BOMB YCID;E. G ASTRO P AC H A. 



53 



Ph. Bo. Quercifolia. Lrnnc. — Ga. Quercifolia. Curtis, i. pi. 2l.—SlejJi. Catul- 

 No. 6001. 



Body^ anteniiEPj and palpi of a deep dusky or brown ferruginous, the two latter 

 darkest: wings the same, the anterior with three oblique waved dusky strigii', 

 and a central black spot ; the posterior immaculate. Female larger, of a lighter 

 hue, with the strigae darker. 



Both sexes vary considerably ; the strigrs on the wings are sometimes nearly ob- 

 solete, at others very deep and broad: the posterior wings are occasionally 

 marked with one or more obhque transverse dusky striga;. 



CateqjiUar very large, variable : dusky or slightly rufescent, with blue patches 

 on the nuchal segments, and sometimes a double series of white and red spots 

 down the sides : it is found in May, and feeds on the whitethorn, sloe, willow, 

 rose, &c. ; and changes, in a powdery web, to a brown pupa, with red fasciie : 

 the imago appears in July. 



Althoug-li usually reputed an uncommon insect, this frequentlv 

 ap})ears in considerable plenty, especially in the larva state : in 

 May, 1814, I found many of the latter in the Robin Hood-lane, 

 leading to Coombe-wood ; and have since found both the larva and 

 imago in the lanes near Hertford ; the former feeding upon the sloe. 

 " Very abundant in May last, in the larva state, upon willows in 

 Bottisham and Swaffham fens. I have also occasionally noticed 

 them in former years, both in the caterpillar and winged state.*" — 

 Rev. L. Jenyns, — " Epping." — Mr. H. Douhleday. 



f Sp. 2. Ilicifolia. Alis cinereis rtifo nehulosis, fascia maculari albidd. 



Ph. Bo. Ilicifolia. Linni. — Turton (!). — Ga. Ilicifolia. Stcph. Catal. No. 6002. 



One-fourth the size of the foregoing ; griseous : the wings cinereous, cloudeil 

 with rufous, with a posterior fascia of whitish spots. 



Caterpillar feeds on the sallow ; it is glaucous, with a broad white dorsal band, 

 in which is a black patch, varied with luteous, on each segment, beneath yel- 

 lowish : chrysalis bluish, with the abdomen bluish- white. 



Turton introduces this as a British insect ; but I have not yet seen an indigenous 

 example. 



f Sp. 3. Populifolia, AUs luteo-testaceis, lunulis nu7ncrosis fuscis. 

 Ph. Bo. Populifolia. Fahricius. — Marty n (!). — Ga. Populifolia. Steph. Catal. 

 No. 6003. 



As large or larger than Ga. Quercifolia ; thorax testaceous, with a black dorsal 



line : wings pale yellowish-testaceous, with numerous distinct fuscous lunulcs, 



disposed in strigaj ; the hinder margin palest. 

 Caterpillar feeds on the poplar: it is ashy-gray, spotted with rust-colour, tiud 



some bluish-black marks on the neck. 

 Of this insect (which was introduced into the British list by Martyn), I have 



also never seen an indigenous example. 



