THE BURNISHED BRASS. 65 



Cheshire. In some southern gardens the caterpillars abound 

 to such an extent that they are regarded as a plague. On the 

 continent it is said to feed on sunflower, artichoke, burdock, 

 and cucumber. 



The caterpillar is green, dotted with white ; a dark line along 

 the back and a white one along the sides. In the early stage it 

 is black or sooty brown, and hides itself among the spun 

 together flower buds, or in a turned down tender leaf. It feeds 

 in .May and June, occasionally found in late April, after hiberna- 

 tion, and a second generation sometimes occurs in July and 

 August. Monkshood {Acom'tum) and larkspur (^Dclphiniuin) 

 are the usual food plants, and it is curious to note that whilst 

 some observ^ers state that larkspur alone is eaten, others say 

 that monkshood is the only food. The moth flies in June and 

 July, and sometimes there is an emergence in August and 

 September. It visits the blossoms of various garden plants, 

 and is also attracted by light. 



The caterpillar, represented on Plate 27, Fig. i, was found 

 with others on larkspur in Mr, Herbert Smith's garden at Wal- 

 lington, Surrey. The cocoon and chrysalis is from a photo by 

 Mr. H. Main. Another photo by Mr. Main shows the young 

 caterpillar constructing its retreat. 



According to Duponchel this species occurred in Normandy, 

 Central and Northern Europe, as far back as 1829. A much 

 paler form inclining to silvery, var. esmeralda^ Oberthiir, is found 

 in Ussuri, North China, and other parts of East Asia. 



The Burnished Brass {Plnsia chrysitis). 



Two forms of this metallic-looking species are represented 

 (Plate 22) ; 5 is typical and 6 shows the ab. juiicta^ Tutt. 

 Between these are various intermediate stages leading to the 

 complete division of the central band. The broken central band 

 is a character of var. ?iadeja, Oberthiir, from Amurland and 



Series II. p 



