184 LEPIDOPTERA. 



pointed abdomen ; the thorax is crested. They are called 

 " Sharks " by collectors, and fly over flowers in the evening in the 

 same manner as the Sphingidce, which they considerably resemble 

 in shape. The larvae are adorned with various colours, and feed 

 gregariously on the leaves of mullein and other plants. Some of 

 the foreign species are beautifully marked with green and silver 

 {Fam. Cuculliidce). 



Heliothis Dipsacea, Linn., is greyish brown, with darker mark- 

 ings on the fore wings ; the hind wings are black and Avhite. It 

 flies in clover-fields by day in the south of England (Fam. 

 Heliothiclce). 



Anarta MyrtiUi, Linn., has red fore wings with whitish lines ; 

 the hind wings are yellow, with a broad black border ; it expands 

 about an inch, and flies by day on heaths. The other S2:)ecies of 

 the genus have either yellow or white black-bordered hind wings ; 

 and many of them are Alpine or Polar insects (Fam. Helioihidce). 



Acontia Alhicellis, Fabr., is a brown and white moth, which 

 flies by day, like several of the species of Acontiidce and the allied 

 families, which are of smaller size and more variegated colours 

 than most of the other Noduce. It is a very rare species in the 

 south of England, though commoner on the Continent. 



The species of Brephos, Ochs., have brown fore wings, with 

 some slight pale markings ; the hind wings are orange and black. 

 They are met with in woods by day in early spring (Fam. 

 lyrephidce). 



Palindia, Guen., is a genus of rather small moths, exclusively 

 confined to tropical America. Many are brown and Avhite, in 

 varying proportions, and the hind wings are frequently yellowish, 

 as in F. Dominicata, Guen. The hind wings of this species are 

 marked with a large black spot on the front angle, and with a 

 smaller one at the loAver angle ; between the two, the wing is edged 

 with a silvery line. Other species are green, varied with white 

 along the costa and inner margin of the hind wings, while the 

 species of the allied genus Dyomyx, Guen., are brown, with a black 

 eye in a yellow ring near the hinder angle of the fore wings. 

 They generally frequent the depths of the forest, and have a short 

 rapid flight by day, and settle on leaves with their wings a little 

 sloping, when their shape resembles an equilateral triangle (Fam. 

 Palindiid<e). 



The genus Plusia, Ochs., includes a great number of rather pretty 

 species, of moderate size. The fore wings are generally brown, some- 



