tint. In the North of Ireland, with 

 males of the ordinary brighter colour, are females with the 

 hind wings almost totally dark grey. A very curious variety 

 has been taken near Belfast by Mr. C. A. Watts, a male 

 with fore and hind wings tvhitish, very nearly transparent, 

 and altogether contrary to the general tendency of its varia- 

 tions. Dark specimens occur casually in the south — one 

 reared from a larva found at Folkestone has the hind wings 

 grey, even bluish-grey toward the hind margin ; and a speci- 

 men reared by Mrs. Bazett, from a larva found in Hampshire, 

 has the hind wings divided in colour down the middle ; the 

 outer half being grey, the inner bright red. 



On the wing in May and June, and again, as a partial 

 second generation, at the end of July and in August. There 

 is even a record of the rearing of a third generation in Sep- 

 tember. 



Larva stout, but tapering off a little in front. Head small, 

 smoky black, mouth yellow or reddish ; body purplish brown 



