182 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS 



tributed throughout the south of England, but does not 

 seem to extend its range far towards the north; it would 

 appear to be totally wanting in Scotland, if, indeed, it 

 be found north of Manchester. In Ireland it has 

 occurred near Dublin. 



The expansion of the wings is about ] J inch. The 

 fore-wings are blackish, in fine specimens with a beauti- 

 ful purplish gloss, with faint indications of the darker 

 transverse lines, and a few yellowish dots near the hind 

 margin indicate the position of the subterminal line ; 

 the orbicular stigma is of the same colour as the rest of 

 the wing, almost black, but the reniform stigma is con- 

 spicuously white, with a brownish central line. 



The larva is remarkably handsome, with a velvety 

 appearance, it varies in colour, being sometimes pale 

 green, sometimes reddish-grey; the dorsal line is whitish, 

 and there are some half-lozenge-shaped darker mark- 

 ings along the back of the fifth to twelfth segments ; 

 this last is slightly humped ; it feeds on various low 

 plants in August and September, and is very common 

 in gardens, on geraniums, convolvulus, etc., etc. 



The perfect insect appears in June and July ; it is 

 sometimes found on palings, and occasionally comes to 

 sugar and light. 



FAMILY V. APAMID.E. 



APAMEA BASILINEA. THE EUSTIC 

 SHOULDEK-KNOT. 



This species is also very common and generally dis- 

 tributed. 



The expansion of the wings is nearly 1J inch. The 

 fore-wings are of a greyish-ochreous, with a slight tinge 



