100 



BRITISH AND EUROPEAN BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS. 



in a black pyramid. It is found in the Tyrol 

 and on the higher Alps, appearing in August. 



FAIMILY 



H A D E N I D .E. 



Antennae often pectinated or serrated in 

 the males. Proboscis usually strong, legs 

 thick; the hind legs long, tibiae rarely with 

 bristles. The thorax is convex, broadly 

 quadrangular, -with obtusely angled shoulders, 

 and generally with strong crests in front and 

 behind, which frequently form a narrow ridge, 

 raised behind. The abdomen has tufts or 

 raised hair on the anterior segments. The 

 fore wings are distinctly broader behind, with 

 the hind margin oblique and the hinder angle 

 rounded. The fringes are deeply sinuated and 

 seldom entire. The hind wings are broad and 

 almost always somewhat contracted below the 

 tip. The larvae are smooth, with sixteen legs, 

 and hide themselves by day, coming out to 

 feed at night, when they may be found with 

 the lantern. 



Genus Charaeas, Steph. 



The hair on the thorax and palpi is coarse 

 and thin, and the antennae are pectinated in 

 the males. The claviform stigma is unusually 

 long and pale. The fore wings are broad 

 behind, with rectangular tips, a straight hind 

 margin, curved below, and entire fringes. The 

 hind wings are small. The abdomen is arched, 

 and extends far beyond the anal angle. The 

 only species is : — • 



C. graminis, Linn. The Antler ]\Ioth. 

 Fore wings reddish brown or greyish brown, 

 darkest in the central area and on the hind 

 margin. Both transverse lines are almost 

 obliterated. The orbicular stigma is broad, 

 and the reniform has two white dentations 

 projecting on nervures 3 and 4 respectively. 

 The claviform stigma is very large and pro- 

 minent. The subniarginal line is formed with 

 dark sagittate spots, and the marginal line 

 is dark also. The fringes are yellowish white 

 on the anterior half. Hind wings dark grey, 

 paler towards the base, with yellowish white 

 fringes, but no central lunule. The moth varies 

 considerably in colour and markings. It is 



common in Northern and Central Europe, 

 especially in mountainous districts, appearing 

 in July and August. The caterpillar is dark 

 brown, with a yellowish dorsal and lateral 

 stripe, and a dark smooth plate on the second 

 and terminal segments. It lives from Autumn 

 to Spring at the roots of grass, often in large 

 numbers, causing great destruction. 



Genus Neuronia, Hiibn. 



Antennae pectinated in the males; pro- 

 boscis short and soft ; front without any horny 

 projection. The fore wings are truncated be- 

 hind, with the hinder angle rounded. The 

 orbicular and reniform stigmata are surrounded 

 by a pale area, and are filled up with darker. 

 The fringes are entire. The hind wings are 

 short and white, with a brown hind margin. 

 The larvae are cylindrical, stout, and shining, 

 with a horny plate on the neck and an anal 

 fold. They feed on the roots and shoots of 

 grass, and assume the pupa state in the 

 ground. 



N. popularis, Fabr. The Feathered Gothic. 

 'PI. XXR'. fig. 13. is common in Central 

 Europe from July to Sejitember. The larva 

 is shining dark brown, with black transverse 

 lines, and a light grey longitudinal stripe on 

 each side. It feeds at the roots of grass in 

 Spring, and when in large numbers is some- 

 times very destructive. 



N. cespitis, \V. \'. The Hedge Rustic. 

 Fore wings dark brown, with both transverse 

 lines rusty yellow, edged with black. The two 

 stigmata are rusty yellow, the orbicular being 

 the darker, and the reniform lighter, especially 

 towards the hind margin. The claviform stig- 

 ma is indistinct, and is surrounded wnth rusty 

 brown. The submarginal line is finely zigzag, 

 pale yellow, sometimes interrupted, with small 

 dark sagittate streaks towards the base. The 

 hind wings are dirty white in the male, with 

 brownish hind margins, and brownish grey in 

 the female, lighter at the base. The head and 

 thorax are dark brown. The moth is found 

 in August and September in Central Europe, 

 but is local and not very common. The cater- 

 pillar is dark brown, with five lighter longi- 

 tudinal lines, and with the second and last 

 segments black. It lives on Aira and Tritkiim 

 repeiis in .\pril and May. 



