218 LEPIDOPTERA. 



hairs. Up to' this time the head is almost colourless, but 

 after the second moult it becomes black with green radial 

 markings, and is deeply cleft and rather angular ; the body 

 now begins to assume the adult colouring. After the third 

 moult it is a red larva with black and yellow markings, a 

 black hump on the sixth segment, with two yellow dots behind, 

 a yellow raised patch on the fifth, seventh and tenth, and a 

 small black hump on the twelfth, on each side of which is a 

 conspicuous yellowish-white patch ; the sides are marked with 

 several alternate lines of yellow and fuscous, and the lower 

 parts are still very pale, delicate, and transparent. The hairs 

 are more numerous and whitish, but as it advances toward 

 full growth they sometimes become more rufous, and are still 

 more plentiful and conspicuous, especially toward the head, 

 over which they hang abundantly, " Skye-terrier fashion." 

 At all stages the head is large, but towards full growth the 

 second segment becomes much contracted, being reduced on 

 the back to an exceedingly narrow black collar with two 

 white transverse lines, hard to see under the thick mass of 

 hairs projecting forward, (Condensed from Dr. Chapman's 

 memoir '■' Acronycta and its allies.") 



July to September, on oak ; feeding exposed by day, and 

 loving the hottest sunshine. This beautiful larva strikingly 

 reminds one of that of Liparis salicis. 



Pupa stout, shining, very round, thickest in the middle ; 

 wing-cases full ; limb-cases less conspicuous ; abdomen 

 tapering rather rapidly ; anal extremity flat at the apex, 

 with six short thick recurved hooks ; incisions of segments 

 toothed. Colour deep shining mahogany brown. In an oval 

 compact silken cocoon, the upper end left almost open ; 

 placed immediately below the surface of the ground. Some- 

 times the cocoon is formed partly of gnawed bark or rotten 

 wood. In this state through the winter, and sometimes 

 through another year. 



The moth may occasionally be found, in its very restricted 



