PEASE-BLOSSOM MOTH. 237 



narrow, veiy slightly notched on the hinder margin, 

 and furnished, as well as the under wings, with a 

 yery long fringe : the anterior tibiae very short, and 

 hearing two naked horny spines at the extremity. 

 The Larkspur or Pease-blossom Moth expands 

 about an inch and a quarter ; the upper wings with 

 a broad three-lobed band at the base, and a narrow 

 one behind the middle, of a purple colour ; the 

 space between these bands, which is bounded on 

 each side by a pale sinuated line, variegated with 

 pale rose-colour and purple; the hinder margin 

 likewise pale rosy, with a black line next the 

 fringe ; the latter yellowish- white. The under 

 wings are whitish, tinged with rose-colour behind, 

 and having a transverse dusky spot near the middle 

 yellowish-white. 



The caterpillar is yellow, tinged with lilac on the 

 back and belly, where it is likewise marked with 

 numerous rows of black spots ; each side with a line 

 of rather bright yellow. It feeds on the wild Lark- 

 spur (Delphinium Consolida), a plant which grows 

 pretty abundantly in some of the southern counties 

 of England, but which is not found in a wild state 

 in Scotland. 



" This charming moth," says Mr. Curtis, " is no 

 less esteemed for its rarity than for its lovely 

 colours ; the specimens in Mr Stephen's cabinet, as 

 well as those in the British Museum, are from 

 Windsor ; and it has once been taken by the late 

 Mr. Jones in his garden at Chelsea. Its favourite 

 food is the larkspur ; it therefore ought to be met 



