318 HAUSTELLATA. — LEPIDOPTERA. 



short, anterior frequently metallic : body rather short, slender, obtuse, with 

 a slight tuft at the apex in the males : legs rather long. 



The insects of this genus differ from the foregoing by the greater 

 length of the labial palpi, which are porreeted forward in the form of 

 a beak, are very slender, and have the terminal joint a little bent 

 downwards ; the maxillary palpi are more conspicuous, and resemble 

 a small pointed brush or pencil ; the anterior wings are narrow, with 

 the hinder margin either obliquely truncate or faintly emarginate ; 

 the disc is very frequently adorned with radiating metallic, pearly or 

 pale markings, on a yellowish ground, or with large patches of a 

 silvery lustre, and occasionally the anterior wing is entirely of that 

 hue : during repose, these insects fold their wings remarkably close 

 round their bodies — thence called ^^close-wings''' of old — and some of 

 them abound in grassy places, settling upon the stalks of the grasses, 

 with their heads downwards, in such profusion that at every step 

 scores are disturbed. 



Sp. 1. Lythargyrellus. Alls anticis Uthargyreo nitidulis, lurido substriatis, 



posticis sublurido palle scent ihus. (Exp. Alar. 9 — 12 lin.) 

 Ti. Lythargyrellus. Hubner. — Cr. Lythargyrellus. Steph. Catal. ii. 217, 



JVo. 7460. — Selagia, Hubner. 



Anterior wings of a glossy shining white, with lurid longitudinal streaks, the 

 extreme hinder margin with a very minute row of blackish dots : posterior 

 wings of a pale lurid hue ; cilia shining ashy-white. 



Extremely variable in tint, some examples being almost entirely of a lurid 

 hue; others nearly all silvery, with faint livid streaks. 



This species appears to abound in the New Forest, and also occurs 

 at Dover, near London, and in Devonshire : I have taken it in the 

 garden at the Hermitage. 



Sp. 2. argyreus. Alis anticis margaritaceis immaculatis sericeis, strigis longi- 

 tudinalibus sulphureo-argenteis, venis postice fuscis. (Exp. Alar. 11 — 13 lin.) 



Cr. argyreus. Fabricius. — Steph. Catal. ii. 218. No, 7461. — Selagia, 

 Hubner. 



Anterior wings of an immaculate pearly hue, with a silken gloss, and streaked 

 longitudinally with tarnished silver, with the nervures brownish behind : 

 posterior wings of a livid white, with pale cilia. 



Rather variable in tint and size. 



Not uncommon in chalky situations within the metropohtan district, 

 especially near Darcnth wood and the Sheep Leas near Ripley ; also 

 near Dover and Hertford, in July and August. 



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