BRITISH AXD EUROPEAN BUTTERFLIES AXD MOTHS. 



147 



of which is bordered on both sides with black, 

 but the lateral ones only above. It feeds on 

 low plants in May and June. 



O. laevis, Hiibn. Fore wings light reddish 

 or yellowish grey, with the half Hne and the 

 two transverse lines lighter; these are bordered 

 with grey on both sides or on the inner side 

 only. The stigmata are yellow centred with 

 darker; the orbicular is small, and above it 

 is the commencement of a rusty yellow central 

 shade; the reniform stigma is still darker and is 

 black below. The submarginal line is rust- 

 coloured, and behind it on the nervures are two 

 rows of black, and between them a single row 

 of white dots. The marginal line is darker 

 and the fringes are reddish. The hind wings 

 are grey with yellowish fringes, generally darker 

 in the female. The abdomen is ashy grey with 

 a yellowish anal tuft. The antennae are 

 notched in the male. It is found in Central 

 Europe, but not in Britain, and is scarce 

 and local. The larva is light brown with 

 a narrow pointed head, a yellowish dorsal 

 stripe and a black cervical plate on which 

 are two white lines. It feeds on low plants 

 in ^lay. 



O. litura, Linn. The Brown-spot Pinion. 

 Fore wings greyish coppery red with a black 

 half line, two light transverse lines bordered 

 with darker, and a dark shade between the 

 yellow-margined stigmata, which is angulated 

 beyond them and continued straight as far as 

 the inner margin. There is an indistinct 

 yellow submarginal line dotted witli black, a 

 similar marginal line and a yellow line on 

 the middle of the fringes. The two trans- 

 verse lines, the central shade and the sub- 

 marginal line commence at the costa with a 

 black spot. The hind wings are brownish grey 

 with a yellow marginal line, and the fringes 

 are brownish. It is common throughout 

 Central and Southern Europe in September 

 and October. The larva is very variable, 

 usually green dusted with black and white 

 and covered with small white warts, with a 

 white or yellowish sharp-edged dorsal stripe, 

 a white or yellow lateral line, sharply defined 

 above, and beneath passing into the colour of 

 the belly, and white ringed black spiracles. 

 It feeds in May and June on various low plants, 

 especially pinks, and on some trees. 



Genus Xanthia, Treit. 



Middle-sized or small moths with narrow, 

 usually bright yellow fore wings, with curved 

 hind margins and pointed apices. All the 

 Noci'zM-markings are present. The two trans- 

 verse lines are each formed of two rows of 

 dark lunules, in such a way that the posterior 

 is dentated towards the hind margins. The 

 palpi are distinctly prominent, with a curved 

 terminal joint. The antennae of the males 

 are slightly ciliated. The tegulas are generally 

 compressed so as to be keeled or comb-like. 

 The larvae resemble those of the last genus, 

 and many live between leaves which they 

 have spun together. When about to pass into 

 the pupa-state the larvae bury themselves in 

 the ground and remain there for some time 

 before undergoing the change. 



X. citrago, Linn. The Orange Sallow. 

 Fore wings sulphur-yellow, dusted with rusty 

 yellow, with a rusty yellow half line and two 

 simple transverse lines, a sharply -defined 

 central shade, nearly parallel with the posterior 

 transverse line, and rusty yellow nervures. 

 The stigmata as well as the submarginal lines, 

 are slightly indicated in rusty yellow, and 

 between the latter and the rusty yellow mar- 

 ginal line are some similar spots between 

 the nervures. The hind wings are straw- 

 coloured with brighter fringes. The head and 

 thorax are sulphur-yellow, the latter with a 

 rusty yellow crest, and the abdomen is straw- 

 coloured with a reddish anal tuft. It is found 

 throughout Europe and appears about the 

 middle of July or in August. The larva is 

 reddish grey with a black cervical plate, a 

 white dorsal line with black dots on each side 

 and a broad yellowish white lateral line. It 

 lives in May between leaves of the lime, 

 which it spins together. The pupa also rests 

 between the leaves. 



X. sulphurago, \\' . V. Fore wings sulphur- 

 yellow with rusty brown markings. There is 

 a half line and two complete transverse lines, 

 a sharply-defined and doubly angulated central 

 shade and a submarginal line composed of dots. 

 The marginal area and the fringes are rather 

 lighter brown. The orbicular stigma consists 

 of one or two rusty-brown dots, the reniform 

 is so reduced as almost to form two brown 

 rings, one superimposed on the other. The 



