THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



117 



divisions yellow overlapping, especially 

 between the 12th and 13th segments ; 

 spiracles white, encircled with brown ; corset 

 marked wifh two yellow curved streaks ; 

 head round, green and shining ; legs and 

 claspers, green and shining." His figure (pi. 

 36, fig. 2) agrees tolerably well with this 

 description. 



Leucographa is widely distributed, but is 

 not common anywhere. Its occurrence is 

 recorded in the following counties : — Devon- 

 shire, Somersetshire, Isle of Wight, Sussex, 

 Suffolk, Yorkshire, and the lake district. I 

 can add Durham to this list, Mr. Gardner 

 having taken it here. It is likely that many 

 others could be added to this list. 



RUBRICOSA. 



Fore wings dull reddish brown, all the 

 markings indistinct, the commencement of 

 the lines, &c, generally distinct on the costa. 

 It most nearly resembles leucographa, which 

 may always be recognised by the paler 

 stigmata. The larva feeds chiefly on dock 

 from April to June. It is dull reddish 

 brown in colour, with the usual lines very 

 pale yellow, spiracles black, head, legs, and 

 claspers pink. The lines are not very clearly 

 marked, but may always be traced on close 

 examination. This species is found all over 

 England, in Scotland, and also in Ireland, 

 but -is not one of those of most frequent 

 occurrence or most abundant. 



INSTABILIS. 

 This is the most variable species of the 

 genus, and several forms are tolerably com- 

 mon. That most abundant here is dark grey- 

 brown, with the sub-terminal line and the 

 margins of the stigmata pale ochreous. 

 Others are rather redder in hue, and the 

 stigma are not so distinctly margined with 

 pale. A very pretty form not uncommon 

 here is rather pale grey, with an irregular 

 dark band across the centre, the stigmata 

 not distinct, and the sub-terminal line more 

 or less bordered with black on the inside. 



For other forms I must refer to the plate. 

 The larva is green, with distinct yellow 

 lines. It feeds on poplars, willow, and other 

 trees, ascending to feed in the afternoon. 

 It is full fed early in July. 



OPIMA. 



Fore wings grey, grey brown, or reddish 

 brown, often with a darker shade across the 

 middle of the wing; the margins of the 

 stigmata and the subterminal line generally 

 distinct, pale ochreous. Larva reddish 

 brown above, yellowish green below the 

 spiracles, but varying much. The usual 

 lines paler, spiracles yellow, head brown, 

 legs and claspers green. It feeds on rose 

 and willow, and, like its congeners, is full 

 fed in July. The insect is by no means of 

 general distribution, and seems rather 

 partial to the coast. It is abundant on the 

 Cheshire sand-hills, where one place is 

 known to local collectors as the "opima 

 ground." In addition to the published 

 localities, I have taken it here occasionally, 

 but never found the larva. 



POPULETI. 



Fore wings dark grey, the stigmata mar- 

 gined with pale ochreous, the orbicular 

 stigma darker than the ground colour, the 

 subterminal line pale ochreous, with a dark 

 border inside. The wings are rather shiny 

 but not so much so as C. cubiculavis. The 

 antennae are more pectinated than any of the 

 others. Larva pale green, some specimens 

 greenish white ; very transparent, the vis- 

 cera showing through the skin ; the dorsal 

 line paler, nearly white ; subdorsal and 

 spiracular lines not so distinct, but similar ; 

 spiracles edged with a fine black line ; head 

 cream-colour, marked with black. When 

 at rest it raises the anterior segments from 

 the food and bends the head underneath. 

 This description is from some larvae sent me 

 in 1881 by Mrs. Hutchinson, from which I 

 subsequently bred the insect. The larva 

 was unknown when Stainton's Manual was 



