TRIFID^. 377 



series of slender blackish curves, faintly duplicated inwardly ; 

 second line also obscure, oblique, blackish, consisting of a 

 series of long loops attached to a row of black dots ; beyond 

 is a row of obscure blackish wedge-shaped spots, forming the 

 inner edge of a barely visible paler subterminal line ; costal 

 and hind margin dotted with black ; orbicular and reniform 

 stigmata indicated by obscure blackish margins, and the 

 latter clouded with dark grey ; all the markings very obscure 

 and minute, producing the effect of a series of faint dotted 

 lines ; cilia pale brown. Hind wings ample, the margin 

 rounded except below the apical angle, where it is rather 

 hollowed out ; smoky-brown, darkest at the hind margin ; 

 nervures darker brown ; cilia yellowish, shading off to white, 

 and intersected by a brown line. Antennae of the female 

 threadlike ; general colour slightly darker, but extremely 

 similar. 



Underside of the fore wings pale ashy-grey, with the 

 margins yellowish and the whole surface shining with a 

 golden gloss; beyond the middle is an obscure dark grey 

 transverse stripe ; of hind wings pale grey with a smoky 

 black central spot, followed by a slender transverse dark grey 

 stripe ; costal region broadly yellowish ; body whitey brown ; 

 legs brown, barred with yellowish ; leg tufts pale greyish- 

 brown. 



Hardly variable in any one locality, but subject to regular 

 gradations of colouring in accordance with latitude. On the 

 South coast its colour is brownish-grey, or even pale brown ; 

 as it occurs further North the colour becomes darker, till in 

 the North of Scotland the insect is of a unicolorous grey- 

 black. 



On the wing in July and August, or in the extreme North 

 and West in September. 



Larva. Head shining brown; dorsal plate triangular, 

 brownish-black ; on each side of it a brownish-black mark ; 

 dorsal line inconspicuous, extremely narrow, light brown with 



