256 LEPIDOPTERA. 



entirely black. As it grows it shows the same pale segments 

 and much the same colouring as the more closely allied 

 species, the dark segments become smoky brown and the 

 hairs are black, from one to six on a raised spot, and twice as 

 long as the larva is thick ; the pale segments show themselves 

 more especially in white spaces around the raised spots ; but 

 there is variation at this stage, some of the larvse being black 

 and white. At each change of skin it is at first black, then 

 grows paler ; and when nearly one-half grown the fifth 

 segment is thickened, as also is the twelfth, but as it con- 

 tinues to grow this thickening disappears. As it progresses 

 toward full growth the colour is somewhat inconstant, being 

 in one variety jet black, with the hairs either black or dirty 

 whitish ; in another the skin is browner, with few black 

 hairs, the majority being pale brown ; while a third form is 

 intermediate, the third and twelfth segments blacker than 

 the rest, the remaining segments with more black hairs, but 

 the brown ones paler. None have any markings except the 

 red lateral spots, which are dirty brick-red in varieties two and 

 three, but in variety one of a rich pink-red. Of the full fed 

 larva there is an aberration of a deep brown colour. 



August, September, on sallow, heather, sweet gale, whortle- 

 berry, bramble, bog-bean {Mcnyanthcs trifoliata), birch, and 

 even rushes and grasses. Very fond of the dwarf sallows 

 and birch bushes growing at the edges of wet spots on 

 heaths. Feeding by day, and usually near the top of its 

 food-plant. 



Pupa very cylindrical, being of nearly the same breadth 

 from the shoulders of the wing cases to within a short 

 distance of the tail, where it is very suddenly tapered off ; 

 rounded in front ; covers of the eyes and palpi prominent ; 

 abdominal segments each with a raised ridge like the hoop 

 of a cask ; anal bristles very small, on a short thick spike, 

 unicolorous black-brown. In a strong, tough cocoon of 

 brown silk among fallen leaves or rubbish, close to the 



