126 BKITISH BUTTEKFLIES. 



upper edge of which are the tiny black spiracles, and the lower edge 

 of which is let flat down on the resting-surface when the larva is at 

 rest. In some larvae the red tinge of these lines is very prominent, in 

 others it is markedly faint. The venter is much paler than the dorsum, 

 the thoracic area inclining to green, the abdominal to yellow, the 

 unicolorous prolegs aiding the pallid appearance. In some of the 

 orange- coloured specimens the general colour seems to have been 

 caused by the spread of the red, faintly, over the whole area ; in some 

 of these the darker red on the orange ground is very effective. There 

 are notes by other observers suggesting considerable variation in the 

 colours of the larvae in their last instar, e.g., the f ullfed larva is -5 inches 

 long, to the unaided eye brownish-yellow in colour, with a narrow, 

 dark longitudinal line down the back, and above the flange a similar 

 very weak line, which is bordered below with a white one, and broken 

 in the intervals between the segments. The head is, as in all Lycaenid 

 larvae, very small, shining dark brown, like the thoracic legs. The 

 whole body is covered with short hairs, which with a lens are seen to 

 stand on dark dots (Schlager teste Zeller, Stett. Knt. Zeitung, 1877, 

 p. 294). The fullgrown larva, of woodlouse form, is about six lines 

 long, anteriorly narrower, posteriorly flattened. The colour of the 

 body is bone-yellow, more rarely brownish-white. Head very small, 

 shining dark brown, paler round the black forked line ; it is, while at 

 rest, entirely withdrawn into the prothorax, through which it appears 

 as a grey spot. Along the side of the greasy-looking dorsal line are 

 undulating lines which become identical with the ground colour before 

 the pupal change ; below the reddish-brown spiracles runs a some- 

 what lunulated white line ; the posterior segments are sometimes 

 tinged with greenish. The upper part of the body is densely covered 

 with short, fine, brownish hairs, in consequence of which the 

 colour of the body assumes a dirty appearance. Legs dark brown, 

 venter yellowish-white. I came across certain larvae which were 

 coloured canary-yellow ; others again, had a flesh-coloured dorsal line, 

 and in some individuals this line, the oblique lines, and the 2nd and 3rd 

 segments were tinged with rosy red. If one compares this larval 

 description with that of Herr Wilde in the second part of " Die 

 L J fianzen and Ran pen DenUclilamk" such essential differences are 

 exhibited that it leaves room for the supposition that that author was 

 led into error by some circumstance, and that some other larva 

 was described by him as that of alsus.* As foodplants, the allied 

 Coronilla, Melilotus, and others, are noted without special remark as to 

 which part of the plant the larva takes for its nourishment (Gartner, 

 Bed. Knt. Zeits., 1865, p. 115). 



Foodplants. — Anthyllis vulneraria (Hellins), [Ornithopus perpusiUus 

 (Postans), wants confirmation,] Astragalus glycyphyllos, A. cicer 

 (lliibner, Zeller, Guenee), Coronilla varia (Bartel andHerz), Coronilla 

 minima, Trifolium procumbens, Melilotus arvensis, M. officinalis (Frion- 

 net), Melilotus (Schultz), 7 ri folium, Coronilla (Eouast), Colatea arbor es- 



* Wilde's description (St/x. Besch. <ler Rati pen, p. 4">) is as follows : " Alms, 

 dirty green, with a reddish, yellow-bordered, dorsal stripe, similarly coloured and 

 bordered oblique stripes, and a yellow lateral line above the legs; head grey-green, 

 with two black spots. 4 L. Pupa greenish-yellow, with four rows of black dots 

 on the back. Lives in June and in August on Coronilla, Melilotus, and other 

 plants. Imago in May and July in dry upland meadows." 



