i8 94 .] THE BRITISH NATURALIST. 9 



ceous beneath. Eyes blackish. Head, thorax and abdomen some- 

 times rather straw colour. Wings, anterior with the costal margin 

 and the base pale fuscous, a rhomboidal spot at middle of the costa, 

 extending obliquely across the wing, interrupted by the nervure, fuscous ; 

 two spots near the apex upon the superior plume, and two or three upon 

 the inferior one, of the same colour ; inferior wings pale fuscous varie- 

 gated with whitish ; four anterior legs above, and thighs of posterior pair, 

 fuscous. Beneath white, fuscous at the base of the wings, and spotted 

 or variegated with the same colour towards their extremities" (" British 

 Entomology," Vol. IV., p. 161). 



Larva — The larva of this species is of a deep greenish colour, covered 

 with short hairs. It has been found full-fed, at Freshwater in the Isle 

 of Wight, by Mr. A. J. Hodges, from the end of May until July, a period 

 of nearly two months. Like those of galactodactyla, the larvae feed some- 

 what gregariously, a considerable number of specimens being found on 

 one plant. Stainton says of the larva : — " On Marrubium vulgare. V — 

 VI." ("Manual," II., p. 444). 



The larva of this species is described by Mr. South as follows : — 

 " Length six lines ; attenuated posteriorly from the 5th segment. Head 

 smaller than 2nd segment ; green, with a yellowish tinge ; crown slightly 

 freckled with brown ; cheek spots small, brown ; mandibles brown. 

 Ground colour green, sprinkled with minute black dots. Tubercles, 

 two dorsal rows (four on each segment) whitish, each emitting a starlike 

 tuft of white hairs ; subdorsal, one wart on each segment, with a starlike 

 tuft of white hairs ; spiracular, one wart on each segment, emitting a 

 starlike tuft of white hairs, and two or three longer whitish hairs. Prolegs 

 and claspers, semitransparent with a green tinge, and tipped with brown. 

 Food, white horehound {Marrubium vulgare) ; feeds on the terminal 

 leaves ; rests on the upper surface of a leaf in damp or dull weather, but 

 hides under the leaves when the sun shines. June and July." ("Ento- 

 mologist," XVI., p. 29). This is a very poor description of the larva, 

 which is of a deep green colour, with distinct reddish or brownish 

 oblique markings on the dorsal area, arranged so that those on either 

 side meet in the centre of the dorsum, forming a distinct series of 

 angular marks down the body, the points being turned towards the 

 head. 



Pupa — The larva pupates on the upper side of the leaf of its food plant 

 .■(Marrubium), usually along the midrib. It is fastened by its anal segment, 

 and has a considerable amount of free movement. It is of a dark green 

 colour when the larva first changes to this state, but it gets whiter as the 

 time for emergence approaches. Pupoe have been found by Mr. A. J. 

 Hodges from the end of May until August, the species being spread over 

 a very considerable period. The following notes were made directly 

 after my first acquaintance with the pupa in a state of nature : — " The 



