55 



The caterpillar escapes from it by eating a hole near the centre of the 

 upper suface, and is plump and hairy, with a greenish-white body and dark 

 head ; it is very slow in its movements. In about five weeks it is full-fed, 

 and then reaches the length of three-eighths of an inch, covered with un- 

 usually long, whitish, soft, silky hair. There appear to be several varieties 

 in colour. One is of a bright yellowish-green, with paler lines ; another is 

 of an olive green, strongly marked with crimson on the dorsal region, and 

 along the sides ; another is of a dark dull satiny green, with a dark green 

 line along the back ; another is of an olivaceous pink or mouse colour. It 

 feeds on the flower buds and young leaves of the holly, ivy, evergreen oak, 

 dogwood, spindle tree, and buckthorn. About four or five days before 

 changing to the chysalis state, it spins a fine layer of silk as a foothold, and 

 fastens itself to a stalk of its food -plant, by a stout thread of silk round the 

 middle of the body, and two short ones on each side, joining which it forms 

 triple moorings. — Buckler, 



The chrysalis is short and obese, smooth, of a green or pale ochreous 

 colour, with brown markings, and a dark dorsal line. 



Argiolus is a common but seldom abundant species, in open woods and 

 gardens, throughout Europe except the extreme North, Northern and Western 

 Asia, and North Africa ; and very closely allied species are found in the 

 Himalayas and North America. 



It is generally distributed throughout England and Ireland, but is ap- 

 parently absent from Scotland and the Isle of Man. 



Bay, in his " Historia Insectorium/' published in 1710, gives it as having 

 taken by Petiver in a garden at Enfield. This appears to be the first 

 account of it being taken in England. 



Lewin writes in 1795, "They are inhabitants of our woodlands, but are 

 far from being numerous. Flying slowly up and down the avenues of the 

 woods they may be easily taken." 



In 1809 and 1810, my father met with it in great plenty at Enborne in 

 Berkshire, during the months of May and June. 



In 1835 and 1836, it was very abundant in Suffolk, but in 1841 only a 

 couple were seen. 



In 1856, immense quantities were taken in Sutton Park, Warwickshire. 

 In 1870, several were seen in Dorsetshire, previously only one had been 

 seen at Glanvilles Wootton, and that on the 28th of April, 1827. 

 In 1882, Argiolus was again very common. 



In the " Entomologist " for 1886, Mr. Harwood of Colchester writes, 

 " I collected for years in this district without meeting with a single specimen ; 



