PEMPELTA BKTD-LX. 279 



The only indication of subdorsal lines is in an indis- 

 tinct and interrupted series of small white dots (more 

 numerous in some specimens than in others), from the 

 second to about the ninth segment. The spiracular 

 stripes are of the clear bright lemon-yellow of those 

 of the dorsal area, and below them is another equally 

 broad, but more interrupted, white stripe. The 

 spiracles are black, the hairs grey. The ventral 

 surface and the prolegs are uniformly dull black ; the 

 anterior legs are also black, but highly polished. The 

 larva is very pretty, and is a conspicuous and striking 

 object when at rest, stretched along the midrib under 

 a slight web on the upper side of a birch leaf; the 

 spinning of the slight web draws the edges of the leaf, 

 and turns them up a little on each side. 



The bright colours are evidently not assumed until 

 the last moult, but, unfortunately, I have no descrip- 

 tion of the larva in an earlier stage. Whilst collecting 

 the larvas, I put in a separate box a number of 

 supposed birch-feeding Tortrices, etc., one of which 

 developed into a bright Pempelia betulde, but the only 

 recollection I have of it when found is a dull unin- 

 teresting-looking larva, brownish-black, with dingy, 

 pale, double dorsal stripe. This specimen did not spin 

 up until quite the end of June, whereas all the others 

 were enclosed by about the 10th of June. My larva? 

 formed their cocoons in the corners of their cage, but 

 Mr. Warren writes me that, in a state of nature, " the 

 larva makes a conspicuous white web in a leaf, or more 

 frequently draws three or four leaves together ; these 

 nests are easily seen, and it pupates within them." 



The pupa is from three-eighths to half an inch 

 long, rough, but highly polished, of the usual shape, 

 except that it has a more pointed appearance, caused 

 by the abdomen tapering rapidly to the anal segment, 

 which ends with a rather sharp point. All [the parts 

 are prominently denned, the colour uniformly black. 



My first imago appeared on the 3rd of July, but 

 Mr. Tindall had one out on the 29th of June, and two 



