SL 



451. 



CERAPTERYX HIBERNICUS, 



The Irish Antler Moth. 



Order Lepidoptera. Fam. Noctuidae. 



Type of the Genus, Phalaena Graminis Linn. 



Cerapteryx Cm-t. — Charseas Ste., Curt. — Eioisema Ock. — Noctua 

 Hub., Haiv., Goda.- — Phalaena Bombyx Linn. 

 Antenna; comparatively longer in the male than female, bipecti- 

 nated in the former, the rays ciliated and becoming shorter to- 

 wards the apex, with 7 or 8 of the terminal joints simple (1 $) : 

 slightly pubescent only on the inside in the female. 

 Maxilla as long as the antennse, spiral and rather slender (3). 

 Labial Palpi porrected obliquely (4), clothed with scales, the 

 apical joint apparent ; triarticulate, basal joint subovate, 2nd 

 longer subconic, 3rd as long as the 1st but slender, elliptic- 

 conical (4 a). 

 Males smaller than the females. Head short and obtuse : eyes not 

 very ijrominent. Thorax subglobose, not crested. Abdomen linear 

 and tufted at the apex in the males, conical in the females. Wings 

 slightly deflexed when at rest, margins entire, superior somewhat 

 elong ate -trig onate, the apex obtuse : inferior not large and rounded : 

 cilia rather short and even. Tibiae, anterior short with a long in- 

 ternal spine (8) ; the others with a pair of long spurs at the apex, 

 the posterior with a pair below the middle : tarsi 5 -jointed. Claws 

 with a small tooth on the inside. 

 Caterpillai's naked, ivith 6 pectoral 8 abdominal and 2 anal feet. 



HiBERNicus Curt. MSS. — Curt. Guide, Gen. 832. 

 In Mr. Walker's Cabinet. 



As there is no described British moth that can be naturally 

 associated with N. Graminis if it be separated from Agrotis, I 

 have been compelled to give it a new generic name, especially 

 as it does not seem to belong to the genus Charaeas. From 

 the true Agrotes it is distinguished by the masculine antennae 

 being pectinated much nearer to the apex, the wings are not 

 horizontal and crossed I believe when at rest, neither are the 

 superior so long and narrow, nor the inferior so ample, inde- 

 pendent of the singular mark on the former resembling the 

 antlers of a stag, from whence is derived the generic name I 

 have proposed. 



1. C. Gviwmms Linn.— Don. 13.;jZ. ^5S.—Huh.pl. 102./ 480 

 & 481. — tricuspis, Esper var. — Hilb. pL 30./ 143. 

 Reddish or fuscous brown, superior wings with the nervures 

 pale, the central one ochreous, an oblong spot at the base of 



