194 
The date of the appearance of the caterpillar is in 
May and June. 
It feeds on the currant, the sloe, <fcc. 
This species is a very variable one, some being much 
lighter than others, and some with more yellow. 
ABRAXAS ULMARIA. 
SCARCE MAGPIE. YORKSHIRE MAGPIE. 
Plate XXVII. Figure 5. 
This insect measures from a little under an inch and 
three quarters to that width across. 
Male : fore wings delicate white with a rich fulvous and 
brown patch on the inner corner, a large patch of the 
same on and beyond the middle of the lower margin, with 
a paler and smaller one on the middle of the upper margin, 
and a few small pale ones towards and on the outer mar¬ 
gin. Hind wings delicate white with a large rich fulvous 
and brown patch on the middle of the inner margin from 
which a curved row of paler spots of the same colour runs 
across, with another between it and the inner corner ; the 
head is brown, thorax brown, body orange-yellow spotted 
with brown. 
Localities for this species, which though extensively 
distributed is decidedly local, are York, Newcastle-on- 
Tyne, Sadborough, Durham, Stowe Wood, Huddersfield, 
Newnham, Matlock, Darlington, Nunburnholme, Lower 
Guiting, Warter, Birkenhead, Dorking, Barnstaple, Man¬ 
chester, Scarborough, Bristol, West Wickham, Witney, 
Worcester, Birmingham, Snowdon, Llanferias, Holywell, 
Preston, Wlialley. 
